Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce

RELOCATION INFORMATION

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Saco Public Schools

The city of Saco has four schools that serve students in Kindergarten through grade eight. Fairfield School and Young School each house grades K-2. Burns School houses grades 3-5. Saco Middle School houses grades 6-8.

A full range of special education services is provided in grades K-12. The Saco school system vision statement: "School, home and community: a collaborative adventure in life long learning," drives the philosophy that education must be a cooperative effort which involves parents, students, staff and the community at large.

Thornton Academy, founded in 1811, is a private high school governed by a Board of Trustees. The school serves secondary students from Saco, Dayton and Arundel and also accepts tuition students. Its 80-acre campus in downtown Saco includes eight instructional buildings and the headmaster's home. In the fall of 1996, Thornton completed a 5.5 million dollar expansion - a 492 seat auditorium, dining commons, library-media center, gallery, atrium and classrooms for the arts and math were added. Its outstanding faculty include a national Visual Arts Teacher of the Year, national English Teacher of the Year, finalists for Maine Teacher of the Year in English/drama, math and foreign languages, as well as honorees of numerous other state, national and foundation awards. Thornton is accredited by the New England Association of School and Colleges. Inc.

Saco and Biddeford's two Catholic schools import a high quality education within the context of Catholic values to students. The schools - Notre Dame DeLourdes School and St. James School - offer programs for grades K-8. A highly capable lay and religious teaching staff combined with both outside professional resources and parent volunteers are key factors in maintaining the school's high academic standards.

The Master's House School (Private school), offering high quality education, is located in the New Life Church on Route 111, Biddeford. Further information is available at their website: www.themastershouse.org

Biddeford Public Schools

The Biddeford public schools include Biddeford Primary which houses grades K-2; J.F. Kennedy School which houses grades 3-5; Biddeford Middle School houses 6-8; and Biddeford High School which houses grades 9-12. The school system addresses the needs of all students from Gifted-Talented to those with several handicapping problems. There is a vocational program for Biddeford students as well as those from surrounding communities. Biddeford School administrators, and the School Board, have aggressively pursued a "quest for excellence" in all of its schools. Biddeford Middle School was awarded National School of Excellence - A Blue Ribbon School status in 1992. Biddeford High School was recognized as a National School of Excellence in 1996.

Sweetser Children's Services

Sweetser offers services in homes and has residences located in communities throughout the state of Maine. It also offers school-based behavioral healthcare services. In addition, its Saco campus offers day school treatment services and pre-vocational educational services, along with several specialized residentially-based programs.

University of Maine System

At the local branch of the University of Maine System, students may earn Associates degrees locally or take Baccalaureate, graduate degree or non-credit courses. Students are not required to be in any degree program and many take courses for personal interest. Come visit the center and bring your questions about higher education.

University of New England

The University of New England is a small, independent university whose mission is to educate men and women to advance the quality of human life and the environment. The University is one of America's most dynamic institutions of higher learning, with 17 consecutive years of enrollment growth and a total enrollment of some 2500 students.
UNE has degree programs focused on the health and life sciences, medicine, human services, management and education.