Penobscot County Schools & Education
Penobscot County, Maine
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
86.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
86.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 86.1%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,382
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,738
School Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 57/100
State Score Position
#8
of 16 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Penobscot County
Measured School Summary
Penobscot County performs at an average level with a school score of 55/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.1%.
Funding Context
Penobscot County spends $9,382 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 3% below the Maine average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Penobscot 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
67 public schools and 24 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
55/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #8 of 16 Maine counties with school score data.
Completion
86.1%
matches the state average
Funding context
$9,382
$356 below the state average
School coverage
67
24 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
Penobscot County has 67 public schools across 24 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.
What Penobscot 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
Penobscot 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
#8
of 16 Maine counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points below 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.
Bangor Public Schools
Elementary to high school visible
3,454 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
RSU 19
Elementary to high school visible
1,691 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Brewer Public Schools
Elementary and high visible
1,604 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
RSU 34
Elementary to high school visible
1,425 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Bangor Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 10 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 Penobscot County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Penobscot 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 Penobscot 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.
A Diverse and Large Educational Network
Penobscot County supports a massive network of 67 schools across 24 districts, educating 19,128 students. The infrastructure is robust, featuring 35 elementary schools and 14 high schools to serve a growing population.
Bangor Public Schools Set the Pace
Bangor Public Schools is the largest district, managing 10 schools and 3,454 students. The county relies entirely on traditional public schools, as there are zero charter schools among the 67 facilities.
Urban Hubs and Rural Outposts
This county offers rare locale diversity for Maine, featuring 11 city schools and 13 suburban schools alongside 42 rural sites. Bangor High School is the largest campus with 1,107 students, while the countywide average school size is 299.
School Overview
Total Schools
67
in Penobscot County
Reported Enrollment
19,128
64 schools reporting
School Districts
24
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
24 School Districts in Penobscot County
Bangor Public Schools
GuideRSU 19
Brewer Public Schools
RSU 34
Hermon Public Schools
RSU 64/MSAD 64
RSU 67
MSAD 46
RSU 26
RSU 87/MSAD 23
67 Public Schools in Penobscot County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 67 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor High School | Profile | Bangor Public Schools | Bangor, 04401City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,107 |
| Brewer Community School | Record | Brewer Public Schools | Brewer, 04412Suburb: Small | PK–8 | Primary | 884 |
| Hampden Academy | Record | RSU 22 | Hampden, 04444Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 811 |
| Brewer High School | Record | Brewer Public Schools | Brewer, 04412Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 720 |
| Nokomis Regional High School | Record | RSU 19 | Newport, 04953Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 634 |
| Hermon High School | Record | Hermon Public Schools | Hermon, 04401Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 584 |
| Ridge View Community School | Record | MSAD 46 | Dexter, 04930Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 571 |
| Nokomis Regional Middle School | Record | RSU 19 | Newport, 04953Rural: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 544 |
| Old Town High School | Record | RSU 34 | Old Town, 04468Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 536 |
| Central Community Elementary School | Record | RSU 64/MSAD 64 | Corinth, 04427Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 504 |
| Patricia A Duran School | Record | Hermon Public Schools | Hermon, 04401Rural: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 484 |
| Old Town Elementary School | Record | RSU 34 | Old Town, 04468Suburb: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 427 |
| Glenburn Elementary School | Record | Glenburn Public Schools | Glenburn, 04401Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 384 |
| Orono High School | Record | RSU 26 | Orono, 04473Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 373 |
| James F. Doughty School | Record | Bangor Public Schools | Bangor, 04401City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 364 |
| William S. Cohen School | Record | Bangor Public Schools | Bangor, 04401City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 364 |
| Center Drive School | Record | Orrington Public Schools | Orrington, 04474Rural: Fringe | PK–8 | Primary | 361 |
| Reeds Brook Middle School | Record | RSU 22 | Hampden, 04444Suburb: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 345 |
| Fruit Street School | Record | Bangor Public Schools | Bangor, 04401City: Small | PK–3 | Primary | 334 |
| Central High School | Record | RSU 64/MSAD 64 | Corinth, 04427Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 330 |
Bangor High School
Bangor Public Schools
Bangor, 04401 / City: Small
Brewer Community School
Brewer Public Schools
Brewer, 04412 / Suburb: Small
Central Community Elementary School
RSU 64/MSAD 64
Corinth, 04427 / Rural: Distant
Patricia A Duran School
Hermon Public Schools
Hermon, 04401 / Rural: Fringe
Glenburn Elementary School
Glenburn Public Schools
Glenburn, 04401 / Rural: Fringe
Center Drive School
Orrington Public Schools
Orrington, 04474 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,382
State avg $9,738
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Penobscot County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Maine counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Maine?
How should I read the school score in Penobscot County?
What is the graduation rate in Penobscot County?
How much does Penobscot County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Penobscot County, Maine — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Penobscot County, Maine?
Penobscot County supports a massive network of 67 schools across 24 districts, educating 19,128 students. The infrastructure is robust, featuring 35 elementary schools and 14 high schools to serve a growing population.
What are the major school districts in Penobscot County, Maine?
Bangor Public Schools is the largest district, managing 10 schools and 3,454 students. The county relies entirely on traditional public schools, as there are zero charter schools among the 67 facilities.
What is the school experience like in Penobscot County?
This county offers rare locale diversity for Maine, featuring 11 city schools and 13 suburban schools alongside 42 rural sites. Bangor High School is the largest campus with 1,107 students, while the countywide average school size is 299.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.