School Profile
Who We Are
Casco Bay High School (CBHS) is a small and rigorous public high school that reflects the diversity of Portland, Maine (population 64,000). Founded in 2005, CBHS is a school of choice for nearly 400 students (9-12). At Casco Bay, we challenge and support our students to become college-ready through our 3 R’s: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. The Class of 2009 was our first graduating class, and nearly 100% of our graduates have been accepted into college. On standardized tests, Casco Bay students routinely exceed state and district averages - as well as demographic expectations - in reading, writing, science, and math.
Casco Bay High School is proud to be a credentialed, lead school in the EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) national network of schools. CBHS has been named one of Maine’s top high schools by US News and World Report and Niche.com. CBHS was chosen as one of twenty “Deeper Learning” schools in the country. The National Education Policy Center selected CBHS as a “School of Opportunity (Gold Level),” the first ever in Maine.
What We Do: Learning Expeditions
Our instruction results in quality work about genuine problems for a real audience. Learning Expeditions are long-term in-depth studies of a single topic that explore compelling social and environmental questions, incorporate vital standards, involve fieldwork, and culminate in an authentic project, product or performance. The Class of 2023 has undertaken learning expeditions on topics ranging from climate change to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
School Facts
- Student Body: 388
- 99 Seniors
- 45% Free/Reduced Lunch
- 15% Special Education
- 33% Multilingual
- 13% Receive ELL Services
Student Achievement
- Class of 2022 Highest GPA: 3.96/4.0
- March 2022 SAT (83% part.):
ERW: 510 Math: 463
- 47% earn college credit before graduation (Class of 2022)
We Do Not Weight or Rank GPAs
CBHS Staff
- 9 staff have earned state or national awards for excellence
- 84% of faculty hold Advanced Degrees
- 100% Dedicated
Co-Curricular Activities
CBHS students participate in sports offered at Deering or Portland High schools. We also offer a variety of co-curricular activities on our campus, ranging from Model UN & literary magazine to Community Council & theater.
College Acceptances
Graduates from our first 14 classes have been accepted to over 200 colleges and are currently matriculated at institutions such as Barnard, Bates, Bowdoin, Brown, Colby, Cornell, Haverford, Howard, McGill, Oberlin and Pitzer - as well as Maine universities and community colleges. Nearly 80% of our graduates have been accepted to 4-year universities.
They say our school broke the mold, but I think we just made a new one.”
-Alex Lyscars
CBHS Alumnus
Curriculum
CBHS students participate in a demanding, college preparatory curriculum. Students typically enroll in six-year-long courses that meet every other day.Additional support and accommodations are provided for our English Language Learners and special education students.
41 Units of Proficiency (UPs) are required to graduate from all Portland Public Schools. Due to the rigor of our core curriculum, juniors and seniors don’t take more than 2 AP or college courses at one time.
Distinct Offerings
Intensives - Compact expeditions in which students complete specialized electives during one 30 hour week. Intensive offerings range from rocketry to filmmaking.
PATHS - 18 vocational courses, from Dance & Cybersecurity to Biomedical Sci. & Welding
Sophomore Passage - Public presentations when sophomores individually address who they are, how they are doing, and their plans for the future.
Casco Bay Quest - A three-night, four-day expedition in outdoor adventure (kayaking) and personal writing that launches the freshman and senior years.
Senior Expedition - A capstone project within Senior Humanities in which students explore the intersection of a personal passion and a need in the world.
Graduation Requirements
Class of 2023 Graduation Distribution
Weighted Grade Point Average & Percent of Students
Proficiency Based Grading
To earn a unit of proficiency at CBHS, a student must master content, meeting each course standard. Course standards represent what all students must know or be able to do in a specific course.
1 = Does Not Meet the Standards
2 = Approaching the Standards
3 = Meets the Standards
Only this rigorous level of achievement and higher earns credit.
3.25-3.5 = Exceeds The Standards
3.75-4 = Honors
This is represented with an “H” on a CBHS transcript.
Changes to the CBHS Academic Program Due to COVID-19:
2019-20 Spring Trimester: 100 % Remote Learning
2019-20 Spring Trimester grades: “Met” or “Not Yet”
2020-21 85% of Students in Hybrid Learning; 15% Remote
2021-23 (we hope): 100% in Full-time, In-person Learning