Elementary Schools in Dorchester County Public Schools

The Dorchester County Public Schools district in Maryland is home to 7 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. These schools serve a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, with all schools having 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. While the district faces significant challenges, a few standout schools like Warwick Elementary School and South Dorchester School are bucking the trend with exceptional academic performance that far exceeds the district and state averages.

Warwick Elementary and South Dorchester are the top-performing schools in the district, ranking among the best elementary schools in Maryland. Warwick is ranked 211 out of 859 schools statewide and has 45.6% of students proficient or better in math and 63.3% proficient or better in English Language Arts. South Dorchester is ranked 159 out of 859 and has 45% proficiency in math and 76.8% proficiency in English Language Arts. In contrast, other schools like Sandy Hill Elementary struggle, with only 6% of students proficient in math.

The data also reveals significant racial segregation, with Warwick and South Dorchester having student populations that are over 85% white, while Choptank Elementary is over 75% African American. This segregation is likely linked to the disparities in academic performance, as the high-poverty schools tend to have the lowest test scores. Overall, the Dorchester County Public Schools district faces significant challenges, but a few schools are demonstrating that high achievement is possible even in high-poverty areas.