Welcome to the Adams School
A Small Community of Passionate Educators and Learners
Welcome to Adams School. Since 1853, the children of Castine have entered this historic building to embark on a lifetime of learning. The teachers and staff of Adams School promote a healthy lifestyle and civic mindfulness at all grade levels as they endeavor to create rigorous academic opportunities. At Adams School, students are provided meaningful experiences in art, music, physical education, and modern languages, in addition to core academics. We believe that people are works in progress, and will use our mis-steps as opportunities for self-improvement.
Fred Cole
Principal
Principal's Report to the Town of Castine 2026
Adams School continues to provide an academically rigorous program that yields strong results, and it does so in an emotionally supportive environment that feels like family.
Our teachers are a primary reason for the school’s success. In addition to highly skilled teachers delivering daily instruction in the core subjects of reading, writing, math, science, and social studies, we have knowledgeable part time teachers providing all students weekly instruction in art, music, physical education, and French. These teachers all approach their work with the same philosophy: Build the relationships first, and then deliver the rigorous instruction.
Small class sizes are key to this relationship building and instructional success. With 45 students schoolwide, we combine all grades – PK/K, 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 – resulting in groupings ranging from 7 to 12 students apiece. This means every child has the same teacher for two years, resulting in a close relationship that big schools can only try to replicate. It also means all students get the targeted instruction they need. No student’s needs are unmet, and no student is left unchallenged.
Perhaps the foremost reason for our success is the town’s support. With only 45 students, the school exists purely because the town wants its children to have a school of their own. Your elected school board has set a path for success, a path that has focused on leadership, curriculum, instruction, and facility improvement… and the town has supported that path. As a result Castine can boast a school that is the benchmark for high achieving elementary schools, public or private.
No school is perfect, and this is what I love about schools. At Adams School, we are taking a great school and making it greater still. If you would like to learn more about the school, either by phone or in person, please don’t hesitate to reach out. If you know anyone interested in sending their child to Adams School, please send them my way.
Thank you for your steadfast support of Castine’s children.
Fred Cole