Down East Times

There were 3,208 white students enrolled in Washington County ditricts in the 2022-23 school year, 0.4% more than the previous year, according to the Maine Department of Education.

Data showed that white students made up 79.4% of the 4,042 students in Washington County ditricts during the 2022-23 school year. They were the most represented ethnicity.

Among the 42 districts in Washington County, Regional School Unit 37/Maine School Administrative District 37 recorded the highest enrollment of white students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 482 students.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Washington 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
Regional School Unit 37/Maine School Administrative District 37	482	603	79.9%
Calais Public Schools	373	404	92.3%
MacHias Public Schools	277	290	95.5%
East MacHias Public Schools	239	250	95.6%
Baileyville Public Schools	194	218	89%
Pleasant Point	1	192	0.5%
Indian Township	20	182	11%
Cherryfield Public Schools	134	146	91.8%
Regional School Unit 85/Maine School Administrative District 19	125	129	96.9%
Princeton Public Schools	102	126	81%
Eastport Public Schools	93	124	75%
Indian Island	7	116	6%
Regional School Unit 84/Maine School Administrative District 14	105	111	94.6%
Jonesport Public Schools	98	99	99%
Perry Public Schools	74	92	80.4%
Cutler Public Schools	80	87	92%
Pembroke Public Schools	71	87	81.6%
Marshfield Public Schools	84	85	98.8%
MacHiasport Public Schools	75	80	93.8%
Jonesboro Public Schools	71	79	89.9%
Robbinston Public Schools	65	73	89%
Moosabec Community School District	64	67	95.5%
Alexander Public Schools	44	48	91.7%
Whiting Public Schools	40	43	93%
Beals Public Schools	36	41	87.8%
Dennysville Public Schools	34	34	100%
Charlotte Public Schools	29	31	93.5%
Whitneyville Public Schools	29	29	100%
Baring Plantation Public Schools	24	25	96%
Northfield Public Schools	22	22	100%
Roque Bluffs Public Schools	16	21	76.2%
Cooper Public Schools	17	20	85%
Orient Public Schools	15	16	93.8%
East Range Community School District	12	14	85.7%
Wesley Public Schools	13	13	100%
Deblois Public Schools	12	12	100%
Talmadge Public Schools	9	9	100%
Waite Public Schools	9	9	100%
Grand Lake Stream Plantation School Department	3	5	60%
Beddington Public Schools	4	4	100%
Meddybemps Public Schools	4	4	100%
Crawford Public Schools	2	2	100%