Best Public Schools in Tilghman, MD

Tilghman Elementary is the sole public school in Tilghman, Maryland, a small rural community, serving 99 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade as part of the Talbot County Public Schools district.

This school stands out for its exceptionally high per-student spending of $23,455, which is likely driven by the fixed costs of operating a full elementary school with a very small enrollment. Despite this investment and a low student-teacher ratio of 10.5:1, academic performance in Math and English Language Arts (ELA) has consistently lagged behind both district and state averages. A major challenge is a chronic absenteeism rate of 29.8%, meaning nearly one in three students misses significant school time, which is a primary factor likely hindering academic progress. The school's state ranking has also been volatile, swinging from the 54th percentile to the 24th and back to the 38th percentile over three years, a statistical pattern common in very small schools where the performance of just a few students can cause large shifts.

There are some encouraging signs. Between the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, ELA proficiency jumped from 28.9% to 44.4%, and Math proficiency improved from 15.4% to 19.4%. Notably, 3rd grade ELA proficiency reached 50% in 2025-2026, matching the state average, suggesting early literacy instruction may be a relative strength. However, this success is not sustained into 4th grade, where proficiency drops to 33.3%, indicating a potential transition issue. While the school faces clear hurdles with attendance and overall scores, the recent upward trend in academics offers a hopeful sign that interventions may be starting to take effect.