Maine Education: 1,328 American Indian or Alaskan Native students were enrolled in 2022-23 school year

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

By Pine State News

Sep 19, 2024

There were 1,328 American Indian or Alaskan Native students enrolled in Maine schools in the 2022-23 school year, 45.8% 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. American Indian or Alaskan Native students comprised 0.8% of the student body, the second least represented ethnicity in the state.

Among the 16 Maine counties, Penobscot County registered the highest enrollment of American Indian or Alaskan Native students in the 2022-23 school year, welcoming 354 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	American Indian or Alaska Native Students Enrollment	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	% of Total Enrollment
Penobscot County	354	19,603	1.8%
Aroostook County	299	8,585	3.5%
Washington County	270	4,061	6.6%
Cumberland County	102	38,512	0.3%
York County	65	25,735	0.3%
Kennebec County	45	16,108	0.3%
Hancock County	41	6,351	0.6%
Androscoggin County	35	15,076	0.2%
Somerset County	24	6,400	0.4%
Oxford County	22	8,527	0.3%
Sagadahoc County	17	4,595	0.4%
Piscataquis County	16	2,277	0.7%
Lincoln County	11	4,041	0.3%
Waldo County	10	3,962	0.3%
Franklin County	10	4,180	0.2%
Knox County	7	4,240	0.2%