U.S. News and World Report Declares Bar Harbor Has State's #1 Middle School
Maine as a whole does poorly on Nation's Report Card
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Elise N. Frank.
BAR HARBOR—Though the Mount Desert Island Regional School System (MDIRSS) spoke about the state’s overall low scores on the Nation’s Report Card at its March 10 meeting, and the school also endured the theft of a bond payment, the Bar Harbor School Committee has had much more positive news as well: The Conners-Emerson School is ranked #1 for Maine middle schools and #12 in Maine elementary schools according to U.S. News and World Reports for 2025.
“At Conners-Emerson School, 92% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 98% scored at or above that level for reading,” according to the report released at the end of 2024.
The data used in the report is based on the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. The organization reviews 103,369 pre-K, elementary, and middle schools throughout the country.
“The report includes more than 79,000 public schools that are ranked at the state and district level,” the release states.
“It’s a bit niche,” said Principal Dr. Heather Weir Webster during a school board meeting earlier this month.
Mt. Desert Elementary, Pemetic Elementary School, Tremont Consolidated School, and Trenton Elementary School were unranked on the site, but all showed proficiency rates for reading and math above 82%, and all performed better than the state average according to the U.S. News and World Report Site.
The low test scores discussed at the MDIRSS meeting came from the Nation’s Report Card or the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Congress has mandated that a sample of students in fourth and eighth grades in each state be tested on two-year cycles.
“We know that Maine didn’t fare very well compared to other states in the nation,” MDI RSS Director of Teaching and Learning Grades PreK-6 Rhonda Fortin said.
There is no ability to review how students in different school districts scored. Or schools. Or students.
In Maine, one-third of fourth graders in the sample tested as math proficient, just over a quarter tested proficient at reading. Eighth graders were roughly 25% proficient in math and 26% reading proficient.
Maine standards for testing proficiency are different than the NAEP’s standards. Maine uses Common Core and Maine Learning Results.
Possibly part of the reason for Conners-Emerson’s high ranking and test scores is the school climate that is part of every one of Dr. Webster’s reports, which she discussed with the school board at an early March meeting.
“March is the longest month,” Dr. Webster said. “It’s really important to do a lot for the staff in terms of appreciation.
They’ll be a week of “March Madness” that won’t impact education time, but will hopefully show staff that they are appreciated.
In other academic news, Blue Snyder won the district speech competition and will compete again at another level later this month. Fifth and eighth graders went to Somes Pond in February to participate in a frozen classroom learning experience.
The school’s Math Counts team placed third in the state last weekend! One student will head to Washington, D.C. for the national competition this May. The achievements are not just academic.
“There is a group of eighth graders that help put up the orange barriers for recesses and collect recess equipment since they have the last recess. Every month or so they get a ‘thank you pizza.’ It is great to build relationships with middle schoolers,” Dr. Webster wrote in her report.
Naomi McIsaac will be the long-term sub for Izzy Keene.
“She’s had a lot of experience. I think that’s going to be a seamless transition,” Dr. Webster said.
The school has posted for a custodial position and should be interviewing later this month. The school has also reposted for the fifth-sixth grade special education position. The school population has not changed since last month.
School board members will continue to look toward engagement with the planning board and town council in work related to the town’s lodging moratorium. Dr. Webster and Superintendent Mike Zboray have also sent a letter to the MDI YMCA looking toward a renewal of a collaborative effort concerning students heading to the YMCA on buses after school. In the past there had been a designated bus bringing students to the Y.
“I really hope there is some consensus on how to bring that bus back,” Vice Chair Marie Yarborough said.
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Yaay! Connors-Emerson educational community! Good Work! ThankYou!
Thanks Carrie. Good news is always welcome. Especially these days. Especially in education.
Great that Conners Emerson ranked highly. It’s interesting to observe how the new school