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South Carroll High

Q: Is South Carroll High a good school?

South Carroll High ranks 36 th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

36^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 84% of Maryland high schools

Summary

South Carroll High in Sykesville, MD, is a mid-sized high school serving 933 students in grades 9-12 within the highly-rated Carroll County Public Schools district, which ranks 2nd in Maryland. The school has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (20.79% in 2024-2025), indicating a more affluent student body compared to some nearby schools.

South Carroll presents a striking academic profile: it is an "ELA powerhouse" with 78.4% of students proficient in English Language Arts in 2025-2026, significantly higher than the state average of 51.7% and competitive with top-performing neighbors like Liberty High (91.5%) and Century High (84.1%). However, it struggles profoundly in mathematics, with only 7% of students proficient—the lowest among all comparable comprehensive high schools in the area, including Winters Mill High (7.7%) and Westminster High (22.1%). This math crisis is driven almost entirely by Algebra I, where only 7% of test-takers were proficient, yet students who advance to Geometry (64.3% proficient) and Algebra II (44.9%) perform well. The school's state ranking has been volatile, dropping from a 5-star rating in 2017-2018 to a 2-star in 2022-2023 before rebounding to a 4-star in 2025-2026, ranking 36th out of 227 schools in Maryland (84th percentile).

Interestingly, South Carroll's closest geographic neighbor, Century High (2.94 miles away), achieves better overall results with a demographically similar student body—nearly double the math proficiency (13.5% vs. 7%) and lower chronic absenteeism (19.1% vs. 22.3%). South Carroll's chronic absenteeism rate has been consistently higher than the district average (22.3% vs. 19.5% in 2024-2025), and its per-student spending ($17,444) is actually higher than both Liberty High ($16,072) and Century High ($15,851), suggesting that funding is not the issue. The school's leadership should focus intensely on its Algebra I curriculum and instruction, while also addressing chronic absenteeism to create a more stable and consistently high-performing environment.

933

Students ?

17.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,444

Per pupil spending ?

20.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1300 West Old Liberty Road
Sykesville, MD 21784-9329

(410) 751-3575

District: Carroll County Public Schools

Feeder schools for South Carroll High:

Elementary:	Mount Airy Elementary
	Parr's Ridge Elementary
	Winfield Elementary
Middle:	Mount Airy Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.8%

Hispanic:

12.1%

African American:

3.4%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare South Carroll High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 43rd percentile in 2023 → 84th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (44% vs 38% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 16% of Maryland high schools

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 84th (2026) from a 43rd-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Mathematics scores 20 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg54%

Maryland avg38%

36^th of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 16%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From top 7% (2016) to top 16% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 8High Schools in the Carroll County Public Schools

2^nd of 25Carroll 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	63.2	36 of 227	84.1%	★★★★☆
2025	51.6	69 of 220	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.1	25 of 146	82.9%	★★★★☆
2023	43.7	73 of 127	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.9	74 of 225	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.7	35 of 138	74.6%	★★★★☆
2018	90.3	4 of 197	98.0%	★★★★★
2017	78.0	18 of 180	90.0%	★★★★★
2016	79.5	17 of 233	92.7%	★★★★★
2015	76.4	18 of 233	92.3%	★★★★★
2014	79.0	45 of 231	80.5%	★★★★☆
2013	68.0	77 of 185	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	74.4	51 of 187	72.7%	★★★★☆
2011	74.5	45 of 183	75.4%	★★★★☆
2010	78.4	41 of 220	81.4%	★★★★☆
2009	79.1	32 of 213	85.0%	★★★★☆
2008	80.0	29 of 214	86.4%	★★★★☆
2007	68.7	53 of 209	74.6%	★★★★☆
2006	75.1	27 of 204	86.8%	★★★★☆
2005	66.2	40 of 204	80.4%	★★★★☆
2004	57.7	34 of 201	83.1%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts78%+27 vs state

Mathematics7%-20 vs state

Algebra I7%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Carroll High

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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 Algebra I (2026)	MCAP Algebra II (2026)	MCAP Geometry (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 8th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	MCAP Geometry End of Course	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Carroll High	Public	9-12	1300 West Old Liberty Road	Sykesville	21784	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3575	933	53	17.6	20.8%	726 (77.8%)	32 (3.4%)	113 (12.1%)	27 (2.9%)	5 (0.5%)	3 (0.3%)	26 (2.8%)	63.2	36^th of 227 public high schools	84.1%		51.6	69^th of 220 public high schools	68.6%	33		7.0		78.4	78.4	7.0				$17,444	$1,627	$15,817
Century High	Public	9-12	355 Ronsdale Road	Sykesville	21784	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 386-4400	1,101	59	18.6	20.1%	817 (74.2%)	65 (5.9%)	74 (6.7%)	90 (8.2%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	48 (4.4%)	74.6	16^th of 227 public high schools	93.0%		61.7	34^th of 220 public high schools	84.5%	18		13.5		84.1	84.1	13.6				$15,851	$1,408	$14,443
Liberty High	Public	9-12	5855 Bartholow Road	Sykesville	21784	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3560	1,007	55	18.2	14.5%	750 (74.5%)	66 (6.6%)	59 (5.9%)	93 (9.2%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	33 (3.3%)	83.1	10^th of 227 public high schools	95.6%		77.5	13^th of 220 public high schools	94.1%	3		39.4		91.5	91.5	39.4				$16,072	$1,393	$14,678
Flexible Student Support	Public	9-12	45 Kate Wagner Road	Westminster	21157	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3691	44			36.4%	30 (68.2%)	4 (9.1%)	7 (15.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (6.8%)								(n/a)										$13,020	$827	$12,193
Gateway School	Public	9-12	45 Kate Wagner Road	Westminster	21157	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3691	80	18	4.5	67.5%	54 (67.5%)	5 (6.3%)	9 (11.3%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (8.8%)	13.7	203^rd of 227 public high schools	10.6%		22.1	160^th of 220 public high schools	27.3%	43	0.0	2.3	0.0	28.1	20.4	4.4			7.1	$52,874	$1,647	$51,227
Carroll County Career & Technology Center	Public	11-12	1229 Washington Road	Westminster	21157	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3669	0	40	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Westminster High	Public	9-12	1225 Washington Road	Westminster	21157	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3630	1,477	90	16.5	25.0%	1,104 (74.7%)	91 (6.2%)	157 (10.6%)	59 (4.0%)	2 (0.1%)	7 (0.5%)	53 (3.6%)	57.5	54^th of 227 public high schools	76.2%		52.1	67^th of 220 public high schools	69.5%	13		22.1		78.3	78.3	12.6		36.4		$17,466	$1,643	$15,824
Post Secondary Program	Public	12	495 South Center Street	Westminster	21157	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3620	36	4	9.0	25.0%	26 (72.2%)	3 (8.3%)	1 (2.8%)	4 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (5.6%)								(n/a)										$32,306	$2,986	$29,320
Winters Mill High	Public	9-12	560 Gorsuch Road	Westminster	21157	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 386-1500	1,156	64	18.1	37.1%	765 (66.2%)	92 (8.0%)	209 (18.1%)	35 (3.0%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	46 (4.0%)	47.1	83^rd of 227 public high schools	63.4%		50.1	72^nd of 220 public high schools	67.3%	11		7.7		65.9	65.9	7.7				$17,160	$1,385	$15,775
Marriotts Ridge High	Public	9-12	12100 Woodford Dr	Marriottsville	21104	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-5568	1,741	99	17.5	15.5%	533 (30.6%)	205 (11.8%)	80 (4.6%)	835 (48.0%)	5 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	79 (4.5%)	73.2	18^th of 227 public high schools	92.1%		76.7	14^th of 220 public high schools	93.6%	4		36.4		89.5	89.5	18.1	43.5			$16,985	$750	$16,235

Frequently Asked Questions about South Carroll High

Is South Carroll High a good school?

South Carroll High ranks 36^th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of South Carroll High?

Students at South Carroll High are 78% White, 12% Hispanic, 3% African American, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend South Carroll High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 933 students attended South Carroll High.

What district is South Carroll High in?

Carroll County Public Schools

What schools feed into South Carroll High?

South Carroll High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Mount Airy Elementary
Elementary : Parr's Ridge Elementary
Elementary : Winfield Elementary
Middle : Mount Airy Middle

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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.