Summary
Bohemia Manor High in Chesapeake City, MD, is a small school serving 591 students in grades 9-12 within the Cecil County Public Schools district, and it presents a fascinating paradox: it excels at getting students to graduate and perform well in English, yet struggles profoundly with math. The school’s English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rate of 64.7% is significantly higher than the district (46.9%) and state (51.7%) averages, making it competitive with top-performing peers like Rising Sun High (69.2%) and Havre de Grace High (60.7%). However, its math proficiency rate is just 3.2%, far below the district (20.5%) and state (27.1%) averages, and even lower than neighboring Aberdeen High (12.5%) in Harford County Public Schools. This 61.5 percentage point gap between ELA and math is the largest in the area, suggesting a highly effective English department but a critical need for math improvement.
Despite the math challenges, Bohemia Manor shines in keeping students on track. Its graduation rate of 93.4% is the highest among Cecil County high schools and well above the district average of 87.7%, while its dropout rate of 4.7% is the lowest in the district. The school also spends $20,396 per student, notably more than nearby schools like Perryville High ($16,753) and North East High ($16,369), which may support its strong ELA results and high graduation rates. However, chronic absenteeism is a persistent issue at 24.1%, higher than the district average of 21.9%, and likely contributes to the low math scores.
For parents, Bohemia Manor is a school of contrasts: it offers a supportive environment that leads to strong graduation outcomes and top-tier English instruction, but its math program requires urgent attention. The school’s math struggles are not unique in Cecil County—Elkton High (1.1%) and Perryville High (1.6%) face similar issues—but the gap between subjects is extreme. If the school can replicate its ELA success in math, it could become a top performer in Maryland. For now, it’s a solid choice for students strong in reading and writing, but families should investigate math support options closely.
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