Limestone Public Schools

Limestone Public Schools is a small school district in Maine that serves the community of Limestone, with only one school in the district - Limestone Community School. This elementary school serves grades PK-8 and has a total enrollment of 140 students, the majority of whom are white (92.86%). While the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 9.7, it faces significant challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate of 33.6% and a majority (61.43%) of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Limestone Community School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Maine elementary schools in recent years, dropping from 189 out of 228 in 2020-2021 to 268 out of 290 in the 2022-2023 school year, and receiving a 0-star rating out of 5. This declining performance may be attributed to the school's high chronic absenteeism rate, which is significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, the lack of diversity in the student population, with relatively small percentages of students from non-white racial backgrounds, may limit the school's ability to provide a well-rounded educational experience.

Overall, Limestone Public Schools and its lone school, Limestone Community School, face significant challenges in terms of student performance, attendance, and socioeconomic factors. While the school's small class sizes suggest a potentially supportive learning environment, the data indicates that the district and school leadership may need to implement targeted interventions to address the root causes of the school's declining performance and improve outcomes for its students.