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Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Enrollment Analysis: Asian students comprised 0.8% of Washington County's student body in 2022-23 school year

Webp maine commissioner of education pender makin 2023

ME Commissioner of Education Pender Makin 2023 | Maine Department of Education

ME Commissioner of Education Pender Makin 2023 | Maine Department of Education

There were 31 Asian students enrolled in Washington County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 121.4% more than the previous year, according to the Maine Department of Education.

Data showed that Asian students made up 0.8% of the 4,061 students in Washington County schools at the time. They were the third least represented ethnicity.

Among the 34 schools in the county, Washington Academy recorded the highest enrollment of Asian students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 20 students.

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."

Ethnicities in Washington County in 2022-23 School Year

White (83.6%)American Indian or Alaskan Native (6.6%)Ethnicities < 5% (9.8%)

Enrollment Demographics in Washington County Schools During 2022-23 School Year

School NameAsian Students EnrollmentTotal Enrollment% of Total Enrollment
Washington Academy203366%
Rose M. Gaffney School23240.6%
Narraguagus High School23140.6%
Calais Middle/High School22930.7%
Calais Elementary School12610.4%
Elm Street School-East Machias11900.5%
Woodland Junior-Senior High School0182--
Machias Memorial High School0170--
East Grand School31392.2%
Beatrice Rafferty School0138--
Milbridge Elementary School0127--
Harrington Elementary School0124--
Princeton Elementary School0121--
Woodland Elementary School0114--
Cherryfield Elementary School0100--
Daniel W. Merritt School099--
Jonesport Elementary School099--
Eastport Elementary School095--
Lubec Consolidated School095--
Shead High School086--
Ella Lewis School078--
Perry Elementary School070--
Edmunds Consolidated School068--
Jonesport-Beals High School068--
Pembroke Elementary School068--
Bay Ridge Elementary School051--
Jonesboro Elementary School051--
Fort O'Brien School048--
Beals Elementary School041--
Alexander Elementary School035--
East Range II CSD School025--
Whiting Village School025--
Charlotte Elementary School022--
Wesley Elementary School04--

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