South Maine News

There were 23,918 white students enrolled in York County ditricts in the 2022-23 school year, 0.3% less than the previous year, according to the Maine Department of Education.

Data showed that white students made up 88.5% of the 27,037 students in York County ditricts during the 2022-23 school year. They were the most represented ethnicity.

Among the 14 districts in York County, Regional School Unit 06/Maine School Administrative District 06 recorded the highest enrollment of white students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 3,018 students.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the story are located in cities associated with York 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	White Students Enrollment	Total Enrollment	% of Total Enrollment
Regional School Unit 06/Maine School Administrative District 06	3,018	3,283	91.9%
Sanford Public Schools	2,657	3,127	85%
Regional School Unit 57/Maine School Administrative District 57	2,723	2,911	93.5%
Regional School Unit 60/Maine School Administrative District 60	2,613	2,867	91.1%
Saco Public Schools	2,342	2,759	84.9%
Regional School Unit 21	2,217	2,430	91.2%
Biddeford Public Schools	1,736	2,311	75.1%
Regional School Unit 35/Maine School Administrative District 35	1,957	2,118	92.4%
York Public Schools	1,411	1,531	92.2%
Wells-Ogunquit Community School District	1,288	1,411	91.3%
Kittery Public Schools	779	961	81.1%
Regional School Unit 23	561	672	83.5%
Dayton Public Schools	312	331	94.3%
Acton Public Schools	304	325	93.5%