Deering High School

Deering High School

Public High School | Grade 9-12
370 Stevens Ave,  Portland, ME
Portland Public Schools
3.8
3.4
711 Students
B-
Niche Grade
Deering High School is a consistently above-average rated public high school in the Deering neighborhood of Portland. It serves approximately 750 students in ninth through twelfth grades with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. The mission of Deering High School is to “graduate students who are college and career ready and globally competent” and this is evident from its programs and student activities. Deering was one of the first schools to offer Arabic as a world language and it is still in the course catalog today, along with Chinese, Spanish and French. The school’s curriculum meets the needs of its students by offering over 15 Advanced Placement courses, multiple dual college enrollment opportunities and an alternative education program. This program is project-based for students for whom tradition classroom study is a struggle. There is also an interdisciplinary Senior Capstone Experience for which seniors will create a project that allows them to explore an area of focus that will reflect the responsibilities that come with being an engaged citizen on a local and global level. Athletics are a source of pride at Deering, which is revealed in their nickname, “The Purple Palace, home of Ram-nation.” Deering athletics has its own website with calendars, forms, schedules and information for students and parents. Administration at Deering believes students succeed when they are valued, challenged and empowered and they create a strong and inclusive community to support that belief.

School Details

Student Teacher Ratio
11:1
Average SAT Score
1140
Average ACT Score
24
Math Proficiency
52%
Reading Proficiency
57%
Average GPA
3.57
Graduation Rate
67%

Niche Grade

C
Academics
A-
Teachers
B
College Prep
C
Administration
C-
Resources/Facilities
B-
Clubs and Activities
A-
Sports
C
Food
Source: Niche
Niche Grades

Niche grades and rankings are calculated using dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews. Niche data scientists and user researchers rigorously analyze data and user opinions to assess the key aspects of K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Places to Live. Every month, millions of students and families use the Niche grades and report cards to find the right school or neighborhood.

Niche Grade Details

Academics
Average GPA
3.57
Reading Proficiency
57%
Math Proficiency
52%
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
11:1
Teachers
73
Full Time Teachers
73
Teachers in First or Second Year
10.3%
College Prep
Average SAT
1140
Math
560
Verbal
580
Average ACT
24
Math
22
English
25
Reading
24
Science
23
Number of AP Courses
13
AP Pass Rate
51.8%
AP Math Enrollment
Very Low
AP Science Enrollment
Low
Other AP Enrollment
Very High
Clubs and Activities
Girls Athletic Participation
Low
Boys Athletic Participation
Average

GreatSchools Rating

Source: GreatSchools
GreatSchools Rating
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

GreatSchools Rating Details

Test Scores

Science
17.1%
State Average
36.4%
Math
31.6%
State Average
48.7%
GreatSchools Test Scores Rating
GreatSchools
The Test Score Rating reflects annual state test results for this school compared with scores statewide.

Teachers and Staff

Students Per Counselor
187:1

Student Diversity

Male
51.6%
Female
48.4%
White
42.4%
Black
34.7%
Hispanic
10.7%
Asian or Pacific Islander
6.1%
Two or more races
5.6%
Native American
<1%

School Rankings

#1 Most Diverse Public HS in Maine
Source: Niche

Specialty School Programs

AP Programs Offered
Free/Reduced Lunch Offered
Athletics Program

Colleges Students are Considering

Students are most interested in or go on to attend these colleges.
University of Southern Maine 148 Students
University of Maine 109 Students
Boston University 86 Students
Bowdoin College 73 Students
University of New England 57 Students
Southern Maine Community College 57 Students
Bates College 56 Students
University of New Hampshire 54 Students
Tufts University 51 Students
Northeastern University 49 Students

What Students Want to Study

Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Biology 61 Students
Business 43 Students
Psychology 38 Students
Nursing 33 Students
Political Science and Government 30 Students
Computer Science 28 Students
Pre-Medicine Studies 24 Students
Pre-Law Studies 20 Students
Engineering 16 Students
Criminology 16 Students

This School’s Reviews

Niche Reviews
3.8 96 Reviews
3.0 Alum
9/14/2023
This school is great if you put effort into getting into the top classes and connecting with teachers, other than that you won't do too good. The best part of this school was the connections to the teachers I made and how they cared about my learning. The worst part of this school was how could I pick.. admin: admin was disorganized, they cared it was just messy; rigor: the expectations in this school are very low and don't prep you that well for school. A lot of things were wrong with this school but a little work from you and an actual desire to learn will let you go far
3.0 Alum
8/5/2020
The experience I feel was average like any other school. But there are some great teachers there who are funny and nice. However from the stories and whatnot I would hear about nowadays seems like it's not doing well.
3.0 Alum
4/21/2020
What I liked about Deering was that it was inclusive and most teachers really cared about the well being of their students.
GreatSchools Reviews
3.4 5 Reviews
5.0 student
2/21/2025
Deering high school is a great school. It has had some issues in the past but has, in my experience as a student, consistently progressed in quality and attention to the needs of the students. Although members of the student body can sometimes be rambunctious go over the top (which can be said to so...
5.0 other
3/7/2021
Deering has changed dramatically over the years and this is due to Portland's diversifying demographic. Teachers, admin, and staff are doing their best to accommodate the students at Deering who come from all walks of life. From implicit bias training, enrolling more students in AP classes, and havi...
1.0 student
11/20/2017
Awful school; classes too easy, most teachers just there for the paycheck. You can leave the building whenever you want and nobody does anything about it. The staff does not follow the student handbook. No leadership at the top filters down. Students are not held accountable for their actions. I lov...
5.0 student
9/16/2013
It's awesome school And we learn a lot of things in this school If you are new in USA you should to come to deering HS you well learned english fast with us !

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Deering High School is a public school for students in grades 9-12 in Portland, ME and is served by the Portland Public Schools in Maine. The school has a total enrollment of 711 and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 11:1. Academic records show that 52% of students achieve proficiency in math, and 57% are proficient in reading. Deering High School has received feedback and ratings, with a Niche grade of B- and a GreatSchools Rating of 2 out of 10. The average GPA is 3.57, the graduation rate is 67%, and average standardized test scores include an SAT score of 1140 and an ACT score of 24. The average home value in this area is $739,085. Discover additional schools in the area, like Portland Arts & Technology High School, Casco Bay High School, Portland High School, and more. Learn more about what Portland has to offer, and browse homes for sale and for rent near Deering High School.

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