Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0Gardiner’s public schools score below 53% of Maine districts on tests and graduation
The grade covers the public school district serving Gardiner, 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.
From Maine state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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.
Gardiner’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 321 Maine towns with household incomes within a quarter of Gardiner’s, its schools beat 65%, higher than their 47% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in math, below in reading
Reading proficiency is 84% and math 84% in spring 2022, against 84% and 82% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $16,783 per student, against $20,630 across Maine (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school
From grade 3 the district’s path is River View Community School, then Gardiner Regional Middle School, then Gardiner Area High School. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. 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.
What’s behind Gardiner’s grade
B−: better than 47% of Maine school districts, #70 of 142 Maine towns. Test scores are above the Maine average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Gardiner, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Gardiner
Laura E Richards School
Grades PK–2 · 219 students · 14:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Gardiner
Laura E Richards School
Grades PK–2 · 219 students · 14:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Gardiner
Laura E Richards School
Grades PK–2 · 219 students · 14:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Gardiner
Laura E Richards School
Grades PK–2 · 219 students · 14:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Gardiner
River View Community School
Grades 3–5 · 192 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in South Gardiner
4th grade in Gardiner
River View Community School
Grades 3–5 · 192 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in South Gardiner
5th grade in Gardiner
River View Community School
Grades 3–5 · 192 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in South Gardiner
6th grade in Gardiner
Gardiner Regional Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 425 students · 11:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Gardiner
Gardiner Regional Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 425 students · 11:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Gardiner
Gardiner Regional Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 425 students · 11:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Gardiner
Gardiner Area High School
Grades 9–12 · 565 students · 12:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Gardiner
Gardiner Area High School
Grades 9–12 · 565 students · 12:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Gardiner
Gardiner Area High School
Grades 9–12 · 565 students · 12:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Gardiner
Gardiner Area High School
Grades 9–12 · 565 students · 12:1 students per teacher
Gardiner’s public schools are run by School Administrative District 11, which also serves Pittston, Randolph and West Gardiner. 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.
Close to the state in reading
Gardiner vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Maine towns that share Gardiner’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Gardiner | B− | School Administrative District 11 |
| West Gardiner | B− | School Administrative District 11 |
| Pittston | B− | School Administrative District 11 |
| Farmingdale | B | Regional School Unit 02 |
| Litchfield | C− | Regional School Unit 04 |
| Randolph | B− | School Administrative District 11 |
3 of the 5 neighbors share School Administrative District 11 with Gardiner, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Gardiner
4 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).
Questions about Gardiner’s schools
Are Gardiner’s schools good?
On Maine’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Gardiner children attend score below 53% of Maine’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #70 of 142 Maine towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 65%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Gardiner in?
School Administrative District 11, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,846 students in 6 schools (2024–25).
Where do Gardiner kids go to high school?
Gardiner Area High School, with 565 students; its own test results earn an A−.
What is Gardiner’s graduation rate?
85–89% of the class of 2023 in School Administrative District 11 graduated in four years, against 87% across Maine.
How much does Gardiner spend per student?
$16,783 in School Administrative District 11 (FY2024), against $20,630 across Maine. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Gardiner families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Gardiner → 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.