The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jordan-small Middle School
Jordan-Small Middle School sits on Webb's Mills Road in Raymond, a small lakeside town on Sebago Lake in Cumberland County. It serves grades five through eight and is part of RSU 14, a regional school unit Raymond shares with the neighboring town of Windham. The school draws from a community that is primarily residential, with seasonal tourism and lakefront recreation shaping much of the local economy. Commercial life clusters along the Roosevelt Trail highway corridor, and the town has no dense walkable center. Civic anchors include Tassel Top Park on Sebago Lake, Veterans Memorial Park, the Raymond Village Library, and the historic Hawthorne House. Public transit is limited to a single day-trip bus route through the lakes region.
The school is small for its grade band, with an enrollment that fits comfortably across its four grades. Its student body is predominantly white, with a small number of students identifying as Hispanic, two or more races, or American Indian or Alaska Native. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is modest, below what many public middle schools in Maine see. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not reported, so those populations cannot be characterized here. Raymond is an affluent community relative to the state overall, with home values well above both Maine and national benchmarks. The estimated mortgage burden is substantial, and the price-to-income ratio suggests that buying a home here requires a strong household income. Rent data was not available, but the mortgage cost runs higher than estimated rent, which is unusual and may reflect the limited rental stock typical of a low-density lakeside town.
On the most recent Maine Through Year Assessment, the school's English language arts results stand out as a clear strength. A solid majority of tested students reached proficiency, a level that suggests the school's literacy instruction is working well for most learners. Math proficiency landed lower, with fewer than half of tested students meeting the state benchmark. Science results were weaker still, with under a third of tested students proficient. Participation rates were high across all three subjects, so the results reflect nearly the full student body rather than a skewed subset. Average scale scores were not reported. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. A parent considering this school may want to ask about math and science instruction specifically, particularly how the school supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency in those subjects.
The broader district context offers some useful background. RSU 14 recently approved full-day kindergarten for all eligible students starting in the current school year, an expansion funded through the latest budget cycle. That change does not directly affect Jordan-Small but signals a district investing in earlier grades. The district also passed a budget that raises property tax mil rates in both Raymond and Windham, funding curriculum improvements, technology upgrades, and student support services. A major renovation at Windham Primary School was completed recently, addressing overcrowding and modernizing that building. These investments point to a district actively maintaining and improving its facilities and programs, though the specific impacts on the middle school are not detailed in available sources.
Several categories of information that would help round out a picture of this school were not available. No data on course offerings, extracurricular programs, staffing ratios, class sizes, discipline incidents, attendance, or school climate was provided. The school's Title I status, charter status, and magnet designation were either not applicable or not reported. Civil rights data was absent. Without these pieces, a parent can see the academic results and community setting clearly but would need to contact the school directly for details about teacher experience, program offerings, and day-to-day culture.
What the available data describes is a small middle school in an affluent lakeside community, with strong reading outcomes and room to grow in math and science. The setting is rural and dispersed, with recreation and natural beauty as defining features of daily life. Families drawn to a quieter, outdoor-oriented community with access to Sebago Lake and proximity to Portland may find the environment appealing. Those whose children need strong math support may want to look further into how the school addresses that area before deciding.
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