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Cumberland County – School Districts 2023-2024

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Public school systems play a crucial role in shaping local economies, influencing everything from property values to workforce development. The economic impact of local public schools extends far beyond education, affecting businesses, government budgets, and community well-being. Below are key ways in which public schools contribute to local economic health.

  1. Boosting Property Values and Municipal Revenue A strong public school system increases demand for housing in the district, driving up property values. Studies consistently show that homes in high-performing school districts command higher prices than comparable homes in weaker districts. Higher property values, in turn, generate more property tax revenue for local governments, which can be reinvested in infrastructure, public safety, and other community services.

    Additionally, businesses are more likely to establish themselves in areas with well-regarded schools, knowing that educated communities attract skilled workers and stable families. This creates a positive feedback loop where better schools lead to economic growth, which then further supports school funding.

  2. Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness Public schools are the primary source of skilled labor for local industries. By providing foundational education, vocational training, and college preparation, schools ensure that businesses have access to qualified employees. Areas with strong school systems tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher average incomes because educated workers are more productive and adaptable to changing job markets.

    Investments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, career and technical education (CTE), and partnerships with local businesses further enhance workforce readiness. Companies often consider school quality when deciding where to locate, as they need a pipeline of talent to sustain operations.

  3. Direct Employment and Local Spending Public schools are among the largest employers in many communities, providing jobs for teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff. These employees spend their salaries locally, supporting restaurants, retail stores, and service providers. The multiplier effect means that every dollar spent on school payroll circulates through the economy multiple times, stimulating additional business activity.

    Beyond salaries, schools also contribute to local economies through construction projects (e.g., building new facilities or renovating old ones), purchasing supplies from area vendors, and contracting services like transportation and food supply. These expenditures create jobs and generate tax revenue.

  4. Reducing Long-Term Public Costs Quality education correlates with lower crime rates, reduced reliance on social welfare programs, and better public health outcomes. Students who graduate from strong school systems are less likely to require government assistance, engage in criminal activity, or face chronic unemployment. This reduces the burden on taxpayers, who would otherwise fund prisons, healthcare for the uninsured, and social services.

    Early childhood education programs, in particular, have been shown to yield high long-term returns by improving graduation rates and future earnings while decreasing incarceration costs.

  5. Attracting and Retaining Families and Businesses Families with children prioritize school quality when choosing where to live. Communities with reputable schools experience population growth, which sustains local businesses and services. Conversely, declining school performance can lead to outmigration, shrinking the tax base and harming economic vitality.

    Similarly, corporations evaluating relocation opportunities assess school systems to ensure employees will have access to good education for their children. A weak school system can deter investment, while a strong one can attract high-paying jobs and stimulate economic diversification.

Conclusion

The local public school system is not just an educational institution but a cornerstone of economic stability and growth. By enhancing property values, developing a skilled workforce, employing residents, reducing public costs, and attracting businesses, schools create a thriving economic ecosystem. Policymakers and community leaders must recognize that investing in education yields broad economic benefits, making it one of the most impactful ways to ensure long-term prosperity.

The following report contains those school districts that are completely or partially within the county. The school districts are sorted in a left to right order based on the number of students that are estimated to live in the county, although they may actually attend a school outside the county boundary. Except where noted all figures are for the entire disctrict population and not just that portion that are in the county.

Where available, the district's name contains a link to that district's website.
 
Regional School Unit 05
School Administrative District 06  
Cape Elizabeth  
School Administrative District 61  
Yarmouth  
School Administrative District 15  
Falmouth  
School Administrative District 51  
Westbrook  
Brunswick  
Gorham  
Scarborough  
South Portland  
Regional School Unit 14  
Portland  
Grade Span of Agency
Number of Schools
Total Classroom Teachers
Student/Teachers

    Prekindergarten
    Kindergarten
    Grade 1
    Grade 2
    Grade 3
    Grade 4
    Grade 5
    Grade 6
    Grade 7
    Grade 8
    Grade 9
    Grade 10
    Grade 11
    Grade 12
PK thru 12 Students
Ungraded Students
Adult Education and Other Students
Special Ed IEP Students
Total Students

White
Black
Asian
Hispanic
Native American
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Undefined or Multiple Races

Prekindergarten Teachers
Kindergarten Teachers
Elementary Teachers
Secondary Teachers
Ungraded Class Teachers
Total FTE Teachers

Elementary School Counselors
Secondary School Counselors
School Counselors
Total Counselors

School Administrators
School Administrative Support Staff
Instr. Coord. and Super. to Staff
Student Support Services Staff
Librarians/media specialists
Library/Media Support Staff
School Psychologists
Paraprofessionals/Instructional Aides
Total School Staff

LEA Administrators
LEA Administrative Support Staff
Total LEA Staff

All Other Support Staff
Total Other Staff
PK-12
17
622
11.06

251
489
496
499
470
482
430
420
437
486
469
545
559
616
6,649
0
0
231
6,880

3,151
2,065
278
711
23
2
417

32
41
357
192
0
622

0
0
21
21

53
36
39
137
10
4
41
231
511

12
32
82

171
171
PK-12
6
251
12.70

49
219
221
270
207
240
249
234
221
238
212
246
259
236
3,101
0
0
86
3,187

2,728
77
42
113
12
0
128

4
18
151
78
0
251

0
0
10
10

14
20
20
47
3
4
17
86
191

10
10
40

103
103
PK-12
7
286
10.69

56
217
188
222
223
222
202
185
218
214
237
228
271
259
2,942
0
0
115
3,057

1,814
617
91
239
6
1
174

6
22
177
81
0
286

0
0
13
13

15
19
15
34
8
3
22
115
216

6
15
36

97
97
KG-12
6
260
11.44

0
195
211
205
214
240
225
220
226
205
235
239
214
228
2,857
0
0
119
2,976

2,341
127
166
98
3
6
116

0
19
159
82
0
260

0
0
10
10

17
17
14
54
4
8
18
119
236

7
12
32

72
72
PK-12
5
217
13.46

87
191
206
228
204
211
242
221
236
212
199
208
174
232
2,851
0
0
71
2,922

2,488
92
50
91
5
3
120

3
18
133
63
0
217

0
0
11
11

11
20
3
84
5
3
10
71
204

7
12
22

66
66
PK-12
4
213
11.64

105
184
174
175
156
186
167
175
189
176
174
167
187
191
2,406
0
0
74
2,480

1,963
74
59
132
3
3
164

7
15
124
67
0
213

0
0
9
9

53
47
11
89
4
5
16
74
287

6
11
28

76
76
PK-12
6
239
9.93

31
158
163
185
186
172
173
178
188
172
182
175
176
172
2,311
0
0
62
2,373

1,458
513
109
122
10
0
99

6
20
127
76
10
239

0
0
11
11

17
17
18
50
4
2
12
62
165

7
14
39

86
86
PK-12
4
209
10.80

32
145
188
196
176
195
166
167
170
145
165
153
146
149
2,193
0
0
65
2,258

2,001
15
20
59
4
0
89

2
14
126
66
1
209

0
0
7
7

8
10
3
223
3
4
13
65
325

8
8
19

51
51
PK-12
3
199
10.45

48
114
133
150
120
156
153
138
141
136
166
180
191
161
1,987
0
0
92
2,079

1,737
44
101
48
8
0
49

3
12
117
67
0
199

0
0
10
10

9
14
5
20
4
2
11
92
152

5
8
18

49
49
PK-12
5
152
12.61

84
129
130
133
122
143
131
115
121
131
140
144
160
167
1,850
0
0
67
1,917

1,694
35
9
31
5
1
75

6
14
85
47
0
152

0
0
8
8

7
22
4
39
2
5
11
67
153

5
9
18

58
58
PK-12
4
145
11.81

47
105
114
121
95
125
125
133
113
125
146
143
143
128
1,663
0
0
50
1,713

1,415
45
30
58
4
1
105

3
11
81
50
0
145

0
0
6
6

7
10
9
31
3
3
8
50
113

6
4
19

45
45
PK-12
6
164
10.44

53
128
118
122
90
117
110
131
122
130
143
139
124
113
1,640
0
0
72
1,712

1,486
17
7
67
1
1
61

2
13
89
57
3
164

0
0
8
8

16
22
6
34
1
4
11
72
160

6
13
25

73
73
PK-12
3
134
11.65

30
108
119
99
109
104
124
98
114
107
114
124
126
149
1,525
0
0
36
1,561

1,326
19
31
71
2
1
75

0
9
79
46
0
134

0
0
7
7

6
8
8
12
3
1
7
36
73

7
6
21

38
38
PK-12
8
270
12.75

95
245
246
244
255
230
250
243
225
242
259
277
256
255
3,322
0
0
119
3,441

3,043
40
28
83
15
2
111

5
24
158
83
0
270

0
0
12
12

14
18
20
185
4
5
19
119
363

10
16
46

123
123
PK-12
6
181
11.90

96
152
144
162
162
149
163
142
142
143
157
164
144
169
2,089
0
0
64
2,153

1,800
119
42
66
9
0
50

5
12
113
48
3
181

0
0
8
8

10
32
6
102
5
1
9
64
223

9
6
21

50
50


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus