schoolsbycounty

Knox County Schools & Education

School Score

78/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

91.6%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.6%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 86.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$11,353

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,738

School Score

78/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 57/100

State Score Position

#1

of 16 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Knox County

Measured School Summary

Knox County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 78/100 and a graduation rate of 91.6%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Knox County spends $11,353 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 36% above the Maine average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 17% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Knox 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

21 public schools and 12 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

78/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #1 of 16 Maine counties with school score data.

Completion

91.6%

5.5 pts above the state average

Funding context

$11,353

$1,615 above the state average

School coverage

21

12 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

Knox County has 21 public schools across 12 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 Knox 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.

Higher-signal county

Knox County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.

State position

#1

of 16 Maine counties with school score data. The county score is 21 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 95% 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.

RSU 13

Elementary to high school visible

1,538 students

Elementary 4Middle 1High 1Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

RSU 28/MSAD 28

Elementary and middle visible

738 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 0Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Five Town CSD

High school only in this slice

719 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

RSU 40/MSAD 40

Elementary school only in this slice

608 students

Elementary 4Middle 0High 0Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

RSU 40/MSAD 40 is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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 Knox County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Knox 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 Knox 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.

RSU 40 and RSU 13 Anchor the Coast

RSU 40 is the largest provider in the county, educating 1,800 students, followed closely by RSU 13 with 1,538 students. These two districts manage the majority of the county's enrollment across 13 schools. There are no charter schools in Knox, with all students served by local public districts.

Small-Scale Learning in Rural Settings

With an average school size of 215 students, Knox County offers an intimate academic experience. While Camden Hills Regional High School is a large outlier with 719 students, most schools are much smaller. The mix of 15 rural and 6 town-based schools provides a classic New England educational atmosphere.

School Overview

Total Schools

21

in Knox County

Reported Enrollment

4,304

20 schools reporting

School Districts

12

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary14
Middle2
High2
Other3

12 School Districts in Knox County

RSU 40/MSAD 40

7 schools
1,800 students

RSU 13

6 schools
1,538 students

RSU 28/MSAD 28

2 schools
738 students

Five Town CSD

1 school
719 students

St George Public Schools

1 school
209 students

RSU 08/MSAD 08

1 school
157 students

Hope Public Schools

1 school
145 students

Appleton Public Schools

1 school
135 students

RSU 07/MSAD 07

1 school
50 students

Isle Au Haut Public Schools

1 school
4 students

21 Public Schools in Knox 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 21 matching schools

Camden Hills Regional H S

Five Town CSD

Rockport, 04856 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High719 students

Oceanside High School

RSU 13

Rockland, 04841 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High525 students

Camden-Rockport Elementary School

RSU 28/MSAD 28

Rockport, 04856 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary380 students

Camden-Rockport Middle School

RSU 28/MSAD 28

Camden, 04843 / Town: Remote

Record5–8Middle358 students

Oceanside Middle School

RSU 13

Thomaston, 04861 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle349 students

Warren Community School

RSU 40/MSAD 40

Warren, 04864 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary309 students

South School

RSU 13

Rockland, 04841 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary265 students

St George School

St George Public Schools

Tenants Harbor, 04860 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary209 students

Ash Point Community School

RSU 13

Owls Head, 04854 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary174 students

Vinalhaven School

RSU 08/MSAD 08

Vinalhaven, 04863 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–12Other157 students

Thomaston Grammar School

RSU 13

Thomaston, 04861 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary153 students

Hope Elementary School

Hope Public Schools

Hope, 04847 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary145 students

Appleton Village School

Appleton Public Schools

Appleton, 04862 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary135 students

Union Elementary

RSU 40/MSAD 40

Union, 04862 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary120 students

Prescott Memorial School

RSU 40/MSAD 40

Washington, 04574 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–6Primary95 students

Friendship Village School

RSU 40/MSAD 40

Friendship, 04547 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary84 students

Cushing Community School

RSU 13

Cushing, 04563 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary72 students

North Haven Community School

RSU 07/MSAD 07

North Haven, 04853 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–12Other50 students

Isle au Haut Rural School

Isle Au Haut Public Schools

Isle Au Haut, 04645 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–8Primary4 students

Matinicus Elementary School

RSU 65/MSAD 65

Matinicus Isle Plantation, 04851 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–8Primary1 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$11,353

State avg $9,738

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Knox 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 Knox County?
Knox County has a school score of 78/100, 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 Knox County?
The high school graduation rate in Knox County is 91.6%, 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 Knox County spend per student?
Knox County spends $11,353 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 Knox County, Maine — FAQ

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

RSU 40 is the largest provider in the county, educating 1,800 students, followed closely by RSU 13 with 1,538 students. These two districts manage the majority of the county's enrollment across 13 schools. There are no charter schools in Knox, with all students served by local public districts.

What is the school experience like in Knox County?

With an average school size of 215 students, Knox County offers an intimate academic experience. While Camden Hills Regional High School is a large outlier with 719 students, most schools are much smaller. The mix of 15 rural and 6 town-based schools provides a classic New England educational atmosphere.

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.