RSU 39

Caribou, Maine — 2 schools

1,220
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$19,540
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

RSU 39 operates 2 public schools serving 1,220 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Maine. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 other, 1 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,188 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Aroostook County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,540 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 28.0% local, 59.3% state, and 12.7% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $91,999 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 55/100, ranked #51 of 131 in Maine against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 526.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 29.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.7% White, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% African American across the district's schools.

Caribou Community School accounts for 63.3% of all RSU 39 student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means RSU 39-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

RSU 39 student-counselor ratio is 527:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

RSU 39 chronic absenteeism rate is 29.7% — 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 RSU 39 is typically wider than the RSU 39-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

12.7%
Federal
59.3%
State
28.0%
Local

Funding Equity

55
Equity Score
51 / 131
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Aroostook County county, where this district is located.

$942
Studio/mo
$949
1 BR/mo
$1,224
2 BR/mo
$1,672
3 BR/mo
$1,739
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$91,999
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in RSU 39.

White 86.7%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%
African American 1.7%
Multiracial 5.8%
Other 2.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

526.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in RSU 39

School Enrollment
Caribou Community School
752
Caribou High School
436

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 · $21,987/pupil
Compare vs RSU 39 →
Lewiston Public Schools
5,088 students · 8 schools · $19,093/pupil
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Bangor Public Schools
3,454 students · 10 schools · $16,978/pupil
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RSU 06/MSAD 06
3,283 students · 8 schools · $17,036/pupil
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RSU 17/MSAD 17
3,223 students · 10 schools · $15,682/pupil
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Compare RSU 39

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 RSU 39?

RSU 39 has 2 schools, including 1 other, 1 high. Total enrollment is 1,220 students.

How much does RSU 39 spend per student?

RSU 39 spends $19,540 per student. The district has an equity score of 55/100, ranking #51 in Maine.

What is the average teacher salary in RSU 39?

The average teacher salary in RSU 39 is $91,999 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near RSU 39?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Aroostook County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of RSU 39?

RSU 39 students are 86.7% White, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for RSU 39?

RSU 39 has an equity score of 55/100, ranking #51 out of 131 districts in Maine. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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