Maine Academy of Natural Sciences

Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS) is a charter public high school serving students in grades 9–12 on the Good Will-Hinckley campus in Hinckley, with a mission of providing a student-centered, place-based education rooted in the natural sciences and grounded in its core values of respect, responsibility, and community. Now completing its 14th year, MeANS pairs rigorous academics — including a growing slate of Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment courses — with hands-on, experiential learning through offerings such as agriculture, woodworking, blacksmithing, fiber arts, and maple sugaring. At the heart of the program are its Natural Science Intensives, immersive outdoor experiences that connect classroom content to the world beyond the school and have become a model other Maine schools are beginning to adopt. A distinctive four-day, nearly year-round schedule supports strong relationships, real-world learning across all four seasons, and a close family-school connection reinforced by weekly advisor communication and the new MeANS Family Association. With dedicated college- and career-readiness support, a restorative approach to school culture, an engaged Board of Directors, and responsible financial stewardship, MeANS offers a one-of-a-kind learning experience for students across central Maine.