Best Public Schools in Charlestown, MD

Charlestown, Maryland is home to a single public school, Charlestown Elementary, a small rural school serving 305 students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade as part of the Cecil County Public Schools district.

This school stands out as a clear academic bright spot within its district. While Cecil County Public Schools ranks in the bottom third of Maryland (32nd percentile), Charlestown Elementary ranks in the top half (56th percentile) and has earned a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school consistently outperforms its district in both Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). In the most recent testing year, its all-grades math proficiency rate of 32.8% was 12.3 percentage points higher than the district average, and its ELA proficiency rate of 53.4% was 6.5 points higher. The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 12.1%, which is significantly better than the district's rate of 21.9% and is likely a key factor in its academic success. With a student-teacher ratio of 14.2:1 and per-student spending of $17,972, the school appears to be well-resourced and effectively managed.

While the school's overall performance is strong, there are areas of focus for parents to note. Math is a relative strength, with 5th-grade math proficiency (30.4%) nearly double the district average. However, 5th-grade Science proficiency (23.9%) falls well below the state average of 32.4%, suggesting a potential area for curriculum improvement. The school's state ranking has shown a positive trend, peaking at the 64th percentile in 2023-2024, and its most recent test scores show improvement in ELA. Overall, Charlestown Elementary provides a high-quality education in a supportive environment, making it a standout choice within its district.