Summary:
The four elementary schools in Somerset County Public Schools serve a predominantly rural and economically disadvantaged area in Maryland, with schools ranging from a small PreK-8 school of 117 students to larger elementary schools with over 500 students, and one school serving only PreK-1.
Deal Island School is the clear standout, achieving the district's only 3-star rating and surpassing state averages in English Language Arts (55.8% proficient vs. 51.7% statewide) while also leading in math (34.6% proficient). This small school also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (28.4%) and the lowest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (52.14%) in the district. In contrast, Carter G. Woodson Elementary and Greenwood Elementary School serve similar-sized populations with high poverty rates (77% and 82% free/reduced lunch respectively), yet Carter G. Woodson consistently outperforms Greenwood in nearly every subject, particularly in ELA (38.8% vs. 26.4% for all grades). Notably, Carter G. Woodson's 4th-grade ELA proficiency (52.2%) actually exceeded the state average, a remarkable achievement given its challenges.
District-wide, chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, averaging 33.7% and ranging from 28.4% at Deal Island to 39.2% at Carter G. Woodson. Princess Anne Elementary School presents a unique data gap as it only serves PreK-1, meaning no standardized test scores are available to assess its foundational instruction, though its 33.9% chronic absenteeism rate at such an early grade is a significant concern. Despite spending over $21,000 per student—well above national averages—the district ranks in the bottom 8% statewide, highlighting how concentrated poverty creates immense challenges that money alone cannot solve, with Deal Island proving that strong school culture and lower absenteeism can still yield exceptional results.
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