schoolsbycounty

Cumberland County Schools & Education

School Score

73/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

90.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,990

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,738

School Score

73/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 57/100

State Score Position

#2

of 16 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Cumberland County

Measured School Summary

Cumberland County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 73/100 and a graduation rate of 90.1%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Cumberland County spends $10,990 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 28% above the Maine average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Cumberland County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

98 public schools and 23 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

73/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #2 of 16 Maine counties with school score data.

Completion

90.1%

4.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,990

$1,252 above the state average

School coverage

98

23 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Cumberland County has 98 public schools across 23 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Cumberland County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Cumberland County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#2

of 16 Maine counties with school score data. The county score is 16 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 96% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Portland Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

6,475 students

Elementary 10Middle 3High 3Other 1

17 listed schools in this county slice.

RSU 14

Elementary to high school visible

3,143 students

Elementary 3Middle 2High 1Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

South Portland Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

3,081 students

Elementary 5Middle 2High 1Other 0

8 listed schools in this county slice.

Scarborough Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

2,891 students

Elementary 4Middle 1High 1Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Portland Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 17 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Cumberland County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cumberland County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Education Overview

About Schools in Cumberland County, Maine

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Maine's Largest and Most Diverse School System

Cumberland County manages a massive infrastructure of 98 schools serving 38,508 students across 23 districts. This includes a robust mix of 54 elementary, 19 middle, and 21 high schools. It represents the state's most extensive educational network by a significant margin.

Urban Leadership and Choice in Cumberland

Portland Public Schools is the largest district, educating 6,475 students in 17 schools. The county also provides diverse options through 5 charter schools, which account for 5.1% of all local schools. Substantial districts like RSU 06 and South Portland also serve over 3,000 students each.

A Blend of City Centers and Suburban Sprawl

School locales are evenly split between rural areas (34), suburbs (34), and city centers (25). Large campuses like Bonny Eagle High and South Portland High each serve over 1,000 students. Despite these large hubs, the average school size across the county remains manageable at 410 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

98

in Cumberland County

Reported Enrollment

38,508

94 schools reporting

School Districts

23

districts

Charter Schools

5

5% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary54
Middle19
High21
Other4

23 School Districts in Cumberland County

Portland Public Schools

Guide
17 schools
6,475 students
Open district guide

RSU 06/MSAD 06

8 schools
3,283 students

RSU 14

6 schools
3,143 students

South Portland Public Schools

8 schools
3,081 students

Scarborough Public Schools

6 schools
2,891 students

Gorham Public Schools

5 schools
2,737 students

Brunswick Public Schools

4 schools
2,363 students

Westbrook Public Schools

6 schools
2,335 students

RSU 51/MSAD 51

4 schools
2,153 students

Falmouth Public Schools

3 schools
1,989 students

98 Public Schools in Cumberland County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 4 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 98 matching schools

Bonny Eagle High School

RSU 06/MSAD 06

Standish, 04084 / Rural: Distant

Profile9–12High1,021 students

South Portland High School

South Portland Public Schools

South Portland, 04106 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,019 students

Windham High School

RSU 14

Windham, 04062 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High978 students

Portland High School

Portland Public Schools

Portland, 04101 / City: Small

Profile9–12High952 students

Scarborough High School

Scarborough Public Schools

Scarborough, 04074 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High907 students

Falmouth Elementary School

Falmouth Public Schools

Falmouth, 04105 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary843 students

Gorham High School

Gorham Public Schools

Gorham, 04038 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High810 students

Mabel I Wilson School

RSU 51/MSAD 51

Cumberland, 04021 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–3Primary762 students

Windham Primary School

RSU 14

Windham, 04062 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–3Primary762 students

Deering High School

Portland Public Schools

Portland, 04103 / City: Small

Record9–12High750 students

Westbrook Middle School

Westbrook Public Schools

Westbrook, 04092 / Suburb: Midsize

Record5–8Middle732 students

Brunswick High School

Brunswick Public Schools

Brunswick, 04011 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High723 students

Westbrook High School

Westbrook Public Schools

Westbrook, 04092 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High711 students

Falmouth High School

Falmouth Public Schools

Falmouth, 04105 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High706 students

Wentworth School

Scarborough Public Schools

Scarborough, 04074 / Suburb: Midsize

Record3–5Primary675 students

Scarborough Middle School

Scarborough Public Schools

Scarborough, 04074 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle670 students

Gorham Middle School

Gorham Public Schools

Gorham, 04038 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle641 students

Freeport High School

RSU 05

Freeport, 04032 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High620 students

Gray-New Gloucester High School

RSU 15/MSAD 15

Gray, 04039 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High601 students

Kate Furbish Elementary School

Brunswick Public Schools

Brunswick, 04011 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–2Primary600 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,990

State avg $9,738

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Cumberland County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Maine counties have the highest graduation rates?
Knox County (91.6%), Cumberland County (90.1%), and York County (89.2%) currently lead Maine among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Maine?
Across Maine counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,738. The highest current county values are Knox County ($11,353), Cumberland County ($10,990), and Sagadahoc County ($10,765). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Cumberland County?
Cumberland County has a school score of 73/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Cumberland County?
The high school graduation rate in Cumberland County is 90.1%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Cumberland County spend per student?
Cumberland County spends $10,990 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Cumberland County, Maine — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Cumberland County, Maine?

Cumberland County manages a massive infrastructure of 98 schools serving 38,508 students across 23 districts. This includes a robust mix of 54 elementary, 19 middle, and 21 high schools. It represents the state's most extensive educational network by a significant margin.

What are the major school districts in Cumberland County, Maine?

Portland Public Schools is the largest district, educating 6,475 students in 17 schools. The county also provides diverse options through 5 charter schools, which account for 5.1% of all local schools. Substantial districts like RSU 06 and South Portland also serve over 3,000 students each.

What is the school experience like in Cumberland County?

School locales are evenly split between rural areas (34), suburbs (34), and city centers (25). Large campuses like Bonny Eagle High and South Portland High each serve over 1,000 students. Despite these large hubs, the average school size across the county remains manageable at 410 students.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.