Peaks Island School

Q: Is Peaks Island School a good school?

Peaks Island School ranks 75 th of 290 Maine elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Peaks Island School is a small public elementary school located on Peaks Island, Maine, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 41 students. Despite its small size, the school consistently outperforms the Portland Public Schools district and the state of Maine in academic proficiency, with 68.42% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 65% in Mathematics.

One key differentiator of Peaks Island School is its racial homogeneity, with 87.8% of students identifying as white, compared to nearby schools in the Portland Public Schools district that have more diverse student populations. Additionally, the school has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (14.63%) and a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 9.3, both of which are favorable compared to the surrounding district.

While Peaks Island School's academic performance is impressive, the school has experienced significant fluctuations in its statewide ranking over the years, and it has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate of 40.5%, which is significantly higher than nearby schools. These factors suggest that the school's success may be influenced by unique geographic and demographic factors, and a more nuanced understanding of the school's context is necessary to fully appreciate its strengths and challenges. Interestingly, some nearby schools, such as Dora L. Small Elementary School in South Portland, also demonstrate strong academic performance, providing a useful comparison point.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

4 Church AV
Peaks Island, ME 04108

(207) 766-2528

District: Portland Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
75^th of 290 Maine Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $32,839

Students who attend Peaks Island School usually attend:

Middle:	King Middle School
High:	Casco Bay High School
	Deering High School
	Portland High School

Student/teacher ratio: 8.5

Number of students: 46

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.0%

Hispanic:

6.5%

African American:

4.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 21.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Peaks Island School ranks better than 74.1% of elementary schools in Maine. It also ranks 2^nd among 9 ranked elementary schools in the Portland Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 75.92. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (87%), Hispanic (6.5%), African American (4.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 21.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Peaks Island School is 8.5, which is the 2^nd best among 9 elementary schools in the Portland Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Peaks Island School employs 5.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Peaks Island School is $32,839, which is the 2^nd highest among 9 elementary schools in the Portland Public Schools District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Peaks Island School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Portland Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Portland Public Schools 119^th of 177 Maine school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Peaks Island School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ME State Percentile
2006	80.88	20^th	192	89.6%
2007	73.83	30^th	198	84.8%
2008	87.77	6^th	195	96.9%
2009	77.86	14^th	209	93.3%
2011	41.73	119^th	186	36.0%
2012	59.80	82^nd	258	68.2%
2013	92.33	2^nd	261	99.2%
2015	57.23	136^th	284	52.1%
2023	75.92	75^th	290	74.1%

See the entire list of Maine Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Maine Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Maine Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Peaks Island School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1991	0	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	65	65
1992	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	66	66
1993	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	93	93
1994	88	0	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	91
1995	89	1	4	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	96
1996	89	1	4	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	96
1997	88	0	3	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	93
1998	74	0	2	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	78
1999	69	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	69
2000	61	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	61
2001	48	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	48
2002	48	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	49
2003	48	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	49
2004	44	1	1	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	48
2005	49	1	2	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	54
2006	41	2	2	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	47
2007	41	2	3	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	48
2008	42	1	3	2	1	n/a	n/a	0	49
2009	42	2	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	48
2010	47	1	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	52
2011	53	1	0	2	0	0	1	0	57
2012	60	1	0	2	0	0	1	0	64
2013	58	2	0	3	0	0	0	0	63
2014	51	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	54
2015	48	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	52
2016	36	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	40
2017	35	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	38
2018	28	3	1	3	0	0	2	0	37
2019	29	2	1	5	0	0	2	0	39
2020	31	2	1	4	0	0	2	0	40
2021	27	2	0	4	0	0	0	0	33
2022	31	2	0	5	0	0	0	0	38
2023	36	0	0	4	0	0	1	0	41
2024	40	2	0	3	0	0	1	0	46

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Peaks Island School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	65	5.7	11.4	n/a
1992	66	5.5	12.0	n/a
1993	93	6.2	15.0	26.9
1994	91	5.8	15.7	17.6
1995	96	6.0	16.0	21.9
1996	96	6.0	16.0	21.9
1997	93	7.0	13.3	29
1998	78	7.8	10.0	28.2
1999	69	6.0	11.5	18.8
2000	61	5.0	12.2	21.3
2001	48	6.4	7.5	12.5
2002	49	5.1	9.6	4.1
2003	49	5.1	9.6	4.1
2004	48	4.5	10.7	10.4
2005	54	5.2	10.4	16.7
2006	47	5.3	8.9	19.1
2007	48	5.7	8.4	12.5
2008	49	5.7	8.6	16.3
2009	48	6.5	6.4	16.7
2010	52	5.8	8.9	9.6
2011	57	4.7	12.1	17.5
2012	64	3.5	18.2	4.7
2013	63	4.9	12.7	17.5
2014	54	4.9	10.8	27.8
2015	52	6.0	8.6	26.9
2016	40	5.0	8.0	25
2017	38	4.0	9.5	31.6
2018	37	3.7	10.0	35.1
2019	39	3.9	10.0	35.9
2020	40	5.5	7.1	25
2021	33	4.7	7.0	27.3
2022	38	4.7	8.0	15.8
2023	41	4.4	9.3	14.6
2024	46	5.4	8.5	21.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Peaks Island School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1991	65	5.7	11.4	n/a
1992	66	5.5	12.0	n/a
1993	93	6.2	15.0	26.9
1994	91	5.8	15.7	17.6
1995	96	6.0	16.0	21.9
1996	96	6.0	16.0	21.9
1997	93	7.0	13.3	29
1998	78	7.8	10.0	28.2
1999	69	6.0	11.5	18.8
2000	61	5.0	12.2	21.3
2001	48	6.4	7.5	12.5
2002	49	5.1	9.6	4.1
2003	49	5.1	9.6	4.1
2004	48	4.5	10.7	10.4
2005	54	5.2	10.4	16.7
2006	47	5.3	8.9	19.1
2007	48	5.7	8.4	12.5
2008	49	5.7	8.6	16.3
2009	48	6.5	6.4	16.7
2010	52	5.8	8.9	9.6
2011	57	4.7	12.1	17.5
2012	64	3.5	18.2	4.7
2013	63	4.9	12.7	17.5
2014	54	4.9	10.8	27.8
2015	52	6.0	8.6	26.9
2016	40	5.0	8.0	25
2017	38	4.0	9.5	31.6
2018	37	3.7	10.0	35.1
2019	39	3.9	10.0	35.9
2020	40	5.5	7.1	25
2021	33	4.7	7.0	27.3
2022	38	4.7	8.0	15.8
2023	41	4.4	9.3	14.6
2024	46	5.4	8.5	21.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Peaks Island School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$23,991
2019	$23,538
2020	$26,863
2021	$36,029
2022	$35,084
2023	$32,839

Data source: Maine Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Peaks Island School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	39	41	5.1%
African American	2	0	100%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	5	4	20%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	29	36	24.1%
Two or More Races	2	1	50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	35.9%	14.6%	21.3%

Schools Near Peaks Island School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				MEA English Language Arts (2023)	MEA Mathematics (2023)	MEA Science (2023)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MEA English Language Arts All Grades	MEA Mathematics All Grades	MEA Science All Grades	Total
Peaks Island School	Public	PK, KG-5	4 Church AV	Peaks Island	04108	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(207) 766-2528	46	5	8.5	21.7%	40 (87.0%)	2 (4.3%)	3 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.2%)	75.9	75^th of 290 public elementary schools	74.1%					(n/a)	68.4	65.0		$32,839
Dora L Small Elementary School	Public	K-4	87 Thompson Street	South Portland	04106	Cumberland County	South Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(207) 799-7676	204	20	10.0	22.1%	157 (77.0%)	14 (6.9%)	13 (6.4%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (8.8%)	86.7	35^th of 290 public elementary schools	87.9%		68.5	60^th of 210 public elementary schools	71.4%	25	75.0	74.4	43.5	$19,898
Long Island Elementary School	Public	K-5	33 Fern AVE	Long Island	04050	Cumberland County	Long Island Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(207) 766-4414	12	2	5.4	25.0%	12 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				$37,783
East End Community School	Public	PK, KG-5	195 North ST	Portland	04101	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 874-8228	396	38	10.3	71.5%	102 (25.8%)	207 (52.3%)	46 (11.6%)	15 (3.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.1%)	18.2	265^th of 290 public elementary schools	8.6%		0.2	205^th of 210 public elementary schools	2.4%	60	52.5	39.4	15.4	$21,783
Frank I Brown Elementary School	Public	K-4	37 Highland AVE	South Portland	04106	Cumberland County	South Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(207) 799-5196	222	22	10.1	26.6%	141 (63.5%)	44 (19.8%)	14 (6.3%)	6 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (7.7%)	71.7	86^th of 290 public elementary schools	70.3%		56.9	89^th of 210 public elementary schools	57.6%	3	65.4	66.3		$25,822
Presumpscot School	Public	PK, KG-5	69 Presumpscot ST	Portland	04103	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 874-8220	243	25	9.5	57.2%	97 (39.9%)	88 (36.2%)	31 (12.8%)	10 (4.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (6.6%)	48.2	172^nd of 290 public elementary schools	40.7%		33.6	142^nd of 210 public elementary schools	32.4%	30	67.0	46.7	28.1	$22,055
Howard C Reiche Community School	Public	PK, KG-5	166 Brackett ST	Portland	04102	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 874-8175	463	40	11.4	71.3%	140 (30.2%)	193 (41.7%)	99 (21.4%)	8 (1.7%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.3%)	22.3	253^rd of 290 public elementary schools	12.8%		1.4	202^nd of 210 public elementary schools	3.8%	51	54.6	40.4	20.4	$20,663
James Otis Kaler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	165 South Kelsey Street	South Portland	04106	Cumberland County	South Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 799-3214	179	21	8.4	46.4%	89 (49.7%)	43 (24.0%)	28 (15.6%)	8 (4.5%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	9 (5.0%)	56.1	141^st of 290 public elementary schools	51.4%		20.3	166^th of 210 public elementary schools	21.0%	25	60.9	57.4		$19,366
Ocean Avenue	Public	K-5	150 Ocean AV	Portland	04103	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 874-8180	357	34	10.5	37.3%	207 (58.0%)	84 (23.5%)	36 (10.1%)	12 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.0%)	65.4	110^th of 290 public elementary schools	62.1%		58.1	87^th of 210 public elementary schools	58.6%	23	71.7	54.9	31.3	$22,513
Dyer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	52 Alfred Street	South Portland	04106	Cumberland County	South Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(207) 799-4845	212	21	10.2	24.1%	151 (71.2%)	26 (12.3%)	14 (6.6%)	8 (3.8%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.7%)	51.4	164^th of 290 public elementary schools	43.4%		39.3	126^th of 210 public elementary schools	40.0%	38	60.2	55.0		$22,900

Frequently Asked Questions about Peaks Island School

What schools do graduates of Peaks Island School attend?

Students who attend Peaks Island School usually go on to attend:

Middle : King Middle School
High : Casco Bay High School
High : Deering High School
High : Portland High School

How many students attend Peaks Island School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 46 students attended Peaks Island School.

What district is Peaks Island School in?

Portland Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Peaks Island School?

Students at Peaks Island School are 87% White, 7% Hispanic, 4% African American, 2% Two or more races.

Is Peaks Island School a good school?

Peaks Island School ranks 75^th of 290 Maine elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maine Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.