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Denton Elementary School

Q: Is Denton Elementary School a good school?

Denton Elementary School ranks 372 nd of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

372^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 57% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Denton Elementary School in Denton, MD, serves 596 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade and is part of the Caroline County Public Schools district, where it stands out as a solid, mid-tier performer with a notable strength in supporting students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

One of the school's biggest differentiators is its exceptional performance with low socio-economic status (SES) students, who ranked in the 71st percentile in recent subgroup rankings—a stark contrast to its performance with other groups. This suggests targeted strategies are effectively closing the achievement gap for these students. Denton also shines in mathematics, consistently outperforming its district peers; for example, in 2025-2026, 32.8% of students were proficient in math compared to the district average of 23.7%. However, its English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency (53.4%) is only slightly above the state average (51.7%), though 5th graders significantly outpace the district in ELA (52.7% vs. 41.2%). While Denton is a strong school within Caroline County, it is outperformed by Preston Elementary School, which ranks in the 68th percentile and boasts higher math scores (45.8%). When compared to schools in the higher-performing Talbot County Public Schools district, such as Chapel District Elementary (80th percentile), Denton's performance is average, highlighting the competitive bar set by more affluent neighboring counties.

Chronic absenteeism has been a persistent challenge, peaking at 38.8% in 2021-2022, but it has improved significantly to 22.5% in 2024-2025—better than the district average of 28.0%. This positive trend likely contributes to the school's recent uptick in state ranking. Interestingly, Denton's success is not simply a result of higher spending or smaller class sizes; it spends $18,834 per student, less than some lower-performing district peers like Federalsburg Elementary School ($22,995), yet achieves stronger results. This suggests that effective resource allocation and instructional strategies are key drivers of its performance, making Denton a bright spot for families seeking a school that excels in math and supports students facing economic challenges.

596

Students ?

11.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,834

Per pupil spending ?

62.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

303 Sharp Rd
Denton, MD 21629-1481

(410) 479-1660

District: Caroline County Public Schools

Students who attend Denton Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Lockerman Middle School
High:	North Caroline High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.9%

African American:

15.3%

Two or more races:

12.9%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 59th percentile in 2016 → 57th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Maryland median (57th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg36%

Maryland avg39%

372^nd of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 43%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5Elementary Schools in the Caroline County Public Schools

15^th of 25Caroline County Public Schools among Maryland districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	54.4	372 of 864	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	53.9	378 of 865	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.0	438 of 859	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.6	453 of 855	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	55.8	359 of 862	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.1	403 of 802	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.5	331 of 853	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.0	338 of 857	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	58.0	321 of 847	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	54.9	350 of 845	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.1	321 of 859	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	49.1	521 of 867	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.6	437 of 847	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	42.3	568 of 857	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	37.3	592 of 853	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	51.8	474 of 855	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	58.1	409 of 850	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	61.8	360 of 838	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	54.2	425 of 818	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	63.4	326 of 804	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	56.7	389 of 805	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2004	54.9	427 of 803	46.8%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	31.6	359 of 504	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	44.5	328 of 796	58.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	54.4	158 of 546	71.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	32.8	447 of 788	43.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	23.9	392 of 528	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)71st percentile+21 vs school

Female (2021)59th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2021)43rd percentile-6 vs school

African American (2021)29th percentile-21 vs school

White (2021)26th percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts53%~ state avg

Mathematics33%+6 vs state

Science29%-3 vs state

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Schools Near Denton Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAP Mathematics (2026)				MCAP English Language Arts (2026)				MCAP Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Denton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	303 Sharp Rd	Denton	21629	Caroline County	Caroline County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 479-1660	596	50	11.9	62.4%	351 (58.9%)	91 (15.3%)	58 (9.7%)	17 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	77 (12.9%)	54.4	372^nd of 864 public elementary schools	56.9%		53.9	378^th of 865 public elementary schools	56.3%	6	36.8	30.5	31.2	32.8	52.9	54.9	52.7	53.4	29.0	$18,834	$2,623	$16,211
Ridgely Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	118 N Central Ave	Ridgely	21660	Caroline County	Caroline County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 479-3243	433	35	12.3	59.6%	298 (68.8%)	48 (11.1%)	54 (12.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.2%)	42.9	456^th of 864 public elementary schools	47.2%		38.2	495^th of 865 public elementary schools	42.8%	39	28.3	43.9	23.3	31.1	39.6	54.4	32.9	41.5	25.7	$19,934	$2,447	$17,488
Greensboro Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	625 N Main St	Greensboro	21639	Caroline County	Caroline County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 479-3885	840	65	12.9	76.7%	335 (39.9%)	31 (3.7%)	421 (50.1%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (6.1%)	46.9	436^th of 864 public elementary schools	49.5%		47.5	425^th of 865 public elementary schools	50.9%	11	43.4	36.0	21.9	33.7	46.9	48.2	41.6	45.6	23.5	$18,965	$2,480	$16,485
Chapel District Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	11430 Cordova Rd	Cordova	21625	Talbot County	Talbot County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 822-2391	359	27	13.1	40.1%	278 (77.4%)	11 (3.1%)	42 (11.7%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.2%)	80.9	174^th of 864 public elementary schools	79.9%		80.2	178^th of 865 public elementary schools	79.4%	4	60.5	54.7	36.5	51.9	71.1	71.7	63.5	69.1	40.4	$18,349	$1,414	$16,935
Preston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	225 Main St	Preston	21655	Caroline County	Caroline County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 479-2897	381	28	13.6	60.1%	271 (71.1%)	32 (8.4%)	46 (12.1%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.3%)	66.8	277^th of 864 public elementary schools	67.9%		62.9	310^th of 865 public elementary schools	64.2%	33	55.4	49.3	27.7	45.8	55.4	52.2	51.1	53.1	42.6	$20,066	$2,685	$17,381
Federalsburg Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	302 S University Ave	Federalsburg	21632	Caroline County	Caroline County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 479-2761	415	36	11.5	81.2%	148 (35.7%)	160 (38.6%)	29 (7.0%)	11 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (16.1%)	22.8	649^th of 864 public elementary schools	24.9%		26.2	594^th of 865 public elementary schools	31.3%	55	20.4	22.2	9.0	16.5	40.8	37.0	26.9	34.1	10.4	$22,995	$2,613	$20,381
Easton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	307 Glenwood Ave	Easton	21601	Talbot County	Talbot County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 822-0686	1,075	97	11.0	75.2%	294 (27.3%)	192 (17.9%)	486 (45.2%)	35 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (6.3%)	25.7	620^th of 864 public elementary schools	28.2%		22.8	645^th of 865 public elementary schools	25.4%	25	23.5	14.6	19.0	19.1	24.5	36.4	36.2	32.1	23.4	$19,911	$2,490	$17,421
Hurlock Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	301 Charles St.	Hurlock	21643	Dorchester County	Dorchester County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 943-3303	391	29	13.4	75.4%	149 (38.1%)	145 (37.1%)	48 (12.3%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	45 (11.5%)	33.6	538^th of 864 public elementary schools	37.7%		41.5	477^th of 865 public elementary schools	44.9%	61	39.5	23.0	16.1	24.4	36.8	45.9	35.7	40.5	12.7	$23,879	$4,784	$19,095
Kennard Elementary School	Public	3-5	420 Little Kidwell Ave	Centreville	21617	Queen Anne's County	Queen Anne's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 758-1166	477	31	15.3	35.6%	355 (74.4%)	38 (8.0%)	43 (9.0%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.3%)	52.6	390^th of 864 public elementary schools	54.9%		54	375^th of 865 public elementary schools	56.6%	15	40.8	35.8	30.2	35.4	46.5	43.4	49.7	46.5	34.2	$15,949	$820	$15,129
Centreville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	213 Homewood Ave	Centreville	21617	Queen Anne's County	Queen Anne's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 758-1320	535	38	14.0	35.0%	415 (77.6%)	20 (3.7%)	65 (12.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.0%)								(n/a)										$15,910	$1,228	$14,683

Frequently Asked Questions about Denton Elementary School

How many students attend Denton Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 596 students attended Denton Elementary School.

Is Denton Elementary School a good school?

Denton Elementary School ranks 372^nd of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Denton Elementary School in?

Caroline County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Denton Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Denton Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lockerman Middle School
High : North Caroline High School

What is the racial makeup of Denton Elementary School?

Students at Denton Elementary School are 59% White, 15% African American, 13% Two or more races, 10% Hispanic, 3% Asian.

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresNewJul 28, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCAP test scoresAug 26, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.