LEWISTON – Lewiston High School graduates were better prepared for the University of Maine at Orono than many Maine high school students, according to a recent survey by the university system’s flagship campus.

As part of its annual “Admissions and Aspirations” report released last week, the university found that 82 percent of Lewiston High School grads were well-prepared for their college course work, compared to a statewide average of 75 percent.

Nearly 90 percent of Lewiston grads remained enrolled at the university after one year. The statewide average was 78 percent.

And only 1 percent of Lewiston grads faced academic suspension as freshmen for poor grades. The statewide average was 8 percent.

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Jonathan Henry, admissions director for the University of Maine at Orono, said the information is gathered from freshmen and sent to their high schools so officials can see how their graduates are doing and how well-prepared they were for higher education.

“This data confirms or helps confirm what they thought all along,” Henry said. “It’s a formal way for us to tell high schools how they have done.”

6,400 students

The survey focused on nearly 6,400 university students enrolled between 1999 and 2003. Of the 81 students from Lewiston High School, more reported being confident in their career choice and more had higher first-year grades than the average student from other Maine high schools. Lewiston students had a lower grade point average in the university’s science, foreign language and math courses, but a slightly higher grade point average in English. And far fewer Lewiston grads dropped out of the university or were suspended than those from other high schools.

Staying on track

Overall, it was welcome news to guidance director Marsha Auster, who hopes to soon track all of Lewiston’s graduates who go on to higher education.

“We also need to look at the ones who aren’t making it, why they aren’t making it and what’s up with them,” she said.

The university’s survey of 92 students from Edward Little High School in Auburn showed that 80 percent were prepared for college work, 78 remained enrolled after a year and 9 percent faced academic suspension as freshmen.

Lisbon, Poland

Students from Lisbon and Poland high schools fared better, though dramatically fewer attended the university.

The survey of 29 Lisbon grads showed that 71 percent were prepared for college, 95 remained enrolled after a year and none faced academic suspension as freshmen.

The survey of 25 Poland students showed that 83 percent were prepared for the university, 85 percent were still enrolled after one year and 8 percent were placed on academic suspension as freshmen.

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