Elementary Schools in South Portland Public Schools

Summary:

The South Portland Public Schools district in Maine is home to 5 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. The data reveals a mix of high-performing and lower-performing schools within the district, with some standout institutions leading the way.

The Frank I. Brown Elementary School and Dora L. Small Elementary School are the clear standouts, consistently ranking among the top elementary schools in the state. Frank I. Brown, in particular, has been a top performer, ranking 23rd out of 289 Maine elementary schools in the 2024-2025 school year and earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Both schools boast impressive test scores, with proficiency rates well above the district and state averages in both English Language Arts and Mathematics.

In contrast, Waldo T. Skillin Elementary School has struggled, with the lowest proficiency rates in both subjects compared to the other schools in the district. The data also suggests that socioeconomic factors may play a role, as the schools with higher free and reduced lunch rates, such as Waldo T. Skillin and James Otis Kaler Elementary School, tend to have lower academic performance. Additionally, the district-wide chronic absenteeism rate of 23.4% is an area of concern that may require attention and intervention.

District Detail

120 Wescott Road
South Portland, ME 04106

(207) 871-0555

SchoolDigger Rank:
39^th of 176 Maine districts

See the 2025 Maine District rankings!

Grades served: PK, KG-12
Students: 2,816

Primary Schools: 5
Middle Schools: 1
High Schools: 1
Alternative Schools: 0

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MEA English Language Arts (2025)	MEA Mathematics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MEA English Language Arts All Grades	MEA Mathematics All Grades	Total
Waldo T Skillin Elementary School	Public	K-4	180 Wescott Road	South Portland	04106	Cumberland County	South Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 773-7375	302	32	9.3	61.3%	137 (45.4%)	100 (33.1%)	38 (12.6%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (7.3%)	48.9	170^th of 289 public elementary schools	41.2%		74.3	79^th of 288 public elementary schools	72.6%	91	57.6	58.2	$28,012
Dora L Small Elementary School	Public	K-4	87 Thompson Street	South Portland	04106	Cumberland County	South Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(207) 799-7676	193	21	9.4	28.0%	159 (82.4%)	11 (5.7%)	5 (2.6%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (7.8%)	84.1	45^th of 289 public elementary schools	84.4%		90.8	23^rd of 288 public elementary schools	92.0%	22	71.6	74.7	$31,373
Dyer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	52 Alfred Street	South Portland	04106	Cumberland County	South Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(207) 799-4845	194	20	9.5	28.4%	148 (76.3%)	20 (10.3%)	10 (5.2%)	5 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.7%)	78.8	60^th of 289 public elementary schools	79.2%		73.7	81^st of 288 public elementary schools	71.9%	21	67.1	77.8	$28,410
Frank I Brown Elementary School	Public	K-4	37 Highland AVE	South Portland	04106	Cumberland County	South Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(207) 799-5196	213	21	10.3	32.4%	141 (66.2%)	37 (17.4%)	16 (7.5%)	5 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.6%)	91.2	23^rd of 289 public elementary schools	92.0%		82.5	46^th of 288 public elementary schools	84.0%	23	77.1	77.4	$26,403
James Otis Kaler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	165 South Kelsey Street	South Portland	04106	Cumberland County	South Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 799-3214	179	22	8.0	59.2%	87 (48.6%)	40 (22.3%)	29 (16.2%)	10 (5.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.7%)	78.4	63^rd of 289 public elementary schools	78.2%		72.6	84^th of 288 public elementary schools	70.8%	21	67.4	76.0	$29,111

Districts nearby

District	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Arthur R. Gould School--LCYDC	0.9 mi	1
Maine Connections Academy	1.44 mi	1	93^rd
Scarborough Public Schools	2.3 mi	6	11^th
Portland Public Schools	2.54 mi	17	102^nd
Baxter Academy for Technology and Science	3.22 mi	1	22^nd

See the top ME Maine districts

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maine Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

Elementary Schools in South Portland Public Schools

District Detail

Frank I Brown Elementary School

Dora L Small Elementary School

Dyer Elementary School

James Otis Kaler Elementary School

Waldo T Skillin Elementary School

Districts nearby