The Maine Department of Education rates public schools every year, based on the growth and proficiency of students in reading and math. High schools are also partially graded on their percentage of students who graduate successfully. The statistics for reading and math are from the NECAP, the New England Common Assessment Program test, or the MHSA, Maine High School Assessment test. All schools also use scores from the PAAP, Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Boothbay Region Elementary School and Boothbay Region High School both received a C this year. For BRES, this was a drop from their score of B from last year, while BRHS remained steady. Southport Central and Edgecomb Eddy School both received an A, which was a gain for Southport over last year while Edgecomb was the same.

“I think AOS 98 did pretty well,” said Marcelle Durost, principal of Southport Central School. “We are a very small school, which means it's very easy for the rate to fluctuate.

Durost said that even one student not doing well, or being out sick, can change the school’s grade.

“The test has questions where students read and respond to literature, and we focused on students being very thorough with answers,” Durost said. “If the test says cite three examples, make sure you cite three, and so forth. Our students have always done well at Southport, but I think the focus on being thorough made the difference.”

Boothbay Region Elementary School Principal Mark Tess said the school uses information from the report like any other. “I never found a report you couldn't take something from to improve, but I don't think it's a true, accurate reflection of a school.”

Edgecomb Eddy’s Dean of Students Lisa Clarke said she thought state grades don’t always reflect the work the schools’ do. “We were pleased to get an A this year and last year, and over the past couple we have gotten better at targeting the individual needs of the students and helping them grow.

“But that is true of all schools, we just have a small student body of around 85 students, and have an advantage over larger schools.”

“I don't have a magic answer. I think all schools do the best they can,” Clarke said.