Otis Public Schools

Otis Public Schools is a small school district in Maine that serves students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, with only one school - Beech Hill School. This elementary school has seen a significant decline in its statewide ranking and rating over the past several years, dropping from a 4-star rating and ranking of 71 out of 255 Maine elementary schools in 2015-2016 to a 2-star rating and ranking of 177 out of 290 in the 2022-2023 school year. The school's student population is predominantly white, with relatively low racial and ethnic diversity, and a high percentage (35.56%) of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating economic challenges faced by the community.

Beech Hill School's chronic absenteeism rate of 13.2% is higher than the national average, which can negatively impact student learning and academic outcomes. However, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 12.5, which may provide opportunities for more personalized attention and support for students. Despite the school's small size, with only 90 students enrolled, the district and school leadership will need to address the identified challenges, such as the declining academic performance, lack of diversity, economic hardships, and high chronic absenteeism, in order to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for the students of Otis Public Schools.

Overall, the analysis of the Beech Hill School data highlights both strengths and areas for improvement within the school and the broader Otis Public Schools district. Continued monitoring and targeted interventions could help address the identified challenges and support the academic and social-emotional growth of the students.