While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than poorer districts.
Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. As states decide whether their school districts will have in-person learning this fall, studies show that low-income students will suffer the greatest “learning loss” due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor is that people in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need.
States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent poor students from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $460 - $1,154 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.
Maine has the 6th least equitable school districts in the U.S. overall, but some districts within the state are fairer than others. To find out where school funding is distributed most equitably, WalletHub scored 189 districts in Maine based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil. Read on for the district ranking and a complete description of our methodology.
Main Findings
Note: For visual purposes, we included only the top 7 school districts by enrollment from each category. Rank 1 on the “Expenditures Ranking” means highest expenditures and Rank 1 on “Income Ranking” means lowest income.
Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Maine
| Rank* | School District | Score | Expeditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools per Pupil | Income by School District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Town Schools | 0.20 | $17,222 | $45,313 |
| 2 | School Administrative District 40 | 0.34 | $14,159 | $56,491 |
| 3 | Regional School Unit 20 | 0.53 | $18,056 | $42,173 |
| 4 | Chebeague Island School Department | 0.56 | $12,208 | $63,542 |
| 5 | Ellsworth Public Schools | 0.92 | $14,335 | $55,191 |
| 6 | School Administrative District 33 | 1.07 | $17,500 | $45,000 |
| 7 | Edgecomb Eddy Schools | 1.09 | $14,061 | $57,237 |
| 8 | Regional School Unit 24 | 1.32 | $17,595 | $44,797 |
| 9 | School Administrative District 70 | 1.37 | $16,028 | $50,395 |
| 10 | Dedham Town Schools | 1.65 | $9,964 | $70,341 |
| 11 | Wiscasset Public Schools | 2.13 | $19,315 | $39,118 |
| 12 | Charlotte Town Schools | 2.42 | $15,043 | $51,875 |
| 13 | Riverside Regional School Unit 26 | 2.64 | $16,736 | $45,742 |
| 14 | Winslow Town Schools | 2.68 | $13,345 | $57,775 |
| 15 | School Administrative District 44 | 2.93 | $15,152 | $51,217 |
| 16 | Milford School Department | 3.35 | $11,764 | $63,036 |
| 17 | Eustis Public Schools | 3.62 | $22,747 | $27,708 |
| 18 | Kennebec Intra-District Schools Rsu 02 | 3.67 | $13,392 | $57,078 |
| 19 | Surry Town Schools | 3.97 | $11,372 | $68,333 |
| 20 | Airline Community School District 8 (908) | 4.22 | $15,703 | $48,571 |
| 21 | Westbrook City Schools | 4.22 | $15,002 | $55,563 |
| 22 | Hermon Town Schools | 4.24 | $10,326 | $67,672 |
| 23 | Regional School Unit 18 | 4.31 | $12,107 | $61,306 |
| 24 | School Administrative District 23 | 4.35 | $11,229 | $64,407 |
| 25 | Lincolnville Town Schools | 4.98 | $14,667 | $57,159 |
| 26 | Southport Town Schools | 5.12 | $16,083 | $52,197 |
| 27 | School Administrative District 57 | 5.22 | $13,313 | $62,099 |
| 28 | School Administrative District 14 | 5.53 | $20,103 | $32,232 |
| 29 | Regional School Unit 16 | 5.72 | $12,583 | $64,961 |
| 30 | School Administrative District 74 | 5.73 | $16,415 | $45,233 |
| 31 | Moosabec Community School District 17 (917) | 5.84 | $18,372 | $44,444 |
| 32 | School Administrative District 13 | 5.86 | $19,398 | $34,561 |
| 33 | Regional School Unit 73 | 6.13 | $14,793 | $50,788 |
| 34 | Easton Town Schools | 6.95 | $15,378 | $48,269 |
| 35 | Western Foothills School District Rsu 10 | 7.13 | $16,822 | $43,040 |
| 36 | School Administrative District 52 | 7.39 | $13,073 | $64,109 |
| 37 | Hancock Public Schools | 8.90 | $13,587 | $53,594 |
| 38 | Lisbon Town Schools | 9.49 | $12,718 | $56,369 |
| 39 | Biddeford City Schools | 9.62 | $14,398 | $50,327 |
| 40 | Glenburn Public Schools | 9.83 | $11,200 | $61,585 |
| 41 | Castine Town Schools | 10.23 | $13,696 | $52,500 |
| 42 | Great Salt Bay Community School District 14 (914) | 10.64 | $13,651 | $63,789 |
| 43 | Lower Kennebec Regional School Unit 01 | 10.86 | $15,086 | $58,804 |
| 44 | Appleton Village Schools | 11.71 | $15,971 | $56,111 |
| 45 | Winthrop Public Schools | 11.72 | $13,138 | $66,185 |
| 46 | School Administrative District 11 | 12.19 | $12,727 | $54,899 |
| 47 | Brewer School Department | 12.21 | $11,738 | $58,403 |
| 48 | Madawaska Town Schools | 12.28 | $15,694 | $44,302 |
| 49 | Regional School Unit 13 | 12.89 | $18,035 | $49,404 |
| 50 | School Administrative District 58 | 14.41 | $17,289 | $37,500 |
| 51 | Sanford Public School Department | 14.62 | $13,842 | $49,642 |
| 52 | Beals Elementary School | 14.97 | $14,587 | $46,806 |
| 53 | School Administrative District 64 | 15.00 | $12,636 | $53,722 |
| 54 | Portland City Schools | 15.05 | $16,228 | $56,977 |
| 55 | Regional School Unit 56 | 15.58 | $15,511 | $43,194 |
| 56 | School Administrative District 55 | 15.63 | $14,428 | $47,019 |
| 57 | South Bristol Town Schools | 15.80 | $11,600 | $56,979 |
| 58 | Bar Harbor Town Schools | 15.82 | $17,872 | $51,544 |
| 59 | Brunswick School | 16.01 | $15,430 | $60,326 |
| 60 | Veazie Public Schools | 16.02 | $13,142 | $51,382 |
| 61 | Brooklin Town Schools | 16.12 | $13,955 | $48,438 |
| 62 | School Administrative District 61 | 16.47 | $16,510 | $56,731 |
| 63 | Baileyville School Department | 16.62 | $14,375 | $46,678 |
| 64 | School Administrative District 45 | 16.68 | $15,519 | $42,578 |
| 65 | School Administrative District 54 | 17.01 | $14,629 | $45,566 |
| 66 | School Administrative District 12 | 17.13 | $16,265 | $39,688 |
| 67 | Regional School Unit 25 | 18.39 | $13,634 | $48,369 |
| 68 | Regional School Unit 04 | 19.64 | $13,507 | $69,097 |
| 69 | Five Town Community School District 19 (919) | 19.69 | $16,192 | $59,578 |
| 70 | Hope Town Schools | 19.69 | $15,100 | $63,462 |
| 71 | Greenville Town Schools | 20.29 | $17,961 | $53,611 |
| 72 | School Administrative District 59 | 21.47 | $15,300 | $40,807 |
| 73 | School Administrative District 37 | 21.52 | $13,972 | $45,500 |
| 74 | Bristol Consolidated Schools | 21.61 | $9,777 | $60,365 |
| 75 | School Administrative District 15 | 21.98 | $13,093 | $71,816 |
| 76 | School Administrative District 6 | 22.03 | $13,599 | $70,044 |
| 77 | Orrington School Department | 22.98 | $8,307 | $64,857 |
| 78 | School Administrative District 49 | 23.49 | $13,699 | $45,417 |
| 79 | Medway Town Schools | 23.50 | $15,833 | $37,829 |
| 80 | School Administrative District 31 | 24.04 | $14,515 | $42,222 |
| 81 | Fayette Town Schools | 24.43 | $7,648 | $66,429 |
| 82 | Acton School Department | 24.82 | $17,254 | $58,542 |
| 83 | School Administrative District 3 | 24.98 | $13,578 | $45,055 |
| 84 | Lamoine Public Schools | 26.31 | $15,782 | $64,565 |
| 85 | School Administrative District 32 | 26.93 | $14,828 | $39,573 |
| 86 | School Administrative District 1 | 27.56 | $14,401 | $40,751 |
| 87 | Regional School Unit 23 | 28.48 | $20,136 | $50,246 |
| 88 | School Administrative District 46 | 28.49 | $14,842 | $38,691 |
| 89 | School Administrative District 63 | 28.78 | $9,398 | $57,887 |
| 90 | Penobscot Town Schools | 28.87 | $11,978 | $48,667 |
| 91 | School Administrative District 42 | 28.96 | $12,622 | $46,328 |
| 92 | Regional School Unit 71 | 29.06 | $18,507 | $56,345 |
| 93 | School Administrative District 17 | 29.09 | $11,745 | $49,380 |
| 94 | School Administrative District 28 | 29.59 | $17,270 | $61,029 |
| 95 | Regional School Unit 50 | 29.74 | $15,055 | $37,267 |
| 96 | Regional School Unit 21 | 30.05 | $13,980 | $72,968 |
| 97 | Deer Isle-Stonington Community School District 13 (913) | 30.13 | $19,937 | $51,836 |
| 98 | Regional School Unit 34 | 30.34 | $12,854 | $44,768 |
| 99 | Bangor City Schools | 30.65 | $13,554 | $42,115 |
| 100 | Regional School Unit 19 | 30.74 | $12,383 | $46,232 |
| 101 | East Range Community School District 2 (902) | 30.93 | $19,606 | $53,438 |
| 102 | Regional School Unit 38 | 30.98 | $15,123 | $69,401 |
| 103 | St. George Public Schools | 31.07 | $20,020 | $52,038 |
| 104 | Northport Public Schools | 31.51 | $16,416 | $65,086 |
| 105 | School Administrative District 27 | 31.73 | $13,554 | $41,538 |
| 106 | Auburn School Department | 31.82 | $11,464 | $48,924 |
| 107 | Lewiston City Schools | 32.13 | $13,542 | $41,371 |
| 108 | School Administrative District 60 | 32.69 | $13,577 | $75,809 |
| 109 | Mount Desert Community School District 7 (907) | 33.26 | $19,829 | $53,886 |
| 110 | School Administrative District 24 | 33.37 | $16,221 | $31,184 |
| 111 | Greenbush School Department | 33.37 | $13,321 | $41,492 |
| 112 | West Bath Public Schools | 33.50 | $17,015 | $64,018 |
| 113 | Brooksville Town Schools | 33.91 | $15,096 | $71,058 |
| 114 | South Portland City Schools | 34.29 | $16,568 | $66,030 |
| 115 | Vassalboro Town Schools | 34.36 | $8,416 | $58,405 |
| 116 | Perry Town Schools | 34.63 | $9,333 | $55,000 |
| 117 | Caswell Plantation Schools | 34.78 | $17,146 | $27,143 |
| 118 | Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 | 34.82 | $8,994 | $56,105 |
| 119 | Waterville City Schools | 35.63 | $13,756 | $38,745 |
| 120 | Augusta City Schools | 35.67 | $13,301 | $40,340 |
| 121 | Jonesport Elementary School | 36.10 | $12,589 | $42,639 |
| 122 | School Administrative District 19 (Msad 19/Rsu 85) | 36.59 | $14,464 | $35,714 |
| 123 | East Millinocket Town Schools | 36.76 | $13,320 | $39,688 |
| 124 | Windham Raymond School District 14 | 37.93 | $14,481 | $75,386 |
| 125 | Woodland School Department | 38.27 | $12,465 | $41,923 |
| 126 | Eastport City Schools | 38.31 | $14,365 | $35,147 |
| 127 | Gorham Town Schools | 38.59 | $13,774 | $78,251 |
| 128 | School Administrative District 41 | 38.92 | $14,597 | $33,997 |
| 129 | School Administrative District 4 | 39.60 | $13,239 | $38,463 |
| 130 | Eastern Aroostook Regional School Unit 39 | 39.75 | $13,228 | $38,421 |
| 131 | Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District 3 (903) | 39.97 | $20,694 | $54,388 |
| 132 | Saco City Public Schools | 41.41 | $4,583 | $68,271 |
| 133 | Nobleboro Town Schools | 41.47 | $6,495 | $61,442 |
| 134 | Dayton Public Schools | 42.45 | $00 | $84,007 |
| 135 | Blue Hill Town Schools | 42.59 | $6,923 | $59,324 |
| 136 | Wells-Ogunquit Community School District 18 (918) | 44.68 | $17,558 | $68,049 |
| 137 | School Administrative District 75 | 44.94 | $16,362 | $72,438 |
| 138 | Millinocket Town Schools | 45.62 | $13,114 | $35,697 |
| 139 | Athens Public Schools | 45.98 | $12,524 | $37,604 |
| 140 | Sedgwick Town Schools | 46.84 | $9,259 | $48,750 |
| 141 | Cherryfield Public Schools | 47.45 | $11,302 | $41,164 |
| 142 | Tremont Consolidated School | 47.62 | $22,056 | $53,625 |
| 143 | School Administrative District 20 | 48.07 | $11,741 | $39,272 |
| 144 | Regional School Unit 05 | 49.65 | $14,893 | $80,172 |
| 145 | Calais School Department | 49.97 | $13,762 | $31,078 |
| 146 | School Administrative District 8 | 51.76 | $18,598 | $68,125 |
| 147 | Yarmouth Town Schools | 52.10 | $14,822 | $81,731 |
| 148 | Jefferson Town Schools | 52.61 | $6,000 | $57,259 |
| 149 | School Administrative District 35 | 53.94 | $14,784 | $82,850 |
| 150 | Machiasport Town Schools | 54.44 | $5,585 | $57,760 |
| 151 | Kittery Town Schools | 54.73 | $17,147 | $74,871 |
| 152 | Wesley Town Schools | 56.27 | $25,429 | $46,250 |
| 153 | Whiting Public Schools | 56.70 | $6,638 | $52,813 |
| 154 | School Administrative District 72 | 58.37 | $7,570 | $48,610 |
| 155 | Southwest Harbor Town School District | 59.11 | $23,548 | $54,450 |
| 156 | Cutler Town Schools | 59.29 | $6,759 | $51,000 |
| 157 | Princeton Town Schools | 63.67 | $10,739 | $34,519 |
| 158 | School Administrative District 29 | 64.37 | $10,538 | $34,857 |
| 159 | Jonesboro Town Schools | 69.52 | $7,831 | $41,736 |
| 160 | Trenton Town Schools | 69.66 | $23,233 | $61,194 |
| 161 | Pembroke Town Schools | 70.28 | $9,330 | $36,000 |
| 162 | Robbinston Town Schools | 70.68 | $2,413 | $60,375 |
| 163 | Machias Town Schools | 71.04 | $11,725 | $27,083 |
| 164 | Harmony Town Schools | 73.22 | $10,111 | $31,656 |
| 165 | Mount Desert Elementary School | 77.24 | $21,717 | $70,625 |
| 166 | Vanceboro Town Schools | 77.45 | $7,833 | $37,500 |
| 167 | School Administrative District 53 | 78.66 | $5,718 | $44,375 |
| 168 | School Administrative District 30 | 79.59 | $7,422 | $37,819 |
| 169 | Scarborough Town Schools | 81.89 | $15,558 | $95,000 |
| 170 | East Machias School Department | 83.22 | $4,691 | $45,592 |
| 171 | York Town Schools | 90.02 | $18,195 | $89,962 |
| 172 | Islesboro School Department | 92.16 | $25,538 | $65,000 |
| 173 | Regional School Unit 68 | 94.56 | $4,097 | $41,659 |
| 174 | Andover Public Schools | 102.07 | $32,826 | $44,375 |
| 175 | Long Island Town Schools | 102.61 | $23,941 | $76,250 |
| 176 | Winterville Plantation Public Schools | 113.67 | $1,696 | $40,000 |
| 177 | Georgetown Town Schools | 114.79 | $29,557 | $62,778 |
| 178 | New Sweden School Department | 115.51 | $2,264 | $37,000 |
| 179 | Cape Elizabeth Town Schools | 119.89 | $16,508 | $111,884 |
| 180 | School Administrative District 7 | 121.83 | $29,284 | $67,500 |
| 181 | School Administrative District 51 | 122.54 | $17,393 | $110,152 |
| 182 | Falmouth School Department | 131.14 | $16,002 | $119,679 |
| 183 | Cranberry Isles Town School District | 136.29 | $34,167 | $57,857 |
| 184 | Frenchboro School District | 150.73 | $47,333 | $18,750 |
| 185 | School Administrative District 76 | 151.26 | $31,882 | $73,958 |
| 186 | Brighton Plantation School Department | 155.51 | $286 | $22,708 |
| 187 | Regional School Unit 78 | 157.70 | $38,935 | $52,321 |
| 188 | Isle Au Haut Town Schools | 177.87 | $47,800 | $31,563 |
| 189 | School Administrative District 65 | 183.18 | $48,333 | $32,500 |
*1=Most Equitable
Methodology
In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,919 school districts throughout the U.S. based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.
For expenditures, for each 1 percent above the state's average we removed 1 point from a base score of 50 points for each district. For household income, for each 1 percent above the state's average we added 1 point to a base score of 50 points for each district. The inverse was true for each 1 percent below the state's average.
The final score for each district was calculated by taking the absolute difference between the score for expenditures and the score for household income. We then ranked the districts based on the total score, with the lowest value, representing the most equitable, being ranked 1.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from of the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.