6 American Indian or Alaskan Native students enrolled in Franklin County ditricts in 2022-23 school year

There were six American Indian or Alaskan Native students enrolled in Franklin County ditricts in the 2022-23 school year, 50% more than the previous year, according to the Maine Department of Education.

Data showed that American Indian or Alaskan Native students made up 0.2% of the 3,076 students in Franklin County ditricts during the 2022-23 school year. They were the second least represented ethnicity.

Among the six districts in Franklin County, Regional School Unit 78 recorded the highest enrollment of American Indian or Alaskan Native students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of three students.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Franklin County.

Recent data from Maine’s public schools for the 2023-2024 school year reveal a noticeable growth in Hispanic, Black and multiracial enrollment over the past decade. While over 85% of students still identify as white, this shows a slow but steady increase in diversity within the state schools.

Despite these shifts, Maine’s public school enrollment remains about 4% below pre-pandemic levels, despite a slight rebound from the sharp drop during the 2020-21 school year. The decline is partly due to an increase in homeschooling and more students completing high school early through college courses and adult education.

A spokesperson for the Maine Department of Education also mentioned in an interview with Maine Public some other pandemic-related factors persist, with “some parents choosing not to enroll younger children in school and older students who took on jobs to support their families during the pandemic and who are still counted on to provide that support.”