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Very Good

#5 of 64 private schools in ME

Top 6% of private schools

Breakwater School

Elementary School

856 BRIGHTON AVE, Portland, ME 04102

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 15 schools in Portland. Learn more

Enrollment

100

Student-Teacher

7.1:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Portland

#1 of 5

public schools

Maine elementary schools

#1 of 23

About Breakwater School

Breakwater School is a public elementary school located at 856 Brighton Ave in Portland, Cumberland, Maine. Serving pre-K through 8th grade students, the school has an enrollment of 100 pupils with a student-teacher ratio of 7.1:1, ensuring a personalized learning environment. With 14 full-time equivalent teachers, Breakwater School focuses on providing individualized attention to each child.

While academic performance data is not available, the school ranks 75th percentile among Maine's schools and has a MySchoolScout rating of 2.2 out of 10. This suggests that while there may be room for improvement in test scores, Breakwater School prioritizes other aspects of student development such as social skills and emotional well-being. Breakwater School is situated within a small city setting, offering students easy access to local amenities and cultural resources.

The school community fosters a supportive environment where educators work closely with families to ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 100 students, Breakwater School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.1:1, Breakwater School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Breakwater School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Breakwater School compares to 11 public schools serving similar grades in Portland, ME

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.1:1
This School
vs
10.5:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
100
This School
vs
401
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.9
This School
vs
5.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 82% vs 0%
Black 5% vs 0%
Hispanic 3% vs 0%
Asian 1% vs 0%
Breakwater School Portland Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Breakwater School (this school) 7.9
Amanda C Rowe School 6.4
Longfellow School-Portland 5.1
Lincoln Middle School 6.3
Ocean Avenue 6.4
Gerald E Talbot Community School 3.6
King Middle School 4.9
Lyman Moore Middle School 6.0
Howard C Reiche Community Sch 4.3
Harrison Lyseth Elem School 5.9
Presumpscot School 6.7
East End Community School 3.6

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What 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.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B+ 7.0 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,225
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 32%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A 8.6 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 100
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)

White 82.0%
Two or More 8.0%
Black 5.0%
Hispanic 3.0%
Asian 1.0%
Pacific Islander 1.0%

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. LEVEY DAY SCHOOL (rated 7.3/10, 1.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Amanda C Rowe School (rated 6.4/10, 0.5 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Ocean Avenue (rated 6.4/10, 1.5 miles away), a more accessible option. 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 6.4
Deering High School Portland 0.9 mi 5.6
Longfellow School-Portland Portland 0.9 mi 5.1
Lincoln Middle School Portland 1.0 mi 6.3
ST BRIGID SCHOOL Portland 1.2 mi 5.9
Gerald E Talbot Community School Portland 1.6 mi 3.6
Ocean Avenue Portland 1.5 mi 6.4
LEVEY DAY SCHOOL Portland 1.6 mi 7.3
Casco Bay High School Portland 2.0 mi 8.0
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 6.0
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 6.8
Oxford-Cumberland Canal School Westbrook 2.1 mi 3.6
King Middle School Portland 2.2 mi 4.9
Lyman Moore Middle School Portland 2.7 mi 6.0
Harrison Lyseth Elem School Portland 2.8 mi 5.9
Waldo T Skillin Elementary School South Portland 3.3 mi 5.2

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Breakwater School has a median household income of $79,631. It is a well-educated community where 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $464,100, with a median rent of $1,435/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.0%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Brownfield Denmark Elementary School Denmark, ME 7.9
Jonesport Elementary School Jonesport, ME 7.9
Union Elementary Union, ME 8.0
Dresden Elementary School Dresden, ME 7.8
Monroe Elementary School Monroe, ME 7.8
Trenton Elementary School Trenton, ME 7.8

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 is ranked #5 out of 64 private schools in ME.

What is Breakwater School's MySchoolScout rating?

Breakwater School has a composite rating of 7.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
50 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
28 Some Transit
Bike Score
66 Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,762/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Portland). Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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