Portland Maine News

There were 28,804 white students enrolled in Cumberland County ditricts in the 2022-23 school year, 1.1% less than the previous year, according to the Maine Department of Education.

Data showed that white students made up 77% of the 37,401 students in Cumberland County ditricts during the 2022-23 school year. They were the most represented ethnicity.

Among the 22 districts in Cumberland County, Portland Public Schools recorded the highest enrollment of white students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 3,148 students.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Cumberland 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	White Students Enrollment	Total Enrollment	% of Total Enrollment
Portland Public Schools	3,148	6,722	46.8%
Regional School Unit 14	2,837	3,180	89.2%
South Portland Public Schools	1,883	3,044	61.9%
Scarborough Public Schools	2,476	2,880	86%
Gorham Public Schools	2,424	2,736	88.6%
Brunswick Public Schools	1,912	2,352	81.3%
Westbrook Public Schools	1,496	2,351	63.6%
Regional School Unit 51/Maine School Administrative District 51	1,982	2,173	91.2%
Regional School Unit 05	1,811	2,029	89.3%
Falmouth Public Schools	1,753	1,994	87.9%
Regional School Unit 15/Maine School Administrative District 15	1,682	1,838	91.5%
Yarmouth Schools	1,413	1,658	85.2%
Regional School Unit 61/Maine School Administrative District 61	1,439	1,579	91.1%
Cape Elizabeth Public Schools	1,324	1,508	87.8%
Maine Connections Academy	392	442	88.7%
Baxter Academy for Technology and Science	302	340	88.8%
Sebago Public Schools	183	208	88%
Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences	178	185	96.2%
Harpswell Coastal Academy	101	110	91.8%
Chebeague Island Public Schools	35	35	100%
Long Island Public Schools	28	30	93.3%
Arthur R. Gould School--LCYDC	5	7	71.4%