What share of students in Maine are proficient in math?

In 2024, 25% of eighth graders in Maine public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (21st lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 26% in reading, compared with 34% and 36% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Maine, United States: official figures

86.1% of public high school students in Maine graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 22nd lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

86.1%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

210

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

273

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$19,962

FY2024

Public school enrollment

172,545

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

37.1%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Maine rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Maine was 86.1% in 2021-22, compared with 85% in 2011-12 and 87.4% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Maine?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Maine was 76.6% for economically disadvantaged students, 73.0% for students with disabilities and 76.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Maine?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Maine was 76.0% for Black, 77.0% for Hispanic and 86.9% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Maine score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Maine averaged 210 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 11th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 221 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 26% scored at or above Proficient and 44% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Maine score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Maine averaged 255 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 265 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 26% scored at or above Proficient and 35% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Maine score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Maine averaged 233 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 12th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 241 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 33% scored at or above Proficient and 27% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Maine score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Maine averaged 273 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 26th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 282 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 25% scored at or above Proficient and 39% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Maine spend per student?

Public school systems in Maine spent $19,962 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 17th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Maine going up?

Current spending per pupil in Maine rose from $14,614 in fiscal 2019 to $19,962 in fiscal 2024, up 36.6% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 6.2%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Maine spend school money on?

Of the $19,962 spent per pupil in Maine in fiscal 2024, $10,993 went on instruction and $8,199 on support services; salaries and wages came to $11,441 per pupil and employee benefits $4,824.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Maine come from?

Public school systems in Maine received $3.7 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 8.4% from the federal government, 40.6% from the state and 51.0% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Maine spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Maine was $3.7 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $3.5 billion was current spending and $152.83 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $1.0 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Maine?

172,545 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Maine in fall 2023, down 4.3% on fall 2019 (180,291) and down 6.2% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Maine?

Public schools in Maine had 15,192 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 11.4 pupils per teacher, 3rd fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Maine in fall 2019: 12.2).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Maine have a college degree?

37.1% of adults aged 25 and over in Maine, about 390,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; joint 19th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.1 percentage points on 2021 (36.0%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Maine have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 14.6% of adults 25 and over in Maine had a graduate or professional degree and 10.2% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Maine did not finish high school?

94.8% of adults 25 and over in Maine had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 5.2% without one; that share is 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Maine compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Maine ranks 28 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
25	North Carolina	86.4%
26	Maryland	86.3%
27	Ohio	86.2%
28	Maine	86.1%
29	Hawaii	86.0%
30	Montana	85.8%
31	New Jersey	85.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Maine ranks 32 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
29	Louisiana	77.5%
30	Utah	77.5%
31	Ohio	76.8%
32	Maine	76.6%
33	Washington	76.5%
34	South Carolina	76.4%
35	Montana	76.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Maine ranks 42 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
39	Missouri	212
40	Nebraska	212
41	Arkansas	210
42	Maine	210
43	Delaware	210
44	Michigan	209
45	District of Columbia	209

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Maine ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
34	Oregon	255
35	Arkansas	255
36	Kansas	255
37	Maine	255
38	California	254
39	Arizona	254
40	South Carolina	254

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Maine ranks 43 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
40	California	233
41	Oklahoma	233
42	Nevada	233
43	Maine	233
44	Delaware	233
45	Arizona	232
46	West Virginia	232

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Maine ranks 26 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
23	Iowa	275
24	Washington	274
25	Kansas	274
26	Maine	273
27	New York	271
28	Kentucky	271
29	Michigan	270

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Maine ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
28	Arizona	25.8%
29	California	25.3%
30	Maryland	24.7%
31	Maine	24.5%
32	Kentucky	24.3%
33	Michigan	23.9%
34	Texas	23.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Maine ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
7	Oklahoma	46.4%
8	Michigan	45.4%
9	Delaware	44.6%
10	Maine	44.5%
11	Arkansas	43.8%
12	California	43.7%
13	Texas	42.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Maine ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
14	California	$20,791
15	Wyoming	$20,521
16	Maryland	$20,208
17	Maine	$19,962
18	Washington	$18,564
19	Michigan	$18,314
20	Oregon	$18,083

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Maine ranks 15 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
12	Arizona	+39.2%
13	Idaho	+38.5%
14	Massachusetts	+37.6%
15	Maine	+36.6%
16	Delaware	+36.1%
17	Virginia	+35.3%
18	South Carolina	+35.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Maine ranks 11 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
8	Ohio	53.6%
9	Pennsylvania	52.4%
10	Illinois	51.1%
11	Maine	51.0%
12	New York	50.9%
13	Texas	50.8%
14	South Dakota	49.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Maine ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
45	New Jersey	11.8
46	New York	11.7
47	Connecticut	11.7
48	New Hampshire	11.5
49	Maine	11.4
50	District of Columbia	11.3
51	Vermont	10.5

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Maine ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
32	Nevada	-3.5%
33	Wyoming	-3.8%
34	Washington	-4.2%
35	Maine	-4.3%
36	Michigan	-4.6%
37	Massachusetts	-4.6%
38	Wisconsin	-4.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Maine ranks 20 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
17	Oregon	37.8%
18	Hawaii	37.8%
19	North Carolina	37.1%
20	Maine	37.1%
21	Pennsylvania	36.4%
22	Georgia	36.3%
23	Montana	36.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Maine ranks 50 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
45	North Dakota	5.9%
46	Minnesota	5.8%
47	Wyoming	5.6%
48	Montana	5.4%
49	Vermont	5.3%
50	Maine	5.2%
51	New Hampshire	5.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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