School overview
Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
A small farm-and-forest charter high school up for renewal
The Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS) is a public charter high school, grades 9-12, on the Good Will-Hinckley campus in Hinckley, Somerset County. It opened in 2012 and has about 190 students. Learning is project-based and centered on agriculture, forestry and the environment. The school runs a Campus program and a home-based Threshold program for students who are pregnant or parenting, managing health challenges, or behind on credits. It is authorized and overseen by the Maine Charter School Commission, which must renew its charter for it to keep operating. The school is run by an appointed, volunteer Board of Directors, not an elected school board. Ryan Anthony is head of school.
Charter renewal
The Commission's review team recommended renewing for July 2027 to June 2032 with no conditions (September 15, 2026 draft). The Commission was set to vote on October 13, 2026.
Tight finances
The state rated the three-year margin and cash flow High Risk in FY24 and FY25. In November 2025 the treasurer reported a 50,000 gap for the next year because enrollment fell. FY26 ended about 2,600 better than budgeted.
High-need students
About 80% of students are economically disadvantaged, and about a quarter receive special education services. The school reports 28% this year.
Attendance and math
Chronic absenteeism (37% in 2025-26) and Grade 10 math are the main academic weak spots the state named.
The review team found the school's financial reporting stronger than usual for a school its size. Re-enrollment rose to 96%, and family survey results ranked in the 99th percentile nationally.
Where the district stands
Major projects
Five-year charter renewal (2027-2032)
Commission vote scheduledRenewal application filed September 4, 2026. Site visit September 9, public hearing September 23, and Commission vote October 13. The review team recommended renewal without conditions.
- Renewal application filed
- Renewal site visit
- Public hearing
- Commission vote scheduled
Funding
Not applicable
HR and special education policy rewrite
in progressThe board is replacing the inherited Good Will-Hinckley HR policies with MeANS-specific ones, series by series (100s through 400s). It is also updating special education policies ahead of a state special education audit.
- First reading, 100s and 200s
- 100.1-200.08 approved
- 200s approved; special ed policy first reading
- 300s and special ed policies up for final vote; 400s first reading
Funding
Not applicable
Recent news
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Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Board agendas and minutes from November 2025 to October 2026, from the board's BoardOnTrack public portal, which the school links from maineacademy.org. Also used: board documents posted there (policy manual, 2025-26 meeting calendar, governing board roster) and the Maine Charter School Commission's draft charter renewal recommendation (September 15, 2026). The roster comes from the BoardOnTrack board page.
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