Lewiston Times

There were 2,463 Black or African American students enrolled in Androscoggin County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 6.5% more than the previous year, according to the Maine Department of Education.

Data showed that Black or African American students made up 16.3% of the 15,076 students in Androscoggin County schools at the time. They were the second most represented ethnicity.

Among the 35 schools in the county, Lewiston High School recorded the highest enrollment of Black or African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 586 students.

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."

School Name	Black or African American Students Enrollment	Total Enrollment	% of Total Enrollment
Lewiston High School	586	1,492	39.3%
Edward Little High School	126	998	12.6%
Lewiston Middle School	303	716	42.3%
Robert V. Connors Elementary School	328	688	47.7%
Lisbon Community School	11	663	1.7%
Montello School	307	590	52%
Raymond A. Geiger Elementary School	200	569	35.1%
Leavitt Area High School	6	533	1.1%
Auburn Middle School	66	502	13.1%
Poland Regional High School	4	492	0.8%
Thomas J. McMahon Elementary School	165	492	33.5%
Fairview School	9	468	1.9%
Durham Community School	3	459	0.7%
Poland Community School	0	439	--
Farwell Elementary School	112	389	28.8%
Oak Hill Middle School	3	386	0.8%
Oak Hill High School	3	382	0.8%
Spruce Mountain Primary School	1	377	0.3%
Lisbon High School	11	354	3.1%
Park Avenue Elementary School	131	354	37%
Greene Central School	2	344	0.6%
Sherwood Heights Elementary School	14	302	4.6%
Turner Primary School	4	302	1.3%
Turner Elementary School	9	293	3.1%
Philip W. Sugg Middle School	4	284	1.4%
Tripp Middle School	2	277	0.7%
Bruce M. Whittier Middle School	1	276	0.4%
Acadia Academy School	9	247	3.6%
Washburn School	14	243	5.8%
Elm Street School-Mechanic Falls	2	237	0.8%
Minot Consolidated School	2	224	0.9%
Leeds Central School	3	198	1.5%
Walton School	12	185	6.5%
Sabattus Primary School	0	162	--
East Auburn Community School	10	159	6.3%