Best Schools in Portland, Maine
22 schools · 11 Elementary · 3 Middle · 5 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Portland?
Use this page to compare every school in Portland by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Presumpscot School
Elementary · Portland Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Amanda C Rowe School
Elementary · Portland Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Harrison Lyseth Elem School
Elementary · Portland Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Portland for 2026 are Presumpscot School (8.9/10), Amanda C Rowe School (8.8/10), and Harrison Lyseth Elem School (8.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
22
15 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$495,500
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
22
15 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$495,500
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 57% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Portland schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Portland
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 15 rated schools; 22 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Presumpscot School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Amanda C Rowe School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Harrison Lyseth Elem School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Casco Bay High School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Lyman Moore Middle School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Howard C Reiche Community Sch | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Baxter Academy for Tech & Sciences | 7.2 / 10 |
| 8 | King Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Longfellow School-Portland | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Portland High School | 6.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.9/10
- Median household income
- $77,013
- Median home value
- $495,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 59%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 45%
48% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Portland compares
Maine rank
#20 of 72
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.6
above Maine avg (6.2)
Median household income
$77k
108% of Maine median
Schools in this city
21
Portland Public Schools runs Portland's public schools
15 public schools. Portland Public Schools is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Portland is a Portland Public Schools school (14 of 15).
Among 15 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.7 to 8.9 — the spread is inside Portland, not a citywide average.
- Portland Public Schools14 public · 93%
- Baxter Academy For Technology and Science1 public · 7%
About Schools in Portland, Maine
Portland's public school system covers 15 ranked schools across elementary and high school levels. The city-wide average sits at 5.6 out of 10 — a middle-of-the-road baseline that masks real variation between individual campuses. Only 1 school, just 7% of the ranked total, clears the 7-out-of-10 threshold. That tight concentration at the top means the gap between the city's best and the broader field is significant.
Casco Bay High School sits alone at the top with an 8.4 score — the only Portland school above 7, and a clear outlier in the local landscape. For families with high-school-age students, Casco Bay is the strongest public option in the city by a notable margin. Baxter Academy for Technology and Sciences rounds out the top five among high schools at 6.3, giving families two public high school choices at opposite ends of the top-performer range. The 2.1-point gap between them is worth noting: these are meaningfully different performance tiers, not near-equals.
At the elementary level, options cluster tightly in the mid-6s. Presumpscot School leads that group at 6.9, followed by Ocean Avenue at 6.5 and Amanda C Rowe at 6.4. All three fall within half a point of each other, so score differences alone won't drive the decision. Neighborhood access, program fit, and school culture carry more weight when scores are this close.
Portland's 5.6 city average reflects one strong outlier anchoring a field where most campuses fall well below the 7-point mark. Parents should evaluate each school's individual score against the specific grade level they need rather than relying on the city figure. High school families have a clear first choice in Casco Bay. Elementary families have three comparable upper-tier options and should weigh location and program before deciding.
Elementary Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 243 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 | ||
| 2 | 481 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 | ||
| 3 | 494 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 | ||
| 4 | 463 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 | ||
| 5 | 274 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 | ||
| 6 | 357 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.5 | ||
| 7 | 396 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.7 | ||
| 8 | 361 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.7 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Levey Day SchoolPrivate 44 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Breakwater SchoolPrivate 98 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 11 elementary schools in Portland
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 483 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 442 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 3 | 418 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 381 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 373 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 968 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 4 | 836 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Cheverus High SchoolPrivate 344 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waynflete SchoolPrivate 520 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 2 | Glickman AcademyPrivate 31 students · 4th–12th | Not Rated |
| 3 | 20 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Portland
Portland, Maine · 22 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$77,013
Median Home Value
$495,500
Median Rent
$1,488/mo
Population
67,475
College Educated
59%
Homeownership
45%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Community Profile
Portland has a median household income of $77,013. It is a well-educated community where 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $495,500, with a median rent of $1,488/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.9%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Maine
- Elementary
- 11
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 5
- Other
- 3
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Portland, Maine
How many schools are in Portland, Maine?
Portland has 22 schools, including 15 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Portland, Maine?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Portland is 6.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Portland, Maine?
The top-ranked school in Portland on MySchoolScout is Presumpscot School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Portland, Maine?
The top-ranked elementary school in Portland on MySchoolScout is Presumpscot School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Portland, Maine?
The top-ranked middle school in Portland on MySchoolScout is Lyman Moore Middle School with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best high school in Portland, Maine?
The top-ranked high school in Portland on MySchoolScout is Casco Bay High School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
How many school districts serve Portland, Maine?
Portland is served by 2 school districts: Portland Public Schools, Baxter Academy for Technology and Science.
What is the education level in Portland, Maine?
According to Census data, 59% of adults in Portland have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Portland, Maine?
The median household income in Portland is approximately $77,013 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Portland, Maine?
Yes, Portland has 7 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Levey Day School with a score of 7.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Portland, Maine?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Portland is 10.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Portland, Maine?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Maine Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.