Cliff Island School

cliff.portlandschools.org

3 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

The Cliff Island School is a unique, one-room public schoolhouse located on Cliff Island, the most remote and year-round residential island in the Casco Bay archipelago of Maine. As a part of the Portland Public Schools district, it serves a very small population of K–8 students, often functioning as a multi-grade classroom where students learn in a collaborative, personalized environment. Because the island is accessible only by ferry, the school acts as the primary social and educational hub for the small, tight-knit island community.

Academically, the school emphasizes a hands-on, place-based curriculum that integrates the island's natural environment into daily lessons. Due to the small student-to-teacher ratio, the educational experience is highly individualized, allowing for significant flexibility in instruction. While the school maintains a strong connection to the broader Portland school system, it remains a distinct example of rural island education, fostering independence, community involvement, and a deep appreciation for the unique challenges and beauty of coastal Maine living.

Total Students

1.3

Full-Time Teachers

2.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Cliff Island School
Demographic	Student Count
White	3

White
3 (100.0 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Portland Public Schools
Phone:	(207)766-2885
Website:	http://cliff.portlandschools.org
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	3
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	1.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	2.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 3 1

Grade 4 1

Grade 5 1