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A−

Saco Public Schools

Public school districtGrades PK–8

Serves Saco.

Saco’s School Grade A− better than 79% of Maine school districts

Students
1,942
Schools
5
Spent per student
$13,905
ME $20,630
Students per teacher
12:1
Free or reduced lunch
34%
Debt
$0.1M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Saco Public Schools

  • Its letter, A−: results better than 79% of Maine districts
  • Graduation rate 5 pts above the state
  • Spends 33% less per student than the ME average
  • 12 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 5.3% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $0.1M, about $26 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

A−: better than 79% of the 177 Maine school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math above the state, 2021–22
B+
GraduationFour-year graduation well above the state, class of 2020
A
The town it serves, and its School Grade
A−Saco 21,159

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Saco. Grade by grade →

K–22 elementary schoolsThis district
3–5C K Burns SchoolThis district
6–8Saco Middle SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. ME

2021–22 · class of 2020
Math proficiency85%
State average 81.5% · 1,097 students tested
Reading / language arts87%
State average 84.1% · 1,092 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)92%
State average 86.8% · 239 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$13,905 per student · 33% below ME
Spending
Classroom instruction 59%Support & administration 38%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 56%State 39%Federal 5%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
1,844’20
1,815’21
1,897’22
1,924’23
1,942’24

Up 5.3% since 2020–21.

Students
White 79%Black 9%Hispanic 5%Two or more races 4%Asian 2%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

5 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Maine’s other public schools.

Saco Pre-K
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Saco
124 students13:1
Young School
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Saco
323 students11:1
Governor John Fairfield School
Elementary · Grades K–2 · Saco
268 students10:1
C K Burns School
Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Saco
B
641 students13:1
Saco Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Saco
B+
586 students11:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

BiddefordBiddeford
$22,226per student
Dayton Public SchoolsDayton
$9,518per student
Regional School Unit 23Old Orchard Beach
$27,561per student
ScarboroughScarborough
$22,032per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Maine.