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Houlton Southside School

Summary:

Houlton Southside School is an elementary school serving grades 3-5 in Houlton, Maine, with a diverse student population of 317 students. This school stands out for its consistently strong academic performance, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics, where it outperforms both the state and district averages.

Houlton Southside School has a track record of success for specific student subgroups, ranking highly among Maine elementary schools for female students, White students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. While the school has seen a decrease in chronic absenteeism over the past three years, its rate is still higher than the nearby Houlton Elementary School. Interestingly, Houlton Southside School's academic performance is notably stronger than Houlton Elementary, which serves grades PK-2.

Compared to the nearby Mill Pond School, Houlton Southside School has a more diverse student population, with a significant Native American representation. Both schools serve communities with similar socioeconomic challenges, as evidenced by the high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. Additionally, Houlton Southside School's relatively low student-teacher ratio may contribute to its strong academic performance within the Regional School Unit 29/Maine School Admin District 29, which is ranked 114 out of 177 districts in the state.


Detail:

Public 3-5

 65 South Street
       Houlton, ME  04730

(207) 532-6027

District: Regional School Unit 29/Maine School Admin District 29

SchoolDigger Rank:
125th of 290 Maine Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,845 Help


Students who attend Houlton Southside School usually attend:

Middle:    Houlton Junior High School
High:    Houlton High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.0 Help
Number of students:  293

Racial breakdown:

White:
84.3%
American Indian:
8.9%
Pacific Islander:
2.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  59.4% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Houlton Southside School ranks better than 56.9% of elementary schools in Maine. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 60.32. (See more...)
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (84.3%), American Indian (8.9%), Pacific Islander (2.7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 59.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Houlton Southside School is 13. (See more...)
Help
Compare Houlton Southside School employs 22.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Houlton Southside School is $13,845.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Houlton Southside School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Regional School Unit 29/Maine School Admin District 29:

SchoolDigger ranks Regional School Unit 29/Maine School Admin District 29 114th of 177 Maine school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Houlton Southside School

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Rank History for all students at Houlton Southside School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools ME State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 51.18 86th 192 55.2%
2007 64.60 52nd 198 73.7%
2008 65.58 55th 195 71.8%
2009 40.04 151st 209 27.8%
2010 62.52 56th 193 71.0%
2011 65.82 46th 186 75.3%
2012 67.60 56th 258 78.3%
2013 63.83 75th 261 71.3%
2015 72.20 89th 284 68.7%
2016 57.26 99th 255 61.2%
2017 59.35 96th 256 62.5%
2018 60.41 85th 254 66.5%
2019 62.90 79th 258 69.4%
2021 38.02 140th 228 38.6%
2022 49.32 102nd 210 51.4%
2023 60.32 125th 290 56.9%
See the entire list of Maine Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Houlton Southside School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools ME State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 82.04 12th 82 85.4%
2021 73.80 19th 64 70.3%
See the entire list of Best Maine Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Houlton Southside School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools ME State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 69.91 32nd 153 79.1%
2021 32.82 53rd 90 41.1%
See the entire list of Best Maine Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Houlton Southside School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools ME State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 43.76 84th 153 45.1%
2021 35.98 58th 90 35.6%
See the entire list of Best Maine Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Houlton Southside School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools ME State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 75.02 9th 48 81.3%
2021 54.81 10th 31 67.7%
See the entire list of Best Maine Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Maine Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Houlton Southside School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Maine Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Houlton Southside School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1994 268 2 5 0 20 n/a n/a -12 283
1995 222 2 1 2 42 n/a n/a 0 269
1996 222 2 1 2 42 n/a n/a 0 269
1997 231 1 3 0 41 n/a n/a 0 276
1998 224 2 1 2 30 n/a n/a 0 259
1999 215 2 1 1 26 n/a n/a 0 245
2000 206 3 3 1 24 n/a n/a 0 237
2001 251 3 3 1 21 n/a n/a 0 279
2002 262 2 2 0 19 n/a n/a 0 285
2003 262 2 2 0 19 n/a n/a 0 285
2004 240 4 2 1 31 n/a n/a 0 278
2005 258 5 3 8 35 n/a n/a 0 309
2006 251 8 2 5 37 n/a n/a 0 303
2007 238 2 2 4 27 n/a n/a 0 273
2008 222 2 0 5 29 n/a n/a 0 258
2009 231 4 0 4 28 n/a n/a 0 267
2010 249 3 0 4 26 n/a n/a 0 282
2011 247 1 0 4 26 0 0 0 278
2012 243 0 0 4 35 0 0 0 282
2013 223 0 2 4 38 0 0 0 267
2014 225 1 1 4 44 0 3 0 278
2015 233 2 0 3 47 0 4 0 289
2016 240 2 0 5 49 0 3 0 299
2017 252 2 1 3 37 0 2 0 297
2018 258 2 2 4 39 0 0 0 305
2019 275 4 1 1 38 0 0 0 319
2020 272 6 2 3 46 1 0 0 330
2021 257 5 2 2 33 2 10 0 311
2022 241 5 2 1 35 4 8 0 296
2023 260 3 1 2 36 7 8 0 317
2024 247 2 1 1 26 8 8 0 293

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Houlton Southside School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 283 15.4 18.4 35.9
1995 269 15.2 17.7 34.9
1996 269 15.2 17.7 34.9
1997 276 14.5 19.0 35.1
1998 259 14.5 17.9 41.7
1999 245 15.5 15.8 49
2000 237 16.5 14.4 50.6
2001 279 18.1 15.4 47.7
2002 285 17.0 16.8 47
2003 285 17.0 16.8 47
2004 278 17.6 15.8 55.4
2005 309 23.0 13.4 57.3
2006 303 23.9 12.7 57.1
2007 273 22.9 11.9 54.9
2008 258 29.7 8.7 54.3
2009 267 23.6 11.3 54.3
2010 282 23.6 11.9 55
2011 278 24.0 11.5 56.5
2012 282 24.0 11.7 n/a
2013 267 23.7 11.2 65.2
2014 278 23.6 11.7 61.2
2015 289 22.0 13.1 67.1
2016 299 21.0 14.2 69.2
2017 297 17.6 16.8 69
2018 305 19.5 15.6 62.3
2019 319 23.7 13.4 63
2020 330 24.9 13.2 67.3
2021 311 24.8 12.5 68.5
2022 296 24.4 12.1 56.4
2023 317 24.4 12.9 66.6
2024 293 22.4 13.0 59.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Houlton Southside School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1994 283 15.4 18.4 35.9
1995 269 15.2 17.7 34.9
1996 269 15.2 17.7 34.9
1997 276 14.5 19.0 35.1
1998 259 14.5 17.9 41.7
1999 245 15.5 15.8 49
2000 237 16.5 14.4 50.6
2001 279 18.1 15.4 47.7
2002 285 17.0 16.8 47
2003 285 17.0 16.8 47
2004 278 17.6 15.8 55.4
2005 309 23.0 13.4 57.3
2006 303 23.9 12.7 57.1
2007 273 22.9 11.9 54.9
2008 258 29.7 8.7 54.3
2009 267 23.6 11.3 54.3
2010 282 23.6 11.9 55
2011 278 24.0 11.5 56.5
2012 282 24.0 11.7 n/a
2013 267 23.7 11.2 65.2
2014 278 23.6 11.7 61.2
2015 289 22.0 13.1 67.1
2016 299 21.0 14.2 69.2
2017 297 17.6 16.8 69
2018 305 19.5 15.6 62.3
2019 319 23.7 13.4 63
2020 330 24.9 13.2 67.3
2021 311 24.8 12.5 68.5
2022 296 24.4 12.1 56.4
2023 317 24.4 12.9 66.6
2024 293 22.4 13.0 59.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Houlton Southside School

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $11,167
2019 $11,332
2020 $11,722
2021 $14,626
2022 $15,114
2023 $13,845

Data source: Maine Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Houlton Southside School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 79th of 258 Elementary schoolsRanks 125th of 290 Elementary schools
 12.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
All Grades English Language Arts (Houlton Southside School)60.185.3
 25.2%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Regional School Unit 29/Maine School Admin District 29)58.685.8
 27.2%
   All Grades English Language Arts (Maine)55.983.8
 27.9%
All Grades Mathematics (Houlton Southside School)41.881.1
 39.3%
   All Grades Mathematics (Regional School Unit 29/Maine School Admin District 29)32.280.2
 48%
   All Grades Mathematics (Maine)35.781.3
 45.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students319317
 0.6%
African American43
 25%
American Indian3836
 5.3%
Asian11
Hispanic12
 100%
Pacific Islander07
White275260
 5.5%
Two or More Races08
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients63%66.6%
 3.6%

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Frequently Asked Questions about Houlton Southside School

Houlton Southside School ranks 125th of 290 Maine elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 293 students attended Houlton Southside School.

Students who attend Houlton Southside School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Houlton Junior High School
High : Houlton High School

Students at Houlton Southside School are 84% White, 9% American Indian, 3% Pacific Islander, 3% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maine Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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