Best Public Schools in Chestertown, MD

The city of Chestertown, Maryland, is home to two public schools—Kent County Middle School (serving grades 6-8) and H. H. Garnett Elementary (serving grades PK-5)—both part of the Kent County Public Schools district, which ranks in the bottom quarter of Maryland districts.

There is a stark contrast in performance between the two schools. H. H. Garnett Elementary is the clear standout, earning a 3-star rating and achieving proficiency rates that meet or exceed state averages in English Language Arts (51.9%) and 5th-grade Science (46.8%, well above the state’s 32.4%). In contrast, Kent County Middle School has a declining 1-star rating and struggles significantly, especially in math, where only 7.6% of students are proficient—a dramatic drop from the elementary school’s 29.9% rate. Both schools serve a high-poverty population (about 75% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch) and have favorable student-teacher ratios (10.3:1 at the middle school, 11.9:1 at the elementary school). However, the district spends a very high $22,000 to $23,000 per student, yet academic results, particularly at the middle school, remain low.

Chronic absenteeism is a challenge at both schools, with rates of 25.6% at the middle school and 20.3% at the elementary school, though both are below the district average of 33.1%. A notable bright spot is the elementary school’s science performance, which is a model for the district. Meanwhile, the middle school shows an "Algebra I paradox," where accelerated students taking the exam score 17.9% proficient—more than double the school’s overall math rate—but still below the state average. For parents, the data suggests that H. H. Garnett Elementary provides a solid foundation, but the transition to Kent County Middle School presents significant academic challenges, particularly in mathematics.