Cape Elizabeth Public Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Cape Elizabeth, Maine - 3 schools

An equity score of 38/100 ranks Cape Elizabeth Public Schools #95 of 131 districts in Maine (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $20,822 per pupil, Cape Elizabeth Public Schools ranks #75 of 203 Maine districts by per-pupil spending (Maine districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,509
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$20,822
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools operates 3 public schools serving 1,509 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Maine. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 high schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Cumberland County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $20,822 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 203 Maine districts by per-pupil spending. See how Maine compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 82.6% local, 15.6% state, and 1.8% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 38/100, ranked #95 of 131 in Maine against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (15 AP courses district-wide), a 341.4:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 24.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 85.8% White, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Pond Cove Elementary, with a diversity index of 29.7/100.

Its largest campus is Pond Cove Elementary, enrolling 579 students (39% of the district's total enrollment).

Pond Cove Elementary accounts for 38.4% of all Cape Elizabeth Public Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Cape Elizabeth Public Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: elementary. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 341:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Cape Elizabeth Public Schools is typically wider than the Cape Elizabeth Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 24.2% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Cape Elizabeth Public Schools is typically wider than the Cape Elizabeth Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

1.8%
Federal
15.6%
State
82.6%
Local

Funding Equity

38
Equity Score
95 / 131
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Cape Elizabeth Public Schools.

White 85.8%
Hispanic or Latino 6.3%
African American 1.0%
Asian 1.9%
Multiracial 4.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 25.6/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Cape Elizabeth Public Schools's schools, above the Maine average of 20.6.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Pond Cove Elementary 29.7
  2. 2 Cape Elizabeth Middle School 26.6
  3. 3 Cape Elizabeth High School 20.4

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
15 AP courses total
341.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.2%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Cape Elizabeth Public Schools

School Enrollment
Pond Cove Elementary
579
Cape Elizabeth High School
471
Cape Elizabeth Middle School
448

How Cape Elizabeth Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Maine districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
York Public Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Rsu 13 Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Rsu 71 Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Rsu 73 Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Rsu 34 Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Cape Elizabeth Public Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Maine

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Portland Public Schools
6,476 students · 17 schools · $21,356/pupil
Compare vs Cape Elizabeth Public Schools →
Lewiston Public Schools
5,088 students · 8 schools · $19,006/pupil
Compare vs Cape Elizabeth Public Schools →
Bangor Public Schools
3,454 students · 10 schools · $17,728/pupil
Compare vs Cape Elizabeth Public Schools →
Rsu 06/Msad 06
3,283 students · 8 schools · $17,630/pupil
Compare vs Cape Elizabeth Public Schools →
Rsu 17/Msad 17
3,223 students · 10 schools · $14,949/pupil
Compare vs Cape Elizabeth Public Schools →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Cape Elizabeth Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Portland Public Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Cape Elizabeth Public Schools?

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools has 3 schools, including 2 elementary, 1 high. Total enrollment is 1,509 students.

How much does Cape Elizabeth Public Schools spend per student?

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools spends $20,822 per student. The district has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #95 in Maine.

What is the demographic composition of Cape Elizabeth Public Schools?

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools students are 85.8% White, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% Asian, 1.0% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Cape Elizabeth Public Schools?

Cape Elizabeth Public Schools has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #95 out of 131 districts in Maine.