Most & Least Equitable School Districts in Maine

Adam McCann, Financial WriterAug 23, 2022

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Aug 23, 2022

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, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per pupil.

Discrepancies between the rich and poor have been exacerbated even more due to the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income students have suffered 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 $154 - $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than people with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.

Maine has the 8th 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 185 districts in Maine based on two metrics: average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per pupil.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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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	Rsu 18	0.36	$12,343	$70,577
2	Hancock Public Schools	0.52	$15,139	$59,762
3	Andover Public Schools	1.05	$19,615	$42,961
4	Glenburn Public Schools	1.21	$11,181	$73,950
5	Lincolnville Public Schools	1.83	$13,397	$65,423
6	Castine Public Schools	2.27	$13,403	$65,147
7	Rsu 31/Msad 31	2.32	$17,667	$49,406
8	Rsu 16	2.38	$12,133	$69,764
9	Rsu 82/Msad 12	2.47	$18,510	$49,075
10	Bristol Public Schools	3.10	$12,905	$66,500
11	Greenville Public Schools	3.21	$19,953	$44,185
12	Rsu 61/Msad 61	3.52	$17,218	$54,445
13	Great Salt Bay Csd	4.10	$13,781	$62,695
14	Rsu 24	4.85	$17,377	$54,628
15	Rsu 06/Msad 06	5.65	$13,108	$70,826
16	Dayton Public Schools	5.74	$7,216	$92,589
17	Rsu 02	5.78	$14,626	$58,610
18	Winthrop Public Schools	5.79	$13,129	$70,828
19	Rsu 41/Msad 41	6.00	$19,317	$41,196
20	Hermon Public Schools	6.05	$10,899	$79,194
21	Baileyville Public Schools	6.06	$19,116	$48,920
22	Jonesport Public Schools	6.08	$16,515	$51,471
23	Ellsworth Public Schools	6.09	$14,004	$60,718
24	Rsu 84/Msad 14	6.28	$21,534	$40,137
25	Edgecomb Public Schools	6.50	$13,720	$69,063
26	Rsu 04	6.57	$13,422	$70,198
27	Moosabec Csd	6.62	$16,512	$51,169
28	Rsu 26	7.42	$17,637	$46,563
29	Veazie Public Schools	7.78	$13,667	$60,982
30	Nobleboro Public Schools	7.81	$12,626	$73,849
31	South Bristol Public Schools	9.09	$13,220	$61,875
32	Dedham Public Schools	9.09	$9,827	$74,375
33	Rsu 10	9.55	$17,286	$46,621
34	Rsu 57/Msad 57	10.16	$14,650	$67,754
35	Rsu 52/Msad 52	10.19	$13,210	$73,078
36	Rsu 71	10.28	$16,419	$61,302
37	Sanford Public Schools	10.43	$13,981	$58,294
38	Rsu 87/Msad 23	11.15	$12,696	$75,526
39	Rsu 33/Msad 33	11.47	$16,181	$49,583
40	Biddeford Public Schools	11.56	$14,720	$54,915
41	Brooklin Public Schools	11.67	$15,867	$50,625
42	Orrington Public Schools	12.11	$9,617	$73,401
43	Acton Public Schools	12.27	$18,498	$54,798
44	Rsu 60/Msad 60	12.97	$14,095	$71,424
45	Portland Public Schools	13.38	$16,800	$61,695
46	Airline Csd	13.53	$12,911	$60,441
47	Rsu 13	13.55	$19,236	$52,818
48	Rsu 73	13.67	$14,162	$55,745
49	Rsu 11/Msad 11	14.44	$13,366	$58,236
50	Rsu 74/Msad 74	14.46	$16,939	$45,056
51	Rsu 01 - Lkrsu	14.49	$16,630	$62,967
52	Brunswick Public Schools	15.12	$15,716	$66,699
53	Appleton Public Schools	15.30	$15,250	$50,795
54	Rsu 54/Msad 54	15.30	$15,652	$49,313
55	Rsu 55/Msad 55	15.39	$14,529	$53,400
56	Rsu 40/Msad 40	15.47	$14,782	$52,422
57	Rsu 59/Msad 59	15.47	$16,955	$44,414
58	Lisbon Public Schools	16.57	$12,682	$59,519
59	Rsu 44/Msad 44	16.69	$16,010	$47,188
60	Winslow Schools	16.93	$14,760	$51,656
61	Alexander Public Schools	17.31	$18,024	$59,464
62	Medway Public Schools	17.44	$19,208	$34,968
63	Lamoine Public Schools	17.67	$15,090	$70,484
64	Sedgwick Public Schools	18.04	$11,466	$63,152
65	Wiscasset Public Schools	18.91	$18,965	$56,919
66	St George Public Schools	19.75	$20,134	$53,098
67	Southport Public Schools	19.93	$19,943	$53,906
68	Rsu 83/Msad 13	19.99	$19,039	$34,112
69	Rsu 42/Msad 42	20.23	$13,918	$52,845
70	Rsu 56	20.36	$14,747	$49,719
71	Eustis Public Schools	20.58	$21,089	$26,217
72	Easton Public Schools	20.75	$16,914	$41,506
73	Rsu 32/Msad 32	20.76	$17,623	$38,885
74	Rsu 70/Msad 70	21.50	$13,982	$51,875
75	Charlotte Public Schools	21.53	$20,633	$52,292
76	Boothbay-Boothbay Hbr Csd	21.55	$20,011	$54,594
77	Hope Public Schools	21.60	$15,293	$72,013
78	Rsu 03/Msad 03	21.88	$14,285	$50,537
79	Sebago Public Schools	22.22	$18,730	$59,706
80	East Millinocket Public Schools	22.31	$15,947	$44,167
81	Jefferson Public Schools	22.33	$10,968	$62,500
82	Fayette Public Schools	22.77	$14,723	$48,409
83	Msad 46	23.28	$15,145	$46,559
84	Rsu 25	24.02	$13,699	$51,461
85	Perry Public Schools	25.10	$10,824	$61,429
86	Rsu 49/Msad 49	25.35	$13,328	$52,056
87	Rsu 63/Msad 63	25.56	$10,876	$60,971
88	Wesley Public Schools	25.77	$21,625	$51,094
89	Madawaska Public Schools	26.07	$16,353	$40,489
90	Westbrook Public Schools	26.29	$16,255	$71,183
91	Rsu 38	26.39	$15,993	$72,207
92	Limestone Public Schools	26.62	$16,757	$38,684
93	Vassalboro Public Schools	26.84	$9,324	$65,949
94	Beals Public Schools	27.03	$13,403	$50,804
95	Rsu 64/Msad 64	27.04	$12,958	$52,439
96	Cherryfield Public Schools	27.11	$15,771	$42,031
97	Rsu 17/Msad 17	27.20	$12,323	$54,686
98	Rsu 20	27.44	$20,368	$56,691
99	Five Town Csd	27.68	$17,105	$68,857
100	Brooksville Public Schools	27.70	$9,989	$63,000
101	South Portland Public Schools	27.96	$17,599	$67,198
102	Deer Isle-Stonington Csd	28.44	$20,909	$55,278
103	Rsu 45/Msad 45	28.56	$15,674	$41,553
104	Waterville Public Schools	29.06	$16,091	$39,722
105	Woodland Public Schools	29.08	$12,250	$53,867
106	Milford Public Schools	29.42	$12,316	$53,428
107	Pembroke Public Schools	29.46	$13,681	$48,375
108	Surry Public Schools	29.66	$8,072	$68,929
109	Bangor Public Schools	29.77	$13,859	$47,538
110	Wells-Ogunquit Csd	30.14	$17,796	$67,736
111	Rsu 37/Msad 37	31.19	$13,659	$47,455
112	Kittery Public Schools	31.37	$18,142	$67,169
113	Rsu 35/Msad 35	31.57	$14,309	$81,415
114	Rsu 58/Msad 58	31.82	$16,327	$37,255
115	Rsu 19	32.21	$13,489	$47,488
116	Rsu 79/Msad 01	32.30	$13,826	$46,194
117	Rsu 15/Msad 15	32.37	$14,477	$81,256
118	Millinocket Public Schools	32.38	$14,878	$42,271
119	Msad 27	32.95	$12,963	$48,996
120	Mt Desert Csd	33.01	$18,959	$65,110
121	Rsu 78	33.21	$20,660	$58,958
122	Eastport Public Schools	34.17	$15,164	$40,179
123	Auburn Public Schools	34.39	$12,008	$51,681
124	Brewer Public Schools	35.19	$12,759	$48,450
125	Lewiston Public Schools	35.53	$14,193	$42,969
126	Saco Public Schools	35.56	$6,377	$71,755
127	Rsu 75/Msad 75	35.57	$16,296	$76,405
128	Rsu 14	35.70	$15,107	$80,863
129	Greenbush Public Schools	36.00	$14,789	$40,500
130	Rsu 12	36.03	$9,078	$61,528
131	Rsu 39	36.69	$14,173	$42,371
132	Rsu 89	37.62	$15,241	$37,898
133	Rsu 50	37.77	$14,389	$40,952
134	Rsu 34	38.28	$13,443	$44,142
135	Machiasport Public Schools	38.54	$12,049	$49,130
136	Rsu 21	39.21	$14,764	$84,163
137	Princeton Public Schools	39.39	$12,752	$46,042
138	Trenton Public Schools	41.59	$20,542	$64,250
139	Rsu 80/Msad 04	41.68	$13,896	$40,500
140	Rsu 28/Msad 28	42.48	$17,828	$74,766
141	Calais Public Schools	43.26	$15,183	$34,844
142	Rsu 85/Msad 19	43.78	$13,447	$40,938
143	Rsu 23	44.42	$23,711	$54,209
144	Gorham Public Schools	44.51	$14,296	$88,958
145	Augusta Public Schools	45.00	$13,825	$38,842
146	Rsu 05	45.00	$15,618	$84,368
147	Rsu 86/Msad 20	45.24	$13,275	$40,730
148	Penobscot Public Schools	45.53	$11,543	$46,944
149	Northport Public Schools	45.90	$20,168	$68,125
150	Rsu 88/Msad 24	45.97	$16,091	$29,926
151	Bar Harbor Public Schools	46.77	$20,264	$68,274
152	Yarmouth Schools	49.09	$15,196	$88,295
153	Southwest Harbor Public Schools	49.35	$25,093	$51,971
154	Vanceboro Public Schools	49.38	$9,333	$52,857
155	Caswell Public Schools	51.12	$14,245	$33,750
156	Harmony Public Schools	52.57	$14,186	$33,125
157	Rsu 29/Msad 29	54.08	$11,077	$43,705
158	Cutler Public Schools	56.60	$8,635	$51,250
159	Athens Public Schools	63.08	$12,195	$34,375
160	East Machias Public Schools	63.35	$8,817	$46,667
161	West Bath Public Schools	66.79	$21,085	$76,845
162	Tremont Public Schools	68.27	$23,880	$67,404
163	Rsu 72/Msad 72	69.36	$6,402	$52,083
164	Jonesboro Public Schools	70.95	$8,725	$42,604
165	Machias Public Schools	73.38	$11,819	$29,792
166	Rsu 53/Msad 53	75.96	$6,759	$46,943
167	Blue Hill Public Schools	76.82	$7,486	$43,768
168	Whiting Public Schools	82.76	$6,080	$45,509
169	Scarborough Public Schools	83.80	$16,731	$102,742
170	Rsu 30/Msad 30	86.29	$7,667	$37,616
171	Chebeague Island Public Schools	86.48	$31,238	$50,833
172	Mount Desert Public Schools	91.23	$24,247	$79,348
173	Islesboro Public Schools	91.98	$29,106	$61,875
174	York Public Schools	93.69	$19,812	$97,115
175	Msad 76	99.71	$33,000	$52,005
176	Georgetown Public Schools	100.35	$28,377	$69,412
177	Rsu 51/Msad 51	101.50	$17,427	$110,433
178	Rsu 68/Msad 68	104.17	$4,195	$40,053
179	Rsu 08/Msad 08	106.76	$21,063	$100,078
180	Falmouth Public Schools	120.78	$17,484	$121,389
181	Cape Elizabeth Public Schools	128.32	$17,049	$127,363
182	Long Island Public Schools	131.88	$31,308	$76,875
183	Cranberry Isles Public Schools	145.60	$37,818	$60,833
184	Rsu 07/Msad 07	162.27	$36,764	$74,375
185	Monhegan Plt School Dept	198.39	$30,400	$118,750

*1=Most Equitable

Methodology

In order to rank the states with the most and least equitable school districts, WalletHub first scored 12,876 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.

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