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Oakland MEPhoto: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Oakland · Regional School Unit 18

Oakland’s public schools outscore 67% of Maine districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Oakland, 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.

#44of 142 Maine townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Maine state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
88%
▲ 4 pts vs ME 84%
2021–22
Math proficiency
87%
▲ 6 pts vs ME 82%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs ME 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.9K
▼ 28% vs ME $20.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.0
ME 11.3 · larger classes
Schools in town
4
1,606 students on the public path
In brief

Oakland’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 302 Maine towns with household incomes within a quarter of Oakland’s, its schools beat 76%, higher than their 67% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 88% and math 87% 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 $14,886 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 Williams Elementary School, then Messalonskee Middle School, then Messalonskee 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 Oakland’s grade

A− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B+: better than 67% of Maine school districts, #44 of 142 Maine towns. Test scores are above the Maine average; graduation is below it.

Maine school districts we grade (177)Better than 67%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maine towns with similar household incomes (302)Better than 76%
Towns in Kennebec County (25)Better than 52%
B−A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,354 test results and a graduating class of 181 could put Oakland anywhere from B− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Oakland’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,353 in math, 1,354 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–2Ralph M Atwood Primary SchoolRegional School Unit 18No scores
3–5Williams Elementary SchoolRegional School Unit 18A
6–8Messalonskee Middle SchoolRegional School Unit 18B
9–12Messalonskee High SchoolRegional School Unit 18A−

Oakland’s public schools are run by Regional School Unit 18, which also serves Belgrade, China, Rome and Sidney. 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.

Regional School Unit 18Grades PK–12 · 8 schools · 2,554 students · 13.0 per teacher (ME 11.3)
$14,886ME $20,630 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading88%
State average 84.1% · 1354 students tested
Math87%
State average 81.5% · 1353 students tested

Oakland vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
OaklandB+Regional School Unit 18
BelgradeB+Regional School Unit 18
WatervilleC−Waterville
Smithfield—School Administrative District 54
SidneyB+Regional School Unit 18

2 of the 4 neighbors share Regional School Unit 18 with Oakland, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Oakland

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 Oaklandby address
Ralph M Atwood Primary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
194 students12:1Rate it →
Williams Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
A
222 students12:1Rate it →
Messalonskee Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
495 students13:1Rate it →
Messalonskee High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
695 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Oakland’s schools

Are Oakland’s schools good?

By Maine’s own tests, yes: the public schools Oakland children attend outscore 67% of Maine’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #44 of 142 Maine towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 76%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Oakland in?

Regional School Unit 18, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,554 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do Oakland kids go to high school?

Messalonskee High School, with 695 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Oakland’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Regional School Unit 18 graduated in four years, against 87% across Maine.

How much does Oakland spend per student?

$14,886 in Regional School Unit 18 (FY2024), against $20,630 across Maine. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Oakland families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Oakland → 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.