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Schools in Mount Desert · Mount Desert, Mount Desert Community School District

Mount Desert’s public schools outscore 95% of Maine districts

In Mount Desert, 98% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Maine average (82%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Mount Desert, 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 88% 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
95%
▲ 11 pts vs ME 84%
2021–22
Math proficiency
98%
▲ 16 pts vs ME 82%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs ME 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$27.9K
▲ 35% vs ME $20.6K
FY2024 · Mount Desert
Students per teacher
8.0
ME 11.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
614 students on the public path
In brief

Mount Desert’s schools, in brief

Mount Desert runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Mt Desert Elementary School (PK–8) is Mount Desert’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Mount Desert Community School District with Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Tremont: Mt Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor. The high school’s own results earn an A+, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 95% and math 98% across both districts 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

Mount Desert spends $31,057 per student and Mount Desert $27,878, against $20,630 across Maine (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

The Community School (private) and The Community School of Mount Desert Island (private) are 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 Mount Desert’s grade

A+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

A+: better than 95% of Maine school districts. Test scores are above the Maine average; graduation is below it.

Maine school districts we grade (177)Better than 95%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maine towns with similar household incomes (218)Better than 97%
Towns in Hancock County (31)Better than 90%
AA+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 182 test results and a graduating class of 140 could put Mount Desert anywhere from A to A+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 88% of Mount Desert’s students in the tested grades sat them (182 in math, 183 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–8Mt Desert Elementary SchoolMount DesertA
9–12Mt Desert Island High Schoolin Bar HarborA+

Mount Desert runs its own schools through grade 8 (Mount Desert). From grade 9, students attend the Mount Desert Community School District, shared with Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Tremont. Its high school is in Bar Harbor. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Mount Desert

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

Mount DesertGrades PK–8 · 1 schools · 161 students, up 16% since 2020–21 · 7.3 per teacher (ME 11.3)
$31,057ME $20,630 · FY2024
A+
Mount Desert Community School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 1 schools · 453 students, down 15% since 2020–21 · 8.2 per teacher (ME 11.3)
$27,878ME $20,630 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Mount Desert98%
State average 84.1% · 104 students tested
Math · PK–8, Mount Desert98%
State average 81.5% · 105 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Mount Desert Community School District92%
State average 84.1% · 79 students tested
Math · 9–12, Mount Desert Community School District98%
State average 81.5% · 77 students tested

Mount Desert vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Mount DesertA+Mount Desert PK–8 · Mount Desert 9–12
Bar HarborA+Bar Harbor K–8 · Mount Desert 9–12
Cranberry Isles—Cranberry Isles
TremontA−Tremont PK–8 · Mount Desert 9–12
Southwest HarborASouthwest Harbor PK–8 · Mount Desert 9–12
Blue HillB+Blue Hill
SurryCSurry
TrentonB+Trenton

3 of the 7 neighbors share Mount Desert with Mount Desert for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Mount Desert

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).

District schools in Mount Desertby address
Mt Desert Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Northeast Harbor
A
161 students7:1Rate it →
Also serving Mount Desertin other towns
Mt Desert Island High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Bar Harbor
A+
453 students8:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
The Community School
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Mt Desert
Private · Nonsectarian
39 students5:1Rate it →
The Community School of Mount Desert Island
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Nonsectarian
39 students5:1Rate it →

Questions about Mount Desert’s schools

Are Mount Desert’s schools good?

By Maine’s own tests, yes: the public schools Mount Desert children attend outscore 95% of Maine’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 97%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Mount Desert in?

Two districts: Mount Desert runs grades PK–8, and Mount Desert Community School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Tremont.

Where do Mount Desert kids go to high school?

Mt Desert Island High School in Bar Harbor, with 453 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Mount Desert’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Mount Desert spend per student?

$31,057 in Mount Desert and $27,878 in Mount Desert Community School District (FY2024), against $20,630 across Maine. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Mount Desert?

Yes: The Community School (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 39 students) and The Community School of Mount Desert Island (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 39 students).

Parents talk

What Mount Desert families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Mount Desert → 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.