James Otis Kaler Elementary School

165 South Kelsey Street
South Portland, ME 04106
(School attendance zone shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 220 students in grades Prekindergarten-4, James Otis Kaler Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Maine for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 70-74% (which is lower than the Maine state average of 82%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 80-84% (which is approximately equal to the Maine state average of 84%).
The student:teacher ratio of 11:1 is equal to the Maine state level of 11:1.
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Maine state average of 13% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-4
  • Enrollment: 220 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 53%
  • : Bottom 50% in ME
  • : 70-74% (Btm 50%)
  • : 80-84% (Btm 50%)
  • : 11-19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), ME Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

James Otis Kaler Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Maine for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

James Otis Kaler Elementary School's student population of 220 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 20 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-4
Total Students
220 students
This chart displays total students of James Otis Kaler Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of James Otis Kaler Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
20 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of James Otis Kaler Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of James Otis Kaler Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

James Otis Kaler Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 512 schools in Maine (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of James Otis Kaler Elementary School is 0.65, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.25. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (ME)
#378 out of 512 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of James Otis Kaler Elementary School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
70-74%
82%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Maine by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
80-84%
84%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Maine by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
11-19%
37%
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Maine by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
1%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Asian
4%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
9%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
35%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
47%
87%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in Maine by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
5%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Maine by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in James Otis Kaler Elementary School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in Maine.
0.65
This chart displays the diversity score of James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the public school average diversity score of Maine by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
33%
32%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Maine by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch (21-22)
4%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in James Otis Kaler Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Maine by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), ME Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is James Otis Kaler Elementary School's ranking?
James Otis Kaler Elementary School is ranked #378 out of 512 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Maine.
What schools are James Otis Kaler Elementary School often compared to?
James Otis Kaler Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Dora L Small Elementary School, Frank I Brown Elementary School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
70-74% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 82% ME state average), while 80-84% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 84% ME state average).
How many students attend James Otis Kaler Elementary School?
220 students attend James Otis Kaler Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
47% of James Otis Kaler Elementary School students are White, 35% of students are Black, 9% of students are Hispanic, 5% of students are Two or more races, and 4% of students are Asian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of James Otis Kaler Elementary School?
James Otis Kaler Elementary School has a student ration of 11:1, which is equal to the Maine state average of 11:1.
What grades does James Otis Kaler Elementary School offer ?
James Otis Kaler Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-4
What school district is James Otis Kaler Elementary School part of?
James Otis Kaler Elementary School is part of South Portland School District.
In what neighborhood is James Otis Kaler Elementary School located?
James Otis Kaler Elementary School is located in the Knightville neighborhood of South Portland, ME. There are 3 other public schools located in Knightville.

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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-4
  • Enrollment: 220 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 53%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 70-74% (Btm 50%)
  • : 80-84% (Btm 50%)
  • : 11-19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), ME Dept. of Education

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