Summary:
The city of Salisbury, Maryland, is home to 15 public schools within the Wicomico County Public Schools district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. North Salisbury Elementary stands out as the top performer, with math and English proficiency rates (50.6% and 57.6%) that far exceed both the district and state averages, alongside the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (11.9%) and the lowest poverty rate among elementary schools. In contrast, Glen Avenue School faces the greatest challenges, with the highest free/reduced lunch rate (82.38%) and some of the lowest test scores, despite spending more per student ($20,621) than any other standard elementary school.
At the middle school level, Salisbury Middle is a clear leader, earning a 3-star rating and achieving a remarkable 63.9% proficiency rate in Algebra I, compared to just 15.5% for the district. Its counterpart, Wicomico Middle, lags significantly with only a 1-star rating and 10.8% math proficiency. The high schools present a mixed picture: Parkside High leads with an 89.6% graduation rate, while James M. Bennett High and Wicomico High both have 85% graduation rates. However, all three standard high schools struggle with chronic absenteeism rates above 30% and alarmingly low Algebra I proficiency, ranging from just 1.9% to 4.1%.
A critical takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes, as seen with Prince Street School spending the least ($15,949 per student) while still performing adequately. The Wicomico County Evening High alternative school serves a unique at-risk population with only 35 students, the highest per-student spending ($30,127), and a 55.7% chronic absenteeism rate. Overall, the data reveals a system where elementary schools like North Salisbury show what is possible, while high schools face systemic challenges with math achievement and attendance that require targeted intervention.
Thank you for your feedback!