This eighth edition of "The Condition of K-12 Public Education in Maine" is designed to provide Maine citizens, legislators, and educators a yearly report on the state of Maine public schools and education. This new edition updates educational information which appeared in earlier editions, and also provides information on several new topics. "Education Indicators" are facts and statistics that help to describe a public education system. They are tools which are useful in examining and measuring the effectiveness of the system. Examples include information such as the amount of local funds raised to support local schools, per pupil expenditures, pupil-teacher ratios, and student achievement results. This publication contains a series of indicators which will help interested citizens, policymakers, and legislators understand the many components of the K-12 Maine public education system. The "Condition of K-12 Public Education in Maine, 2004" is comprised of three categories of indicators: (1) Context, (2) Resources, and (3) Results indicators. "Context Indicators" describe community and societal characteristics which may have an impact on student learning. Context indicators include information such as community wealth, poverty level, tax burdens, local and state revenues, and school enrollment. "Resource Indicators" describe school resources which may influence student learning. These indicators include staff and student characteristics, education expenditures, and information about school programs and services. Resource indicators help describe how education resources such as staff and facilities, student-teacher ratios, course offerings and student services are utilized in providing education to Maine's K-12 students. "Results Indicators" provide tools to assess the productivity of education in Maine. Results indicators include, among others, student achievement results in several assessments, student attitudes and aspirations, and post-secondary education. This information helps to describe how well Maine schools have succeeded in educating Maine's youth. Appended are: (1) Excerpts from Legislation Establishing the Maine Education Policy Research Institute; and (2) Related Publications. (Contains 58 tables and 46 figures.) [This report was prepared for the Maine Education Policy Research Institute.]