Schools
Education
Our schools are rated among the best in the country, receiving several state and national recognition awards. Our focus on career and technical education (CTE) starting in middle school and continuing through high school complements rigorous college predatory pathways also available to students through our community schools and Aroostook’s Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM).
Our CTE Trade Schools include Region 2, SAD #1 Presque Isle Tech Center, RSU 39 Caribou Tech Center, and St. John Valley Tech Center. Course offerings include but are not limited to, AgriScience and Natural Resources, Business Technology, Building Trades, Early Childhood Education, Drafting/Engineering Technology, Cosmetology and Industrial and Farm Mechanics. Career and technical education offers a dynamic hands-on approach to education and career development opportunities as well as a head start on college by offering many dual enrollment opportunities.
Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) brings together and helps a group of Maine’s most academically motivated high school students become innovative, well-rounded scholars with the ability to develop, investigate, and communicate critical ideas that improve the human condition and benefit the state of Maine. MSSM has built a reputation as one of the most well-respected high schools in the country. MSSM continues to rank strongly in publications such as US News and World Report (#2 in 2019) and Niche.com where we are ranked #1 in Maine and top 10 in the US throughout the years. MSSM alumni have built careers in a variety of fields, from aerospace to academia, medicine to marketing, software engineering to patent law, video game design to finance.
Unlike many other communities, in lieu of private schools, Aroostook County has focused on cultivating high quality education in our public schools. Our largest schools are the Caribou Community School, Presque Isle area schools, Houlton Schools, Fort Kent Schools, and Madawaska Schools, each separated by high school, middle school, and elementary school students. We make sure that our students will be empowered with the academic, personal, and social knowledge and skills needed to build fulfilling and engaging lives. Students are able to fully participate in activities thanks to our small class sizes. Extracurriculars are important to our systems, especially the afterschool programs of Band/Chorus, Hockey, Basketball, Theatre, and Soccer!
Secondary Education
NMCC
NMCC
Northern Maine Community College is committed to maintaining its tradition of providing high-quality career and transfer programs that lead to associate degrees, certificates, and specialized training necessary for an educated, skilled and adaptable workforce. Through its affordable programs of study, courses, and specialized-training seminars, the College is a catalyst for economic growth and the development of human potential.
NMCC offers 30+ degree and certificate programs designed to enable you to enter the work force with technically-current skills and to prepare you for lifelong learning and career advancement opportunities. More than 90% of our graduates are employed within six months of their graduation in jobs related to their training or are continuing their education. An associate’s degree will allow you to enter your chosen job market with confidence or to continue your education.
UMFK
UMFK
Located on the northernmost border of Maine, the University of Maine at Fort Kent is a career‐focused campus offering relevant, experiential, academic programs and services with personalized attention. UMFK’s diverse student population enjoys the opportunity to live and learn in a beautiful, natural setting and a caring, friendly atmosphere where they thrive as engaged members of the community.
Being adventurous doesn’t always mean hiking the North Maine Woods (of course, you can do that here). It’s also about empowering yourself with the right knowledge and skills to achieve your goals. At UMFK, you’ll do just that with the help of career-focused academics, real-world learning, and a caring and welcoming community — and all at one of the nation’s most affordable universities.
UMPI
UMPI
At UMPI, you’ll find a small school that thinks big, whether it’s learning personalized to your needs, pristine outdoor spaces that double as research labs, or our dedication to college affordability. But the most important thing you’ll find at UMPI is yourself. We’re the opposite of a big city college where you can get lost in the crowd, which means you have plenty of room to discover and grow and find your own way to change the world. Expect to be inspired. Expect coursework with real-world impact. Expect everyone to be invested in your success. Through our wide array of course modalities, state-of-the-art learning environments, faculty who bring creativity and imagination to every learning activity, and our ability to pivot quickly to maximize your individual experience, we are uniquely able to provide an education full of discovery and innovation.
UMPI offers free tuition for ALL full-time, Pell-eligible Maine residents (first-year and transfer) and makes the cost of education really, really affordable for everyone else. At UMPI, we’re focused on timely degree completion that saves you time and money, and eliminates barriers on the path toward your chosen career field. We have Academic Maps that show you which courses to take, and when, so you can stay on track. We offer custom advising–every student gets an academic advisor and a professional advisor to ensure on-time graduation. And we offer a full-service Tutoring Center in our Center for Innovative Learning.
Recently, for my statistics class we surveyed people at the election polls, and analyzed our data compared to our preconceived notions. I like that our school is so community centered. – Luciana Chavezdepazolis, student at MSSM
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Guidebook
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