RSU 71 operates 7 public schools serving 1,456 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Maine. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 other, 2 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,396 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Waldo County County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $21,779 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 54.8% local, 42.6% state, and 2.6% 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 $110,921 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 58/100, ranked #46 of 131 in Maine against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.
Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 7 schools offering Advanced Placement (10 AP courses district-wide), a 346:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 26.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 90.5% White, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% Asian across the district's schools.
Belfast Area High School accounts for 34.1% of all RSU 71 student enrollment
That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means RSU 71-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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.
RSU 71 school enrollment varies 8.2× across entities
RSU 71 school enrollment ranges from 58 students (lowest) to 476 students (highest), a spread of 418 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
RSU 71 student-counselor ratio is 346:1 — 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 RSU 71 is typically wider than the RSU 71-aggregate figure suggests.
RSU 71 chronic absenteeism rate is 26.7% — 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 71 is typically wider than the RSU 71-aggregate figure suggests.
RSU 71 has 7 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 3 other, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,456 students.
How much does RSU 71 spend per student?
RSU 71 spends $21,779 per student. The district has an equity score of 58/100, ranking #46 in Maine.
What is the average teacher salary in RSU 71?
The average teacher salary in RSU 71 is $110,921 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.
What is the average rent near RSU 71?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Waldo County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.
What is the demographic composition of RSU 71?
RSU 71 students are 90.5% White, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% African American, averaged across 7 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for RSU 71?
RSU 71 has an equity score of 58/100, ranking #46 out of 131 districts in Maine. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.