Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS), located in Hinckley, opened in September 2011, and was the first Maine high school to focus on the natural sciences. Currently, the school educates students from over 30 Maine school districts from Portland to Athens. MeANS is a public charter high school that inspires and engages students through project-based, student-centered instruction immersed in the natural sciences of Maine with a focus on agriculture, forestry, and the environment. MeANS challenges all students to connect with their education in order to grow as individuals, interact with their communities, and lead fulfilling lives. Its vision is to encourage students to re-engage with their education, to grow as critical thinkers and problem solvers by developing habits of heart and mind that lead them to take responsibility for their own actions, as well as for the welfare of their community. In 2016 with its 5-year charter renewal, the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences was approved to open Threshold, a program for home-bound students.
23%
special
education
80%
economically disadvantaged
9-12
grades served
Data for the
2025-26 School Year