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Schools in Canaan · School Administrative District 54

Canaan’s public schools score below 69% of Maine districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Canaan, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Maine, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Maine state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
85%
▲ 1 pts vs ME 84%
2021–22
Math proficiency
81%
▼ 0 pts vs ME 82%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 3–7 pts vs ME 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$22.3K
▲ 8% vs ME $20.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.4
ME 11.3
Schools in town
1
1,319 students on the public path
In brief

Canaan’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 275 Maine towns with household incomes within a quarter of Canaan’s, its schools beat 46%, higher than their 31% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 85% and math 81% in spring 2022, against 84% and 82% statewide; 80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $22,337 per student, against $20,630 across Maine (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Skowhegan Area Middle School, then Skowhegan Area High School. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Canaan’s grade

C+ Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 31% of Maine school districts. Test scores are above the Maine average; graduation is below it.

Maine school districts we grade (177)Better than 31%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maine towns with similar household incomes (275)Better than 46%
Towns in Somerset County (25)Better than 52%
C−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,074 test results and a graduating class of 184 could put Canaan anywhere from C− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Canaan’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,081 in math, 1,068 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Canaan, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Canaan Elementary SchoolSchool Administrative District 54B+
6–8Skowhegan Area Middle Schoolin SkowheganC+
9–12Skowhegan Area High Schoolin SkowheganA−

Canaan’s public schools are run by School Administrative District 54, which also serves Cornville, Mercer, Norridgewock and Skowhegan and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

School Administrative District 54Grades PK–12 · 7 schools · 2,193 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 11.4 per teacher (ME 11.3)
$22,337ME $20,630 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading85%
State average 84.1% · 1068 students tested
Math81%
State average 81.5% · 1081 students tested

Canaan vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Maine towns that share Canaan’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CanaanCSchool Administrative District 54
SkowheganCSchool Administrative District 54
HartlandCRegional School Unit 19
PittsfieldCSchool Administrative District 53
ClintonCSchool Administrative District 49
CornvilleCSchool Administrative District 54

2 of the 5 neighbors share School Administrative District 54 with Canaan, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Canaan

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Maine’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Canaanby address
Canaan Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
160 students9:1Rate it →
Also serving Canaanin other towns
Skowhegan Area Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Skowhegan
C+
473 students12:1Rate it →
Skowhegan Area High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Skowhegan
A−
686 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about Canaan’s schools

Are Canaan’s schools good?

On Maine’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Canaan children attend score below 69% of Maine’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 46%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Canaan in?

School Administrative District 54, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,193 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

Where do Canaan kids go to high school?

Skowhegan Area High School in Skowhegan, with 686 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Canaan’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in School Administrative District 54 graduated in four years, against 87% across Maine.

How much does Canaan spend per student?

$22,337 in School Administrative District 54 (FY2024), against $20,630 across Maine. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Canaan families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Canaan → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Maine. Stars are from neighbors.