ME Commissioner of Education Pender Makin 2023 | Maine Department of Education
ME Commissioner of Education Pender Makin 2023 | Maine Department of Education
Data showed that Black or African American students made up 0.6% of the 3,696 students in Waldo County ditricts during the 2022-23 school year. They were the third least represented ethnicity.
Among the 10 districts in Waldo County, Regional School Unit 03/Maine School Administrative District 03 recorded the highest enrollment of Black or African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of nine students.
The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Waldo County.
Recent data from Maine's public schools for the 2023-2024 school year reveal a noticeable growth in Hispanic, Black and multiracial enrollment over the past decade. While over 85% of students still identify as white, this shows a slow but steady increase in diversity within the state schools.
Despite these shifts, Maine's public school enrollment remains about 4% below pre-pandemic levels, despite a slight rebound from the sharp drop during the 2020-21 school year. The decline is partly due to an increase in homeschooling and more students completing high school early through college courses and adult education.
A spokesperson for the Maine Department of Education also mentioned in an interview with Maine Public some other pandemic-related factors persist, with "some parents choosing not to enroll younger children in school and older students who took on jobs to support their families during the pandemic and who are still counted on to provide that support."
| District Name | Black or African American Students Enrollment | Total Enrollment | % of Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional School Unit 71 | 7 | 1,415 | 0.5% |
| Regional School Unit 03/Maine School Administrative District 03 | 9 | 1,035 | 0.9% |
| Regional School Unit 20 | 2 | 438 | 0.5% |
| Lincolnville Public Schools | 1 | 207 | 0.5% |
| Hope Public Schools | 0 | 144 | -- |
| Appleton Public Schools | 3 | 136 | 2.2% |
| Northport Public Schools | 0 | 136 | -- |
| Ecology Learning Center | 1 | 99 | 1% |
| Islesboro Public Schools | 1 | 76 | 1.3% |
| Dennistown Plantation Public Schools | 0 | 10 | -- |
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