There were 1,287 American Indian or Alaskan Native students enrolled in Maine schools in the 2023-24 school year, 3.7% more than the previous year, according to the Maine Department of Education.
Data showed that Maine welcomed 170,404 students during the 2023-24 school year. American Indian or Alaskan Native students comprised 0.8% of the student body, the second least represented ethnicity in the state.
In addition to American Indian or Alaskan Native students, white students continued to make up the largest share of the student population at 85.2% countywide. Other represented groups included Black or African American students at 5.1%, multiracial students at 3.8%, Hispanic students at 3.6%, Asian students at 1.4%, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students at just 0.1%.
Among the 16 Maine counties, Penobscot County registered the highest enrollment of American Indian or Alaskan Native students in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 337 students.
Data from Maine’s public schools for the 2023-24 school year shows a noticeable growth in Hispanic, Black, and multiracial enrollment over the past decade. While over 85% of students are white, this shows a slow but steady increase in diversity within the state schools.
| County Name | American Indian or Alaska Native Students Enrollment | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | % of Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penobscot County | 337 | 19,234 | 1.8% |
| Aroostook County | 291 | 8,496 | 3.4% |
| Washington County | 265 | 3,959 | 6.7% |
| Cumberland County | 101 | 38,239 | 0.3% |
| York County | 64 | 25,578 | 0.3% |
| Kennebec County | 42 | 15,893 | 0.3% |
| Hancock County | 40 | 6,209 | 0.6% |
| Oxford County | 31 | 8,487 | 0.4% |
| Androscoggin County | 30 | 15,256 | 0.2% |
| Somerset County | 25 | 6,259 | 0.4% |
| Sagadahoc County | 17 | 4,533 | 0.4% |
| Piscataquis County | 16 | 2,228 | 0.7% |
| Knox County | 10 | 4,183 | 0.2% |
| Franklin County | 9 | 4,068 | 0.2% |
| Waldo County | 6 | 3,861 | 0.2% |
| Lincoln County | 3 | 3,921 | 0.1% |
