ME Commissioner of Education Pender Makin 2023 | Maine Department of Education
ME Commissioner of Education Pender Makin 2023 | Maine Department of Education
Data showed that Black or African American students made up 0.9% of the 8,403 students in Oxford County ditricts during the 2022-23 school year. They were the fourth most represented ethnicity.
Among the 10 districts in Oxford County, Regional School Unit 17/Maine School Administrative District 17 recorded the highest enrollment of Black or African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 28 students.
The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with Oxford 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."
| District Name | Black or African American Students Enrollment | Total Enrollment | % of Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional School Unit 17/Maine School Administrative District 17 | 28 | 3,161 | 0.9% |
| Regional School Unit 10 | 23 | 1,752 | 1.3% |
| Regional School Unit 72/Maine School Administrative District 72 | 10 | 1,128 | 0.9% |
| Regional School Unit 55/Maine School Administrative District 55 | 3 | 964 | 0.3% |
| Regional School Unit 56 | 8 | 752 | 1.1% |
| Regional School Unit 44/Maine School Administrative District 44 | 2 | 547 | 0.4% |
| Andover Public Schools | 0 | 68 | -- |
| Gilead Public Schools | 0 | 22 | -- |
| Byron Public Schools | 0 | 5 | -- |
| Upton Public Schools | 0 | 4 | -- |
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