How many multiracial students were enrolled in Oxford County ditricts in 2022-23 school year?

ME Commissioner of Education Pender Makin 2023 | Maine Department of Education

By Maine Lakes News

Oct 8, 2024

There were 235 multiracial students enrolled in Oxford County ditricts in the 2022-23 school year, 4% more than the previous year, according to the Maine Department of Education.

Data showed that multiracial students made up 2.8% of the 8,403 students in Oxford County ditricts during the 2022-23 school year. They were the second most represented ethnicity.

Among the 10 districts in Oxford County, Regional School Unit 17/Maine School Administrative District 17 recorded the highest enrollment of multiracial students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 92 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."

Ethnicities in Oxford County in 2022-23 School Year

Enrollment Demographics in Oxford County Ditricts During 2022-23 School Year

District Name	Multiracial Students Enrollment	Total Enrollment	% of Total Enrollment
Regional School Unit 17/Maine School Administrative District 17	92	3,161	2.9%
Regional School Unit 10	39	1,752	2.2%
Regional School Unit 72/Maine School Administrative District 72	30	1,128	2.7%
Regional School Unit 55/Maine School Administrative District 55	34	964	3.5%
Regional School Unit 56	17	752	2.3%
Regional School Unit 44/Maine School Administrative District 44	18	547	3.3%
Andover Public Schools	2	68	2.9%
Gilead Public Schools	1	22	4.5%
Byron Public Schools	2	5	40%
Upton Public Schools	0	4	--