The Orono and Bangor school departments ranked among the best school districts in Maine for 2016.

Regional School Unit No. 26 (MSAD 26), which includes the Orono schools, ranked fifth and Bangor ranked 11th in the survey released Monday by Niche, a company which uses government data and opinion-based surveys from students, alumni and parents to determine its rankings.

The survey measured each school district in eight categories, with academics accounting for 50 percent of the grade. Other categories included health and safety, teachers, facilities, and student culture and diversity.

Orono received all As in the ranking except for one A- in the "health and safety" category and a C+ in "student and cultural diversity." Bangor received an A in the "teachers" category and no grade below a B- (student culture and diversity.)

Brewer ranked 40th in the survey, Hermon ranked 44th and Old Town ranked 45th.

Below are the Top 20 school districts in Maine

  1. Falmouth School Department
  2. Yarmouth Schools
  3. Cape Elizabeth School Department
  4. Regional School Unit No. 51 (MSAD 51) Cumberland Center
  5. Regional School Unit No. 26 (MSAD 26) Orono
  6. Scarborough School Department
  7. Islesboro School Department
  8. Brunswick School Department
  9. Regional School Unit No. 38 (MSAD 38) Readfield
  10. Portland Public Schools
  11. Bangor School Department
  12. York School Department
  13. Greenville School Department
  14. Regional School Unit No. 35 (MSAD 35) Eliot
  15. Regional School Unit No. 21 (MSAD 21) Kennebunk
  16. Regional School Unit No. 08 (MSAD 08) Vinalhaven
  17. South Portland School Department
  18. Gorham School Department
  19. Wells-Ogunquit Central School District
  20. Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Central School District

In a separate ranking, Bangor High School was found to be the 13th best public high school in Maine. Brewer High School ranked 32nd on that list. Yarmouth High School was the best high school in Maine, according to the study.

The company also released a list of the best private high schools in Maine, on which John Bapst Memorial High School ranked ninth.

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