Alton Elementary School

Q: Is Alton Elementary School a good school?

Alton Elementary School ranks 71 st of 290 Maine elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Alton Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in the small town of Alton, Maine. With a student population of 82, the school is part of the Regional School Unit 34 district, which is ranked 134 out of 177 districts in the state.

One of the standout features of Alton Elementary is its strong academic performance. In the 2022-2023 school year, 73.53% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, outperforming both the district (56.63%) and state (64.63%) averages. In Mathematics, 58.82% of Alton students were proficient or better, again exceeding the district (47.19%) and state (48.68%) levels. This academic success is particularly noteworthy given the school's relatively high percentage of students (54.88%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher level of economic need among the student population.

However, Alton Elementary also faces some challenges. The school has experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, with 41.1% of students chronically absent in the 2022-2023 school year, significantly higher than the state average and surrounding schools like Veazie Community School and Downeast School. Additionally, Alton Elementary has a notably higher percentage of white students (95.12%) compared to the more diverse student populations in the surrounding areas, which may indicate a need to further diversify the school's community.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-3

22 Argyle Rd
Alton, ME 04468

(207) 394-2331

District: Regional School Unit 34

SchoolDigger Rank:
71^st of 290 Maine Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $29,521

Students who attend Alton Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Leonard Middle School
High:	Old Town High School

Student/teacher ratio: 6.9

Number of students: 57

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.0%

Two or more races:

7.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 61.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Alton Elementary School ranks better than 75.5% of elementary schools in Maine. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 77.21. (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 (93%), two or more races (7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 61.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Regional School Unit 34 District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Alton Elementary School is 6.9, which is the lowest among 3 elementary schools in the Regional School Unit 34 District! (See more...)

Compare Alton Elementary School employs 8.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Alton Elementary School is $29,521, which is the highest among 3 elementary schools in the Regional School Unit 34 District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Alton Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Regional School Unit 34:

SchoolDigger ranks Regional School Unit 34 134^th of 177 Maine school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Alton Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ME State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	40.49	135^th	228	40.8%
2023	77.21	71^st	290	75.5%

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 Alton Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2010	53	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	56
2011	43	0	0	2	0	1	46
2012	44	0	0	2	0	0	46
2013	56	0	0	0	0	1	57
2014	54	0	0	0	0	3	57
2015	46	1	0	0	0	1	48
2016	36	0	0	1	0	1	38
2017	36	0	0	2	0	1	39
2018	44	0	1	2	0	1	48
2019	42	0	1	2	0	0	45
2020	54	0	0	2	0	0	56
2021	83	0	0	2	0	0	85
2022	75	0	0	2	0	1	78
2023	78	0	0	2	0	2	82
2024	53	0	0	0	0	4	57

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 Alton Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	56	6.4	8.7	39.3
2011	46	5.5	8.3	23.9
2012	46	5.1	9.0	6.5
2013	57	5.7	9.8	43.9
2014	57	5.5	10.2	52.6
2015	48	5.0	9.6	70.8
2016	38	5.0	7.6	63.2
2017	39	4.9	7.9	59
2018	48	4.9	9.7	66.7
2019	45	5.4	8.3	48.9
2020	56	4.9	11.2	57.1
2021	85	9.4	9.0	55.3
2022	78	9.3	8.3	50
2023	82	10.0	8.2	54.9
2024	57	8.2	6.9	61.4

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 Alton Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2010	56	6.4	8.7	39.3
2011	46	5.5	8.3	23.9
2012	46	5.1	9.0	6.5
2013	57	5.7	9.8	43.9
2014	57	5.5	10.2	52.6
2015	48	5.0	9.6	70.8
2016	38	5.0	7.6	63.2
2017	39	4.9	7.9	59
2018	48	4.9	9.7	66.7
2019	45	5.4	8.3	48.9
2020	56	4.9	11.2	57.1
2021	85	9.4	9.0	55.3
2022	78	9.3	8.3	50
2023	82	10.0	8.2	54.9
2024	57	8.2	6.9	61.4

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 Alton Elementary School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$14,353
2019	$17,858
2020	$14,174
2021	$17,604
2022	$18,126
2023	$29,521

Data source: Maine Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Alton Elementary 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	45	82	82.2%
African American	0	0
American Indian	2	2
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	1	0	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	42	78	85.7%
Two or More Races	0	2
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	48.9%	54.9%	6%

Schools Near Alton Elementary 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
Alton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	22 Argyle Rd	Alton	04468	Penobscot County	Regional School Unit 34	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 394-2331	57	8	6.9	61.4%	53 (93.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (7.0%)	77.2	71^st of 290 public elementary schools	75.5%					(n/a)	73.5	58.8		$29,521
Indian Island School	Public	K-8	10 Wabanaki Way	Indian Island	04468	Penobscot County	Indian Island School	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(207) 827-4285	78	20	3.9	96.2%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Helen S Dunn Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	129 Military Rd	Greenbush	04418	Penobscot County	Greenbush Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 826-2000	142	17	8.6	76.8%	133 (93.7%)	2 (1.4%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	13.6	272^nd of 290 public elementary schools	6.2%					(n/a)	50.0	34.9		$19,527
Dr Lewis S Libby School	Public	PK, KG-8	13 School Street	Milford	04461	Penobscot County	Milford Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 827-2252	281	27	10.4	47.3%	258 (91.8%)	8 (2.8%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	9 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	18.4	264^th of 290 public elementary schools	9.0%		66.7	65^th of 210 public elementary schools	69.0%	199			23.6	$19,237
Old Town Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	576 Stillwater Avenue	Old Town	04468	Penobscot County	Regional School Unit 34	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 827-1544	476	45	10.5	57.6%	411 (86.3%)	8 (1.7%)	20 (4.2%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (6.5%)	33.4	219^th of 290 public elementary schools	24.5%		23.3	159^th of 210 public elementary schools	24.3%	60	53.5	53.0	14.1	$19,059
Viola Rand School	Public	PK, KG-1	55 Highland Avenue	Bradley	04411	Penobscot County	Regional School Unit 34	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(207) 827-2508	40	6	7.2	47.5%	34 (85.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.5%)	1 (2.5%)	1 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (7.5%)								(n/a)
Glenburn Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	991 Hudson Road	Glenburn	04401	Penobscot County	Glenburn Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 947-8769	389	29	13.4	24.9%	358 (92.0%)	2 (0.5%)	12 (3.1%)	6 (1.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (2.3%)	72.5	82^nd of 290 public elementary schools	71.7%		66.7	64^th of 210 public elementary schools	69.5%	18	68.9	60.8	44.3	$17,340
Asa C Adams School	Public	PK, KG-5	6 Goodridge Drive	Orono	04473	Penobscot County	Regional School Unit 26	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 866-2151	323	30	10.6	31.3%	276 (85.4%)	6 (1.9%)	17 (5.3%)	9 (2.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.0%)	85.4	45^th of 290 public elementary schools	84.5%		65.3	69^th of 210 public elementary schools	67.1%	24	78.7	69.5	33.3	$18,491
Central Community Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	118 Main Street	Corinth	04427	Penobscot County	Regional School Unit 64/Maine School Admin District 64	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 285-0325	496	43	11.6	53.6%	459 (92.5%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.0%)	38	203^rd of 290 public elementary schools	30.0%		19.3	170^th of 210 public elementary schools	19.0%	33	57.7	51.2	22.7	$15,753
Veazie Community School	Public	PK, KG-8	1040 School Street	Veazie	04401	Penobscot County	Veazie Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 947-6573	158	15	10.2	35.4%	135 (85.4%)	1 (0.6%)	10 (6.3%)	4 (2.5%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.8%)	70.2	89^th of 290 public elementary schools	69.3%					(n/a)	67.4	62.9	39.4	$24,982

Frequently Asked Questions about Alton Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Alton Elementary School?

Students at Alton Elementary School are 93% White, 7% Two or more races.

How many students attend Alton Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 57 students attended Alton Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Alton Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Alton Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Leonard Middle School
High : Old Town High School

Is Alton Elementary School a good school?

Alton Elementary School ranks 71^st of 290 Maine elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Alton Elementary School in?

Regional School Unit 34

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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.