Best Public Schools in Zip Code 04448

The 04448 zip code area is home to two schools - Penobscot Valley High School and Hichborn Middle School, both of which serve students in the Regional School Unit 31/Maine School Admin District 31. While the schools share some similarities, they also exhibit notable differences in their academic performance and other key metrics.

Penobscot Valley High School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Maine high schools, with its performance declining over time from a 2-star to a 1-star rating. The school's academic proficiency in core subjects like Math and Science is significantly below regional and state averages, suggesting significant room for improvement. In contrast, Hichborn Middle School has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, going from a high of 29th out of 93 Maine middle schools in 2021-2022 to 60th out of 96 in the most recent 2022-2023 school year, indicating variable performance.

Both schools have a predominantly white student population, with Penobscot Valley High School at 93.28% white and Hichborn Middle School at 94.51% white. However, Hichborn Middle School has a higher percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch at 57.14%, compared to 44.78% at Penobscot Valley High School. This suggests potential socioeconomic factors that may be influencing the schools' performance and warrant further investigation.