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Wayfinder Schools

79 Washington St Camden, ME 04843

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • School Type: Alternative School
  • Grades: Inquire with school
  • Enrollment: 65 students
  • Average class size: 11 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: ✓Verified school update
School location map

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • School Type: Alternative School
  • Grades: Inquire with school
  • Enrollment: 65 students
  • Average class size: 11 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

Wayfinder Schools ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Maine for:

Category
Attribute

School Facts

School Type
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Inquire with school
Year Founded
2011
School Calendar

Student Body

Total Students
65 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
20%
State avg.: 16%

Academic Profile

Total Classroom Teachers
7 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
National avg.:
Average Class Size
11 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
School Membership(s)School Assoc.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Tuition Notes
Tuition for the Passages Program for teen parents is free.
Admissions Director
Cynthia Stevenson, Passages Program Director
Admissions Associate
Becki Anderson, School Admin
Application URL

School Notes

  • In 1973 Emanuel Pariser and Dora Lievow founded The Community School, an alternative high school for Maine youth who needed a second chance at earning their high school diplomas.
  • Each year, sixteen students lived at school while focusing on jobs, academics and life skills.
  • In 1994, Passages was developed to serve teen parents through a home-based, self-paced high school diploma program.
  • The Community School grew to serve more than forty students each year.
  • In 2011, The Community School merged with Opportunity Farm, becoming Wayfinder Schools.
  • We now serve up to 65 students per year, through our home-based high school program.
  • Over the years, we`ve become a state- and nationally-recognized model of alternative education that has helped hundreds of Maine teens realize their goal of earning their high school diplomas. Using social justice, strength-based and relational strategies, we reengage youth who are over-age and under-credited and at risk of not earning their high school diploma. We work hard to create a learning environment that`s warm, safe, accepting, and challenging.
  • Our curriculum is tailored to individual student needs and is immediately relevant and practical to everyday life.
  • Wayfinder Schools' Passages Program serves students in eight Maine counties (Knox, Lincoln, Waldo, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, York, Cumberland and Washington) who are facing challenges that keep them from attending traditional high school. We serve young parents and other Maine youth ages 14-20 who are seeking an alternative path to high school completion.
  • In the Passages Program, teachers work one on one with their students at the student's residence. Those who complete our programs graduate with a regular high school diploma.
  • Interested students can apply anytime by visiting our website at www.wayfinderschools.org/admissions
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

What schools are Wayfinder Schools often compared to?
Wayfinder Schools is often viewed alongside schools like Blue Hill Harbor School by visitors of our site.
When is the application deadline for Wayfinder Schools?
The application deadline for Wayfinder Schools is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Maine is $16,826 for elementary schools and $28,703 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Maine is 79% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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