Maine Connections Academy

Maine Connections Academy is a full-time, virtual charter public school, offering a rigorous, personalized academic program to students in grades 7–12 statewide. Authorized by the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Charter School Commission, MCA was founded in the 2014–15 school year and graduated its eleventh class in 2025. With an enrollment of roughly 500 students reaching "from Kittery to Fort Kent," the school serves learners from urban, suburban, and rural communities across Maine, and is administratively based out of a teaching and learning center in South Portland.MCA's mission is to maximize learner-centered instruction and leverage 21st-century resources to provide a high-quality education for students throughout the state who need expanded educational options — particularly those for whom a flexible, virtual approach is the best pathway to success. Every student works with a dedicated advisor and follows a Personalized Learning Plan, learning through a mix of live, teacher-led online sessions (LiveLessons) and self-paced coursework delivered via the Connections Academy program and Pearson Online Classroom platform. Taught by Maine-certified teachers, the standards-based curriculum aligns to the Maine Learning Results, the Common Core State Standards, and the Next Generation Science Standards across all eight required content areas.The program is designed to meet a wide range of student needs — from learners in rural communities with limited school options, to students balancing athletic or artistic pursuits, family responsibilities, or health challenges, to those who are well ahead of or behind grade level. Beyond core academics, MCA offers Advanced Placement courses, dual-credit and early-college enrollment through the University of Maine and Maine Community College systems, Career and Technical Education pathways, and dozens of clubs and activities, complemented by in-person field trips, community events, and college and career counseling. As a tuition-free public school, MCA is open to any eligible Maine student.