Very Good
#5 of 64 private schools in ME
Top 6% of private schools
Breakwater School
Elementary School
856 BRIGHTON AVE, Portland, ME 04102
Enrollment
100
Student-Teacher
7.1:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
100
Student-Teacher
7.1:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
Maine private schools
#5 of 64
In Portland
#1 of 5
public schools
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Breakwater School
Elementary School in Portland · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Amanda C Rowe School
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Deering High School
0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Breakwater School
Breakwater School is a private elementary school in Portland, ME. Breakwater School serves approximately 100 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 7.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Breakwater School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #5 of 64 private schools in ME.
- This school 7.9 · Very Good
- ME avg 6.1
What Parents Should Know
At 100 students, Breakwater School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
At 7.1:1 students to teachers, Breakwater School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Breakwater School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow Breakwater School compares to 11 public schools serving similar grades in Portland, ME
Student Demographics
Nearby Elementary Schools
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Breakwater School (this school) | 7.9 |
| Amanda C Rowe School | 4.6 |
| Longfellow School-Portland | 7.6 |
| Lincoln Middle School | 6.8 |
| Ocean Avenue | 8.0 |
| Gerald E Talbot Community School | 6.2 |
| King Middle School | 3.7 |
| Lyman Moore Middle School | 6.2 |
| Howard C Reiche Community Sch | 5.1 |
| Harrison Lyseth Elem School | 5.4 |
| Presumpscot School | 6.9 |
| East End Community School | 5.8 |
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in ME.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in ME
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
856 BRIGHTON AVE, Portland, ME 04102
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Breakwater School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ocean Avenue (rated 8.0/10, 1.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Longfellow School-Portland (rated 7.6/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, LEVEY DAY SCHOOL (rated 7.3/10, 1.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Portland, see our Portland schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.3 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda C Rowe School Portland | 0.5 mi | 4.6 |
| Deering High School Portland | 0.9 mi | 5.6 |
| Longfellow School-Portland Portland | 0.9 mi | 7.6 |
| Lincoln Middle School Portland | 1.0 mi | 6.8 |
| ST BRIGID SCHOOL Portland | 1.2 mi | 5.9 |
| Gerald E Talbot Community School Portland | 1.6 mi | 6.2 |
| Ocean Avenue Portland | 1.5 mi | 8.0 |
| LEVEY DAY SCHOOL Portland | 1.6 mi | 7.3 |
| Casco Bay High School Portland | 2.0 mi | 7.5 |
| THE GLICKMAN LAUDER CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN AUTISM Portland | 1.9 mi | — |
| Arthur R. Gould Sch--LCYDC South Portland | 2.4 mi | — |
| Westbrook Middle School Westbrook | 1.8 mi | 4.3 |
| CHEVERUS HIGH SCHOOL Portland | 1.9 mi | 6.4 |
| THE LITTLE DOLPHIN SCHOOL FOUNDATION Westbrook | 2.3 mi | — |
| Westbrook High School Westbrook | 2.0 mi | 6.1 |
| Oxford-Cumberland Canal School Westbrook | 2.1 mi | 4.3 |
| King Middle School Portland | 2.2 mi | 3.7 |
| Lyman Moore Middle School Portland | 2.7 mi | 6.2 |
| Harrison Lyseth Elem School Portland | 2.8 mi | 5.4 |
| Waldo T Skillin Elementary School South Portland | 3.3 mi | 4.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 04102 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$79,631
Median Home Value
$464,100
Median Rent
$1,435/mo
Population
17,642
College Educated
62.3%
Homeownership
50.3%
Avg Commute
19.3 min
Poverty Rate
10%
Median Age
36.9
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Appleton Village School Appleton, ME | 8.0 |
| Stratton Elementary School Stratton, ME | 8.0 |
| Sebago Elementary School Sebago, ME | 7.8 |
| Cherryfield Elementary Cherryfield, ME | 8.1 |
| G Herbert Jewett School Bucksport, ME | 7.7 |
| Sedgwick Elementary School Sedgwick, ME | 7.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Breakwater School
What grades does Breakwater School serve?
Breakwater School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Breakwater School?
Breakwater School has an enrollment of approximately 100 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Breakwater School?
The student-teacher ratio at Breakwater School is 7.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Breakwater School rank in ME?
Breakwater School ranks #5 of 64 private schools in ME.
What is Breakwater School's MySchoolScout rating?
Breakwater School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
Is Breakwater School a private school?
Yes, Breakwater School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is Breakwater School a religious school?
No, Breakwater School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.
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Neighborhood Context
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Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 100
- Gender Split
- 52% M / 48% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Nonsectarian
- School Day
- 7 hours
- Days Per Year
- 175 days
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Cumberland County
- Phone
- (207) 772-8689
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