Maine Real Estate Maine Education System Maine takes pride in its educational system, and with good reason. From its primary schools – ranked among the top in the nation – through its renowned public university system and excellent private colleges, Maine leads the country in providing exceptional educational opportunities. University System The University of Maine system serves 34,700 students across the State. Its seven campuses are recognized centers of excellence for Applied Engineering, Bioscience, Chemical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Forestry, Marine Science, and Microbiology. Maine also fosters public/private research partnerships with world-class companies, such as The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor. Community Colleges Established in 2003 by Gov. John E. Baldacci, Maine's community college system trains thousands of people each year. Its seven colleges offer courses in high-growth areas such as telecommunications, computers, and electronics, as well as traditional trades. Ninety-five percent of graduates are placed in jobs or continue their education, and 96 percent find their jobs in Maine. The community college system also offers free, customized pre-employment training for qualified businesses. Private Colleges Maine's private colleges provide rich academic programs gearing students for advanced professional studies and careers. Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin are among the nation's top-ranked colleges. Learning Technology Initiative To ensure that Maine students become technologically savy, every seventh and eighth-grade public school student and teacher in Maine is equipped with an Apple iBook laptop computer. Not only does the State's contract with Apple provide for the laptops, but also for the networks, servers, technical support, maintenance, and teacher training. Education Facts and Figures In 2003 tests conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Maine's fourth-graders ranked: ... Fourth in the nation in reading ... Second in scoring at the highest two levels of science ... Sixth in scoring at the highest two levels of writing Maine eighth-graders ranked: ... Fifth nationally in the highest two levels of mathematics 97 percent of Maine schools have Internet access, 60 percent through high-speed technology. Maine has the nation's highest rate of high school completion: 97 percent. Maine was ranked as the Sixth Smartest State in 2003 by Morgan Quinto Press – a private research and publishing company that compares States and cities – based on 21 factors measuring States' commitment to students, teachers, and excellence in the classroom. Access all Maine Educational Information via the State's web site.