schoolsbycounty

Hancock County Schools & Education

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,674

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,738

School Score

64/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 57/100

State Score Position

#4

of 16 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Hancock County

Measured School Summary

Hancock County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.8%.

Funding Context

Hancock County spends $10,674 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 13% above the Maine average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Hancock 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

35 public schools and 25 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

64/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #4 of 16 Maine counties with school score data.

Completion

87.8%

1.7 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,674

$936 above the state average

School coverage

35

25 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Hancock County has 35 public schools across 25 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 Hancock 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.

Mixed school landscape

Hancock County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#4

of 16 Maine counties with school score data. The county score is 7 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 97% 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.

Ellsworth Public Schools

Elementary and high visible

1,328 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 1

3 listed schools in this county slice.

RSU 25

Elementary to high school visible

1,073 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

RSU 24

Elementary to high school visible

748 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Mt Desert CSD

High school only in this slice

495 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

RSU 24 is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Hancock County?

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

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

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

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 Hancock 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.

Coastal Maine's Expansive District Network

Hancock County features 35 public schools serving 6,148 students across 25 different districts. While the number of students is modest, the high district count reflects the county's independent-minded coastal and island communities. Elementary schools dominate the landscape, making up 27 of the 35 total facilities.

Ellsworth Leads a Patchwork of Local Districts

Ellsworth Public Schools is the largest district, serving 1,328 students, followed by RSU 25 with 1,073 students. The county's remaining enrollment is split among 23 other smaller districts, ensuring hyper-local control. No charter schools operate in the county, emphasizing the role of community-run public schools.

The State's Smallest Average Class Sizes

Hancock County has an exceptionally small average school size of just 181 students, with 33 of its 35 schools in rural locales. Ellsworth Elementary-Middle is a rare exception, hosting 775 students in a more centralized setting. For most students, school life involves small cohorts and deep connections to the local landscape.

School Overview

Total Schools

35

in Hancock County

Reported Enrollment

6,148

34 schools reporting

School Districts

25

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary27
Middle2
High5
Other1

25 School Districts in Hancock County

Ellsworth Public Schools

3 schools
1,328 students

RSU 25

4 schools
1,073 students

RSU 24

6 schools
822 students

Mt Desert CSD

1 school
495 students

Bar Harbor Public Schools

1 school
333 students

Deer Isle-Stonington CSD

2 schools
318 students

Blue Hill Public Schools

1 school
243 students

Hancock Public Schools

1 school
174 students

Mount Desert Public Schools

1 school
153 students

Dedham Public Schools

1 school
148 students

35 Public Schools in Hancock County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

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

Level

Showing 20 of 35 matching schools

Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School

Ellsworth Public Schools

Ellsworth, 04605 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary775 students

Ellsworth High School

Ellsworth Public Schools

Ellsworth, 04605 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High553 students

Mt Desert Island High School

Mt Desert CSD

Mount Desert, 04660 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High495 students

Bucksport High School

RSU 25

Bucksport, 04416 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High356 students

Conners-Emerson School

Bar Harbor Public Schools

Bar Harbor, 04609 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–8Primary333 students

Miles Lane School

RSU 25

Bucksport, 04416 / Rural: Distant

Record1–4Primary300 students

Bucksport Middle School

RSU 25

Bucksport, 04416 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle282 students

Sumner Memorial High School

RSU 24

Sullivan, 04664 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High279 students

Blue Hill Consolidated School

Blue Hill Public Schools

Blue Hill, 04614 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary243 students

Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary Sch

Deer Isle-Stonington CSD

Deer Isle, 04627 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–7Primary203 students

Sumner Middle Sch

RSU 24

Sullivan, 04664 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle180 students

Hancock Grammar School

Hancock Public Schools

Hancock, 04640 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–8Primary174 students

Mt Desert Elementary School

Mount Desert Public Schools

Northeast Harbor, 04662 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary153 students

Dedham School

Dedham Public Schools

Dedham, 04429 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary148 students

Mountain View Sch

RSU 24

Sullivan, 04664 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary147 students

Pemetic Elementary School

Southwest Harbor Public Schools

Southwest Harbor, 04679 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary144 students

Surry Elementary School

Surry Public Schools

Surry, 04684 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary144 students

Trenton Elementary School

Trenton Public Schools

Trenton, 04605 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary140 students

G Herbert Jewett School

RSU 25

Bucksport, 04416 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–KGPrimary135 students

Lamoine Consolidated School

Lamoine Public Schools

Lamoine, 04605 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–8Primary126 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,674

State avg $9,738

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Hancock 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.

View Schools

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 Hancock County?
Hancock County has a school score of 64/100, which is a midrange 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 Hancock County?
The high school graduation rate in Hancock County is 87.8%, 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 Hancock County spend per student?
Hancock County spends $10,674 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 Hancock County, Maine — FAQ

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

Hancock County features 35 public schools serving 6,148 students across 25 different districts. While the number of students is modest, the high district count reflects the county's independent-minded coastal and island communities. Elementary schools dominate the landscape, making up 27 of the 35 total facilities.

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

Ellsworth Public Schools is the largest district, serving 1,328 students, followed by RSU 25 with 1,073 students. The county's remaining enrollment is split among 23 other smaller districts, ensuring hyper-local control. No charter schools operate in the county, emphasizing the role of community-run public schools.

What is the school experience like in Hancock County?

Hancock County has an exceptionally small average school size of just 181 students, with 33 of its 35 schools in rural locales. Ellsworth Elementary-Middle is a rare exception, hosting 775 students in a more centralized setting. For most students, school life involves small cohorts and deep connections to the local landscape.

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.