How many Black or African American students were enrolled in Maine schools in 2022-23 school year?

ME Commissioner of Education Pender Makin 2023 | Maine Department of Education

By Pine State News

Sep 7, 2024

There were 8,185 Black or African American students enrolled in Maine schools in the 2022-23 school year, 10.4% more than the previous year, according to the Maine Department of Education.

Data showed that Maine welcomed 172,253 students during the 2022-23 school year. Black or African American students comprised 4.8% of the student body, the second most represented ethnicity in the state.

Among the 16 Maine counties, Cumberland County registered the highest enrollment of Black or African American students in the 2022-23 school year, welcoming 3,920 students.

Recent data from Maine's public schools for the 2023-2024 school year reveal a noticeable growth in Hispanic, Black and multiracial enrollment over the past decade. While over 85% of students still identify as white, this shows a slow but steady increase in diversity within the state schools.

Despite these shifts, Maine's public school enrollment remains about 4% below pre-pandemic levels, despite a slight rebound from the sharp drop during the 2020-21 school year. The decline is partly due to an increase in homeschooling and more students completing high school early through college courses and adult education.

A spokesperson for the Maine Department of Education also mentioned in an interview with Maine Public some other pandemic-related factors persist, with "some parents choosing not to enroll younger children in school and older students who took on jobs to support their families during the pandemic and who are still counted on to provide that support."

Ethnicities in Maine in 2022-23 School Year

Enrollment Demographics in Maine Counties During 2022-23 School Year

County Name	Black or African American Students Enrollment	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	% of Total Enrollment
Cumberland County	3,920	38,512	10.2%
Androscoggin County	2,463	15,076	16.3%
York County	740	25,735	2.9%
Penobscot County	282	19,603	1.4%
Kennebec County	211	16,108	1.3%
Aroostook County	130	8,585	1.5%
Hancock County	85	6,351	1.3%
Oxford County	81	8,527	0.9%
Sagadahoc County	64	4,595	1.4%
Knox County	46	4,240	1.1%
Franklin County	37	4,180	0.9%
Somerset County	37	6,400	0.6%
Lincoln County	32	4,041	0.8%
Washington County	29	4,061	0.7%
Waldo County	22	3,962	0.6%
Piscataquis County	6	2,277	0.3%