Best Public Schools in Preston, MD

Preston, Maryland, is home to a single public elementary school, Preston Elementary School, which serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade and is part of the Caroline County Public Schools district.

Preston Elementary School stands out as a high-performing school within a district that ranks in the bottom half of Maryland. The school consistently outperforms both its district and the state in key academic areas. For the 2025-2026 school year, its mathematics proficiency rate of 45.8% was nearly double the district average of 23.7% and well above the state average of 27.1%. In 5th-grade science, the school achieved a 42.6% proficiency rate, dramatically exceeding the district's 25.3% and the state's 32.4%. English Language Arts scores were also slightly above both district and state averages. This academic success is particularly notable given that 60.1% of the student body is eligible for free or reduced lunch, indicating the school effectively supports students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The school is on a positive trajectory, with its state ranking improving for three consecutive years, from the 63rd percentile to the 68th percentile. It also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (21.4%) compared to the district average (28.0%). However, a closer look at math scores reveals a potential challenge: while 3rd graders achieved a 55.4% proficiency rate, this dropped sharply to 27.7% by 5th grade, which is below the state average. This suggests a need for targeted support in upper-elementary math. With a student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1 and a per-student spending of $20,066, Preston Elementary School offers a strong, resource-rich environment that is a clear standout in its district.