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Houlton, MainePhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
C+
Schools in Houlton · School Administrative District 29

Houlton’s public schools score below 57% of Maine districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Houlton, 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.

≈could be anywhere from C− to A−#81of 142 Maine townsK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
86%
▲ 2 pts vs ME 84%
2021–22
Math proficiency
80%
▼ 2 pts vs ME 82%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs ME 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.2K
▼ 26% vs ME $20.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.2
ME 11.3 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
1,214 students on the public path
In brief

Houlton’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 293 Maine towns with household incomes within a quarter of Houlton’s, its schools beat 63%, higher than their 43% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 86% and math 80% 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 $15,207 per student, against $20,630 across Maine (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Houlton Southside School, then Houlton Junior High School, then Houlton High School. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Carleton Project (private) is in town. Every school ↓

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 Houlton’s grade

C+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 43% of Maine school districts, #81 of 142 Maine towns. Test scores are above the Maine average; graduation is below it.

Maine school districts we grade (177)Better than 43%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maine towns with similar household incomes (293)Better than 63%
Towns in Aroostook County (49)Better than 41%
C−A−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 624 test results and a graduating class of 78 could put Houlton anywhere from C− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Houlton’s students in the tested grades sat them (627 in math, 622 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–2Houlton Elementary SchoolSchool Administrative District 29No scores
3–6Houlton Southside SchoolSchool Administrative District 29C
7–8Houlton Junior High SchoolSchool Administrative District 29B−
9–12Houlton High SchoolSchool Administrative District 29A−

Houlton’s public schools are run by School Administrative District 29, which also serves Hammond, Littleton and Monticello. 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 29Grades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,214 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 15.2 per teacher (ME 11.3)
$15,207ME $20,630 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading86%
State average 84.1% · 622 students tested
Math80%
State average 81.5% · 627 students tested

Houlton vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
HoultonC+School Administrative District 29
Ludlow—School Administrative District 70
Littleton—School Administrative District 29
HodgdonB+School Administrative District 70
New Limerick—School Administrative District 70

Every school in Houlton

5 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 Houltonby address
Houlton Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
282 students13:1Rate it →
Houlton Southside School
Elementary · Grades 3–6
C
368 students15:1Rate it →
Houlton Junior High School
Middle · Grades 7–8
B−
186 students17:1Rate it →
Houlton High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
378 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Carleton Project
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Nonsectarian
8 students4:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Region Two Sch of Applied Tech).

Questions about Houlton’s schools

Are Houlton’s schools good?

On Maine’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Houlton children attend score below 57% of Maine’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #81 of 142 Maine towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 63%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Houlton in?

School Administrative District 29, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,214 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Houlton kids go to high school?

Houlton High School, with 378 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Houlton’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in School Administrative District 29 graduated in four years, against 87% across Maine.

How much does Houlton spend per student?

$15,207 in School Administrative District 29 (FY2024), against $20,630 across Maine. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Houlton?

Yes: Carleton Project (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 8 students).

Parents talk

What Houlton families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Houlton → 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.