Ames Elementary School

Q: Is Ames Elementary School a good school?

Ames Elementary School ranks 34 th of 290 Maine elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Ames Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades 2-5 in Searsmont, Maine, with a student population of 126 as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school consistently outperforms the Regional School Unit 71 district and the state of Maine in academic proficiency, with over 70% of students proficient or better in both English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Despite its strong academic performance, Ames Elementary has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 14.6% in 2020-2021 to 31.4% in 2022-2023, which is notably higher than the nearby schools like Prescott Memorial School and Edna Drinkwater School. Additionally, the school has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 57.14% in the 2022-2023 school year, which is higher than the nearby schools.

While Ames Elementary outperforms the district and state averages, its statewide ranking has declined over the years, from 174 out of 258 Maine elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 34 out of 290 in 2022-2023. This suggests that while the school is performing well, other schools in the state may be improving at a faster rate. The school and the Regional School Unit 71 district should explore strategies to address the chronic absenteeism issue and learn from the practices of higher-ranked nearby schools to ensure continued success for its students.

Detail:

Public 2-5

165 New England Road
Searsmont, ME 04973

(207) 342-5100

District: Regional School Unit 71

SchoolDigger Rank:
34^th of 290 Maine Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,824

Student/teacher ratio: 13.2

Number of students: 126

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.9%

Hispanic:

3.2%

Two or more races:

2.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 57.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Ames Elementary School ranks better than 88.3% of elementary schools in Maine. It also ranks first among 3 ranked elementary schools in the Regional School Unit 71 District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 87.12. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 (92.9%), Hispanic (3.2%), two or more races (2.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 57.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ames Elementary School is 13.2, which is the highest among 5 elementary schools in the Regional School Unit 71 District! (See more...)

Compare Ames Elementary School employs 9.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ames Elementary School is $17,824, which is the lowest among 5 elementary schools in the Regional School Unit 71 District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Regional School Unit 71:

SchoolDigger ranks Regional School Unit 71 98^th of 177 Maine school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Ames Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	ME State Percentile
2016	55.74	105^th	255	58.8%
2017	34.12	181^st	256	29.3%
2018	43.81	151^st	254	40.6%
2019	36.94	174^th	258	32.6%
2021	61.32	79^th	228	65.4%
2022	78.08	42^nd	210	80.0%
2023	87.12	34^th	290	88.3%

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 Ames Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2016	120	0	0	6	0	4	130
2017	131	0	1	5	0	3	140
2018	119	2	1	4	1	2	129
2019	123	2	2	1	1	3	132
2020	118	2	3	0	1	1	125
2021	108	0	4	2	1	5	120
2022	111	0	0	5	0	4	120
2023	117	1	1	4	0	3	126

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 Ames Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	130	11.0	11.8	44.6
2017	140	11.6	12.0	45.7
2018	129	10.4	12.4	40.3
2019	132	10.4	12.6	47.7
2020	125	10.4	12.0	45.6
2021	120	9.4	12.7	49.2
2022	120	8.5	14.1	46.7
2023	126	9.5	13.2	57.1

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 Ames Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	130	11.0	11.8	44.6
2017	140	11.6	12.0	45.7
2018	129	10.4	12.4	40.3
2019	132	10.4	12.6	47.7
2020	125	10.4	12.0	45.6
2021	120	9.4	12.7	49.2
2022	120	8.5	14.1	46.7
2023	126	9.5	13.2	57.1

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 Ames Elementary School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$15,054
2019	$14,057
2020	$16,728
2021	$20,423
2022	$20,711
2023	$17,824

Data source: Maine Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Ames 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.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 174^th of 258 Elementary schools	Ranks 34^th of 290 Elementary schools	55.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
All Grades English Language Arts (Ames Elementary School)	58.2	93	34.9%
All Grades English Language Arts (Regional School Unit 71)	48	79.1	31.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Maine)	55.9	83.8	27.9%
All Grades Mathematics (Ames Elementary School)	23.5	86.4	62.9%
All Grades Mathematics (Regional School Unit 71)	24.3	79.5	55.2%
All Grades Mathematics (Maine)	35.7	81.3	45.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	132	126	4.5%
African American	2	1	50%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	2	1	50%
Hispanic	1	4	300%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	123	117	4.9%
Two or More Races	3	3
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	47.7%	57.1%	9.4%

Schools Near Ames 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
Ames Elementary School	Public	2-5	165 New England Road	Searsmont	04973	Waldo County	Regional School Unit 71	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 342-5100	126	10	13.2	57.1%	117 (92.9%)	1 (0.8%)	4 (3.2%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.4%)	87.1	34^th of 290 public elementary schools	88.3%		78.1	42^nd of 210 public elementary schools	80.0%	8	71.7	79.4		$17,824
Gladys Weymouth Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-1	2 South Main Street	Morrill	04952	Waldo County	Regional School Unit 71	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 342-5300	74	7	10.5	45.9%	72 (97.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				$19,845
Walker Memorial School	Public	PK, KG-5	33 West Main Street	Liberty	04949	Waldo County	Regional School Unit 03/Maine School Admin District 03	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 589-4208	67	6	10.6	61.2%	62 (92.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.0%)	25.6	241^st of 290 public elementary schools	16.9%					(n/a)	55.2	41.4		$16,953
Lincolnville Central School	Public	PK, KG-8	523 Hope Road	Lincolnville	04849	Waldo County	Lincolnville Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 763-3366	204	20	10.4	35.8%	199 (97.5%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	95.9	7^th of 290 public elementary schools	97.6%		96.1	2^nd of 210 public elementary schools	99.0%	5	89.3	70.0	76.6	$19,344
Appleton Village School	Public	PK, KG-8	737 Union Road	Appleton	04862	Knox County	Appleton Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 785-4504	135	17	7.8	25.9%	125 (92.6%)	4 (3.0%)	5 (3.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	78.9	64^th of 290 public elementary schools	77.9%		80.4	31^st of 210 public elementary schools	85.2%	33	77.1	63.9	29.2	$25,191
Captain Albert W. Stevens School	Public	PK, KG-5	31 Elementary Avenue	Belfast	04915	Waldo County	Regional School Unit 71	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 338-3510	258	27	9.7	45.3%	233 (90.3%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.6%)	64.6	112^th of 290 public elementary schools	61.4%		19.7	168^th of 210 public elementary schools	20.0%	56	64.7	62.3	37.0	$20,416
Hope Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	34 Highfield Road	Hope	04847	Knox County	Hope Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 785-4081	145	18	8.1	29.0%	145 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63.2	117^th of 290 public elementary schools	59.7%		84.2	20^th of 210 public elementary schools	90.5%	97	70.5	53.7	33.3	$24,488
East Belfast School	Public	PK, KG-2	14 Swan Lake Avenue	Belfast	04915	Waldo County	Regional School Unit 71	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 338-4420	97	8	12.1	64.9%	89 (91.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.2%)								(n/a)				$20,455
Prescott Memorial School	Public	PK, KG-6	100 Waldoboro Road	Washington	04574	Knox County	Regional School Unit 40/Maine School Admin District 40	No	No	No	No	(207) 845-2424	95	10	9.3	46.3%	89 (93.7%)	2 (2.1%)	3 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	84.5	49^th of 290 public elementary schools	83.1%					(n/a)	73.7	66.7		$19,980
Edna Drinkwater School	Public	K-8	56 Bayside Road	Northport	04849	Waldo County	Northport Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 338-3430	84	12	6.8	36.9%	78 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.8%)	93.5	13^th of 290 public elementary schools	95.5%		98	1^st of 210 public elementary schools	99.5%	12	86.0	68.0		$31,008

Frequently Asked Questions about Ames Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Ames Elementary School?

Students at Ames Elementary School are 93% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Ames Elementary School in?

Regional School Unit 71

Is Ames Elementary School a good school?

Ames Elementary School ranks 34^th of 290 Maine elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Ames Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 126 students attended Ames Elementary School.

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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.