Public schools in Sanford, ME
5 open public schools with an address in Sanford, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,814
4 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.1:1
Maine median 10.9:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Sanford public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Sanford, ME: 2 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 4 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,814 students, an average of 704 per school. The largest campus is Sanford High School (1,115 students), and the largest elementary school is Margaret Chase Smith (396).
Every listed school belongs to Sanford Public Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.1:1, higher than the statewide school median of 10.9:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 54% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Sanford
Elementary schools in Sanford
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Chase Smith Sanford Public Schools | PK–04 | 396 | 10.9:1 | |
| Sanford Pride Elementary School Sanford Public Schools | PK–04 | 383 | 12.4:1 |
Middle schools in Sanford
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford Middle School Sanford Public Schools | 05–08 | 920 | 13.7:1 |
High schools in Sanford
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford High School Sanford Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,115 | 17.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Sanford
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford Regional Technical Center Sanford Public Schools · Career and Technical School | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White82.6%
- Hispanic4.4%
- Black5.3%
- Asian1.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial5.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 4 Sanford schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,814 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Sanford
How many public schools are in Sanford, ME?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Sanford: 2 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,814 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Sanford?
All listed public schools with an address in Sanford belong to Sanford Public Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Sanford?
Sanford High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Sanford, with 1,115 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Sanford?
No school with an address in Sanford is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Maine.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Sanford schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Sanford public schools is 13.1:1, higher than the Maine school median of 10.9:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Sanford guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Maine cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Maine cities