FORT KENT, Maine — The Upper St. John Valley Recovery High School, the first of its kind in Maine, has officially begun its mission of helping students who are recovering from addiction learn in a drug-free environment.
The school, located at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, launched remote work on Aug. 21 and started in-person classes last week.
It opens at a time when overdoses in Maine have risen, even though fatalities have dropped. Besides being the first in the state, the facility is also the first rural recovery high school in New England. As its first year gets underway, organizers think the school’s unique environment will give kids a better chance of success than recovery programs alone.
The program targets students who are already in recovery, creating an environment with no exposure to drugs, alcohol or nicotine. Nearly all adolescents returning to school after undergoing recovery are offered substances on their first day back, according to a study from the National Institute of Health. Their experiences also color their views of themselves, local educators said.
“Many young people fall prey to believing that their substance misuse and co-occurring mental health conditions define them and their futures,” said Peter Caron, coordinator of innovative practice and community outreach for the Valley Unified Education Service Center. Having a way to pursue a high school diploma while focusing on their recovery in an alcohol-, nicotine- and drug-free setting is “critical to helping them overcome this sense of resignation,” he said.
From January to June this year, Maine saw 182 confirmed fatal overdoses, which is 9.5% lower than the 201 confirmed in the same period last year, according to the latest report from the Maine Drug Data Hub. Nonfatal overdoses rose 1.2% for the period to 3,650.
The recovery school concept was first introduced in April 2025, after the Maine Recovery Council awarded the Fort Kent-based school district $616,000 to fund the program for two years. The council directs the disbursement of opioid settlement funds.
The initial grant will cover 75% of the operating costs for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, with the remainder coming from the students’ sending districts. Students’ families will incur no direct costs, Caron said.
MSAD 27, which includes Fort Kent, Wallagrass, New Canada, St. Francis and St. John, oversees the new facility, which is just down the street from Fort Kent Community High School.
Four students are enrolled so far, and officials are working with local schools to bring in three more. The school can serve eight. Staff at the National Association of Recovery Schools have called this a solid start for a new recovery school, Caron said.
Educator Brooke Nadeau helped implement the project from the beginning and has found it meaningful to watch the school become a reality.
“I am so proud of the four students we have right now who are showing courage by choosing recovery while continuing to work toward their education and a sober future,” Nadeau said. “We, as a team, are so grateful to everyone who has helped make this possible, to our community partners for all their support, and to the community for the support we have received throughout.”
The university is one such partner. Students live in dormitories in Powell Hall, eat at the campus dining hall, get an hour of activity at the gym each day and attend therapy sessions. They return home on weekends.
Staff overseeing the students include a certified recovery counselor, a certified teacher and education technician, along with two dorm parents who are also trained recovery coaches.
Campus President Deb Hedeen said she is proud to help the district expand opportunities for students.
“By providing residential space in our residence halls and making the Haenssler House available for classes and programming, we are helping create a positive learning experience where these students can learn, connect and continue moving forward on their educational journey,” Hedeen said.
The curriculum is similar to that at other local high schools. The students’ sending schools provide course lists, Caron said.
Students take daily classes with a local teacher and also access coursework through online platforms like Edmentum and Google Classroom, he said.
Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent and Houlton Regional Hospital, which now share an administration, will provide behavioral health and emergency medical services. The Department of Corrections’ Juvenile Community Corrections will provide case management.
Caron is working through the St. John Valley legislative delegation and the Maine attorney general’s office to acquire funding for 2028 and 2029.
So far, comments from parents and those who have referred students have been favorable, he said.
Nadeau thinks the school can give kids the support they need to be successful.
“I believe a program like this will be incredibly valuable to our youth, allowing us to address substance use early and provide support before it develops into a larger issue,” Nadeau said.