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Dora L Small Elementary School

Q: Is Dora L Small Elementary School a good school?

Dora L Small Elementary School ranks 45 th of 289 Maine elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

45^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 289 Maine Elementary Schools

Better than 84% of Maine elementary schools

Summary

Dora L Small Elementary School is a public elementary school in South Portland, Maine, serving 204 students in grades K-4 and part of the South Portland Public Schools district.

Dora L Small Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state in academic proficiency, with 71.6% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 74.7% in Mathematics, compared to 65.93% and 56.9% for the district, and 63.84% and 49.38% for the state. The school ranks in the top 25% of Maine elementary schools, placing 45th out of 289 in the 2024-2025 school year. However, the school's performance for low socioeconomic status students is relatively weaker, ranking 159th out of 248 Maine elementary schools.

When compared to other schools in the area, Dora L Small Elementary outperforms the other elementary schools in the South Portland Public Schools district, such as Waldo T Skillin Elementary and James Otis Kaler Elementary. However, the top-ranked Pond Cove Elementary in Cape Elizabeth stands out with exceptional academic results, ranking 1st in the state for the past three school years.

193

Students ?

9.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$31,373

Per pupil spending ?

28%

Free/discounted lunch ?

87 Thompson Street
South Portland, ME 04106

(207) 799-7676

District: South Portland Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.4%

Two or more races:

7.8%

African American:

5.7%

See top rated Maine elementary schools

Compare Dora L Small Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 62nd percentile in 2015 → 84th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maine average (73% vs 57% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of Maine elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 22 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school73%

District avg61%

Maine avg57%

45^th of 289

Maine public elementary schools ?

Top 16%▲ up 22 pts since 2015

From top 38% (2015) to top 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Maine Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5Elementary Schools in the South Portland Public Schools

39^th of 176South Portland Public Schools among Maine districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maine percentile	Rating
2025	84.1	45 of 289	84.4%	★★★★☆
2024	90.8	23 of 288	92.0%	★★★★★
2023	86.7	35 of 290	87.9%	★★★★☆
2022	68.5	60 of 210	71.4%	★★★★☆
2021	86.6	12 of 228	94.7%	★★★★★
2019	84.9	24 of 258	90.7%	★★★★★
2018	78.7	27 of 254	89.4%	★★★★☆
2017	80.7	27 of 256	89.5%	★★★★☆
2016	60.2	90 of 255	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	65.3	107 of 284	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	79.9	27 of 261	89.7%	★★★★★
2012	79.7	24 of 258	90.7%	★★★★★
2011	80.6	19 of 186	89.8%	★★★★★
2010	76.7	25 of 193	87.0%	★★★★☆
2009	64.3	49 of 209	76.6%	★★★★☆
2008	59.7	70 of 195	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	70.0	37 of 198	81.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maine percentile	Rating
2025	89.9	28 of 251	88.8%	★★★★☆
2019	81.2	18 of 153	88.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maine percentile	Rating
2025	46.6	159 of 248	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.4	53 of 82	35.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maine percentile	Rating
2025	78.2	64 of 251	74.5%	★★★★☆
2019	66.2	45 of 153	70.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maine percentile	Rating
2025	76.2	49 of 192	74.5%	★★★★☆
2019	79.8	4 of 16	75.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maine percentile	Rating
2025	95.2	11 of 150	92.7%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)93rd percentile+8 vs school

Female (2025)89th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)75th percentile-10 vs school

Special Education (2025)74th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)36th percentile-49 vs school

By subject vs Maine (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics75%+25 vs state

English Language Arts72%+8 vs state

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Schools Near Dora L Small Elementary School

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)	MEA Science (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	MEA Science All Grades	Total
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
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
Howard C Reiche Community School	Public	PK, KG-5	166 Brackett ST	Portland	04102	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 874-8175	467	45	10.2	72.8%	134 (28.7%)	209 (44.8%)	100 (21.4%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.9%)	12.8	269^th of 289 public elementary schools	6.9%		13.4	267^th of 288 public elementary schools	7.3%	2	49.5	35.5	14.7	$24,645
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
Peaks Island School	Public	PK, KG-5	4 Church AV	Peaks Island	04108	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(207) 766-2528	41	6	7.0	24.4%	36 (87.8%)	2 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (7.3%)								(n/a)				$38,812
East End Community School	Public	PK, KG-5	195 North ST	Portland	04101	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 874-8228	391	40	9.7	77.2%	109 (27.9%)	190 (48.6%)	48 (12.3%)	21 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.9%)	14.2	266^th of 289 public elementary schools	8.0%		24.8	250^th of 288 public elementary schools	13.2%	16	45.7	40.7	10.0	$27,726
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
Pond Cove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	12 Scott Dyer Road	Cape Elizabeth	04107	Cumberland County	Cape Elizabeth Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 799-7339	579	45	12.8	8.6%	482 (83.2%)	5 (0.9%)	49 (8.5%)	7 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.0%)	98.8	1^st of 289 public elementary schools	99.7%		98.3	1^st of 288 public elementary schools	99.7%		88.8	90.7		$24,231
Presumpscot School	Public	PK, KG-5	69 Presumpscot ST	Portland	04103	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 874-8220	266	25	10.4	59.4%	115 (43.2%)	85 (32.0%)	34 (12.8%)	14 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.8%)	71.1	88^th of 289 public elementary schools	69.6%		68.3	97^th of 288 public elementary schools	66.3%	9	76.1	65.3	18.4	$25,143
Ocean Avenue	Public	K-5	150 Ocean AV	Portland	04103	Cumberland County	Portland Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(207) 874-8180	337	32	10.4	41.2%	198 (58.8%)	81 (24.0%)	29 (8.6%)	9 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.9%)	58.9	135^th of 289 public elementary schools	53.3%		75	74^th of 288 public elementary schools	74.3%	61	66.9	58.3	29.0	$27,010

Frequently Asked Questions about Dora L Small Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Dora L Small Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Dora L Small Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : South Portland High School

What district is Dora L Small Elementary School in?

South Portland Public Schools

Is Dora L Small Elementary School a good school?

Dora L Small Elementary School ranks 45^th of 289 Maine elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Dora L Small Elementary School?

Students at Dora L Small Elementary School are 82% White, 8% Two or more races, 6% African American, 3% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Dora L Small Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 193 students attended Dora L Small Elementary School.

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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.