The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Harpswell Coastal Academy Division 1
Harpswell Coastal Academy Division 1 was a public charter school in Harpswell, Maine, serving students from a town defined by its coastline. The school is now closed. It operated as part of the Harpswell Coastal Academy district, the state's first charter to shut its doors, which happened in June 2023 after the Maine Charter School Commission voted against renewing the charter. Publicly reported reasons for the non-renewal included chronic absenteeism running at roughly double the state average, the school missing a majority of its academic targets over the preceding contract period, and financial fragility. Families who had enrolled here were left to find alternative placements when the school closed.
The academic picture from the school's final reported year shows a sharp split between subjects. English language arts proficiency was a clear strength, with a large majority of tested students reaching proficiency on Maine's state assessment. Science results landed in a middling range, with about a third of tested students proficient. Math was the weakest area, with only a small fraction of students meeting proficiency. Full participation was achieved in math and ELA testing, with slightly lower but still strong participation in science. Because the state changed its assessment name and cut scores that year, trend comparisons against prior years are not reliable, so it is difficult to say whether these results represented a decline or were typical for the school. Average scale scores were not available for any subject.
Enrollment figures, demographic breakdowns, free-or-reduced-price lunch rates, special education and English learner populations, staffing data, discipline records, course access information, and attendance details beyond what the commission cited were all missing from available data. The school's exact grade configuration was also unclear in the records. Without enrollment or demographic context, the proficiency numbers stand on their own with limited ability to interpret what peer environment or student support looked like inside the building.
Harpswell itself is a small coastal community on Casco Bay, composed of a long peninsula called Harpswell Neck and three large islands connected by bridges, plus many smaller islands. It sits within the Portland-South Portland metropolitan area but retains a rural, working-coast character. Villages such as Bailey Island, Cundy's Harbor, Harpswell Center, Orr's Island, and West Harpswell are scattered rather than concentrated into a single downtown. The local economy is tied tightly to the sea. Publicly reported data indicates Harpswell held the highest count of active lobstering licenses in Maine as of 2022, and a substantial portion of local jobs connected directly or indirectly to maritime occupations, recreation, and tourism. No large private employers were identified in available search results. Civic anchors include Eagle Island State Historic Site, the Bailey Island Bridge (a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and the only known cribstone bridge in the world), the Giant's Stairs coastal rock formation, Mackerel Cove working harbor, and the Harpswell Historical Society Museum. No public transit system was mentioned, and no walkability data was found.
The housing market in Harpswell's zip code runs well above both state and national benchmarks, reflecting the desirability of coastal Maine property. Typical home values sit at a premium level compared to the state overall, with modest year-over-year appreciation. Rental data was not available, so the rental picture for families considering the area cannot be characterized here. Mortgage rates in the broader economic environment remained elevated, and the national unemployment rate held steady at a low level. No growth or development trajectory information was found for Harpswell beyond references to storm damage to docks and piers in early 2024 and the earlier conversion of a former Navy fuel depot into a public park.
For a parent or resident reading this, the essential fact is that Harpswell Coastal Academy Division 1 no longer exists. The academic results from its final year suggest the school was producing strong readers but struggling in math, and the commission's cited concerns about attendance, missed academic targets, and finances provide the context for its closure. Anyone researching this school today would be looking at a closed institution, and the relevant question is what alternative placements are available in and around Harpswell for students who would have attended here.
See more original research from School Decision →