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South Dorchester School

Q: Is South Dorchester School a good school?

South Dorchester School ranks 249 th of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

249^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 865 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 71% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

South Dorchester School is a small, rural PK-8 school in Church Creek, MD, serving 230 students and stands out as a high-performing "bright spot" within the Dorchester County Public Schools district, which ranks near the bottom of Maryland school districts. The school has consistently earned a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for most of the past decade, placing it in the top 30% of all Maryland elementary schools. It serves a student population with a moderate level of economic disadvantage, with 49.57% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch in the 2024-2025 school year.

The most striking metric is the school's exceptional academic performance relative to its district. In the 2025-2026 school year, 40.4% of students were proficient in Mathematics and 65.4% were proficient in English Language Arts (ELA), which is more than 2.5 times the district average in Math (16.3%) and 1.7 times the district average in ELA (37.5%). This gap is consistent across all grade levels and subjects. While nearby schools like Sandy Hill Elementary (13.6% Math proficiency) and Choptank Elementary School (3.8% Math proficiency) are among the lowest-performing in the state, South Dorchester performs at a level comparable to schools in the highly-ranked Calvert County Public Schools district, such as St Leonard Elementary (39.2% Math proficiency) and Dowell Elementary (37.5% Math proficiency).

Another key differentiator is the school's remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 16.2%, which is less than half the district average of 37.1% and significantly lower than every other Dorchester County school in the comparison set (Sandy Hill: 39.5%, Choptank: 46.0%, Maple Elementary School: 24.5%). This suggests a strong school culture and effective family engagement. Additionally, the school achieves far superior academic results while spending less per student ($19,962) than its lower-performing district peers (Sandy Hill: $25,218; Choptank: $25,055; Maple: $23,531), pointing to highly efficient resource allocation and effective instructional strategies. The school's high performance is not a one-year fluke, as its statewide rank has fluctuated between the 67th and 85th percentiles over the past decade, consistently earning 3 or 4 stars.

230

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,962

Per pupil spending ?

49.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

3485 Golden Hill Road
Church Creek, MD 21622

(410) 901-6934

District: Dorchester County Public Schools

Students who attend South Dorchester School usually attend:

High:

Cambridge-South Dorchester High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.7%

Hispanic:

4.8%

Two or more races:

4.8%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare South Dorchester School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 82nd percentile in 2016 → 71st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (52% vs 37% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Dorchester County Public Schools

✓Above the Maryland median (71st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg26%

Maryland avg37%

Elementary school

249^th of 865

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 29%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From top 18% (2016) to top 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

62^nd of 342

Maryland public middle schools ?

Top 18%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From top 11% (2016) to top 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 7Elementary Schools in the Dorchester County Public Schools

21^st of 24Dorchester 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	72.6	249 of 865	71.2%	★★★★☆
2025	72.0	238 of 865	72.5%	★★★★☆
2024	80.8	159 of 859	81.5%	★★★★☆
2023	63.0	286 of 855	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	73.1	235 of 862	72.7%	★★★★☆
2021	70.2	178 of 802	77.8%	★★★★☆
2019	80.4	163 of 853	80.9%	★★★★☆
2018	81.0	162 of 857	81.1%	★★★★☆
2017	85.7	128 of 847	84.9%	★★★★☆
2016	82.5	153 of 845	81.9%	★★★★☆
2015	77.7	183 of 859	78.7%	★★★★☆
2014	81.9	132 of 867	84.8%	★★★★☆
2013	75.7	182 of 847	78.5%	★★★★☆
2012	77.8	149 of 857	82.6%	★★★★☆
2011	90.8	1 of 853	99.9%	★★★★★
2010	89.1	5 of 855	99.4%	★★★★★
2009	87.1	32 of 850	96.2%	★★★★★
2008	82.1	104 of 838	87.6%	★★★★☆
2007	68.8	266 of 818	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	51.1	438 of 804	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	65.7	297 of 805	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2004	50.8	459 of 803	42.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	72.1	144 of 796	81.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	73.1	152 of 788	80.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	43.5	275 of 528	47.9%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	82.1	62 of 342	81.9%	★★★★☆
2025	91.2	32 of 337	90.5%	★★★★★
2024	94.8	10 of 328	97.0%	★★★★★
2023	86.9	31 of 322	90.4%	★★★★★
2022	88.7	34 of 333	89.8%	★★★★★
2021	73.2	68 of 303	77.6%	★★★★☆
2019	98.2	2 of 316	99.4%	★★★★★
2018	93.5	19 of 328	94.2%	★★★★★
2017	80.2	61 of 317	80.8%	★★★★☆
2016	85.4	33 of 314	89.5%	★★★★☆
2015	83.6	37 of 315	88.3%	★★★★☆
2014	81.7	60 of 339	82.3%	★★★★☆
2013	92.3	4 of 316	98.7%	★★★★★
2012	85.7	31 of 314	90.1%	★★★★★
2011	81.4	51 of 309	83.5%	★★★★☆
2010	90.5	3 of 324	99.1%	★★★★★
2009	77.5	67 of 301	77.7%	★★★★☆
2008	82.9	44 of 283	84.5%	★★★★☆
2007	56.0	115 of 264	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	55.7	110 of 254	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	26.0	191 of 255	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	44.1	146 of 252	42.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	76.7	55 of 288	80.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	50.0	105 of 210	50.0%	★★★☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Female (2021)82nd percentile+4 vs school

Male (2021)81st percentile+3 vs school

White (2021)48th percentile-30 vs school

Middle school

Male (2021)81st percentile+3 vs school

White (2021)50th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I80%+59 vs state

English Language Arts65%+14 vs state

Mathematics40%+13 vs state

Science39%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Dorchester 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 Algebra I (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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th 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 6th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Science 5th Grade	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Dorchester School	Public	PK, KG-8	3485 Golden Hill Road	Church Creek	21622	Dorchester County	Dorchester County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 901-6934	230	16	14.3	49.6%	197 (85.7%)	7 (3.0%)	11 (4.8%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.8%)	72.6	249^th of 865 public elementary schools	71.2%		72	238^th of 865 public elementary schools	72.5%	11	41.2	47.8	50.0	32.0	40.9	10.5	40.4	58.8	52.2	65.0	68.0	72.7	72.4	65.4	80.0	33.3	42.9	$19,962	$2,889	$17,073
Maple Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5225 Egypt Rd.	Cambridge	21613	Dorchester County	Dorchester County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 228-8577	483	33	14.6	79.7%	97 (20.1%)	183 (37.9%)	160 (33.1%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (7.9%)	28.3	594^th of 865 public elementary schools	31.3%		25.4	606^th of 865 public elementary schools	29.9%	12	27.9	20.6	9.8				19.8	43.3	34.9	34.4				37.7		18.0		$23,531	$4,964	$18,567
Choptank Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1103 Mace's Lane	Cambridge	21613	Dorchester County	Dorchester County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 228-4950	319	27	11.8	95.0%	16 (5.0%)	230 (72.1%)	46 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.8%)	8.3	841^st of 865 public elementary schools	2.8%		14.4	762^nd of 865 public elementary schools	11.9%	79	8.3	4.0	0.0				3.8	17.6	28.0	10.4				18.9		0.0		$25,055	$5,903	$19,151
Patuxent Appeal Elementary Campus	Public	PK, KG-5	11655 Hg Trueman Rd	Lusby	20657	Calvert County	Calvert County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 550-9710	641	45	14.1	59.8%	365 (56.9%)	121 (18.9%)	54 (8.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	99 (15.4%)	54.6	369^th of 865 public elementary schools	57.3%		61	325^th of 865 public elementary schools	62.4%	44	41.7	43.6	26.7				37.2	46.4	48.5	46.1				47.0		35.6		$21,045	$2,426	$18,619
Sandy Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1503 Glasgow Road	Cambridge	21613	Dorchester County	Dorchester County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 228-7978	393	33	11.9	80.9%	74 (18.8%)	234 (59.5%)	50 (12.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (8.4%)	18.3	709^th of 865 public elementary schools	18.0%		17	731^st of 865 public elementary schools	15.5%	22	22.0	14.0	6.1				13.6	34.1	30.0	29.2				30.9		8.2		$25,218	$5,510	$19,707
Dowell Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12680 H G Trueman Rd	Lusby	20657	Calvert County	Calvert County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 550-9480	541	40	13.6	47.3%	373 (68.9%)	53 (9.8%)	37 (6.8%)	9 (1.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	66 (12.2%)	58.6	337^th of 865 public elementary schools	61.0%		58.8	347^th of 865 public elementary schools	59.9%	10	40.0	40.7	31.3				37.5	43.0	50.0	56.3				49.7		42.7		$17,732	$1,577	$16,155
St Leonard Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5370 St Leonard Rd	Saint Leonard	20685	Calvert County	Calvert County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 550-9760	401	32	12.6	48.6%	233 (58.1%)	80 (20.0%)	39 (9.7%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (11.2%)	61.8	304^th of 865 public elementary schools	64.9%		67.5	275^th of 865 public elementary schools	68.2%	29	59.7	27.9	28.3				39.2	69.4	41.0	54.7				55.1		38.5		$21,782	$2,832	$18,950
Lexington Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	46763 Shangri La Dr	Lexington Park	20653	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(301) 863-4085	383	31	12.4	76.0%	47 (12.3%)	197 (51.4%)	84 (21.9%)	7 (1.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (12.0%)	11.9	796^th of 865 public elementary schools	8.0%		20.9	673^rd of 865 public elementary schools	22.2%	123	3.3	9.1	9.0				7.1	13.6	25.0	23.9				20.9		10.6		$22,618	$3,474	$19,144
Green Holly Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	46060 Millstone Landing Rd	Lexington Park	20653	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(301) 863-4064	478	38	12.4	63.0%	157 (32.8%)	168 (35.1%)	81 (16.9%)	21 (4.4%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	47 (9.8%)	61.5	307^th of 865 public elementary schools	64.5%		56.9	355^th of 865 public elementary schools	59.0%	48	45.8	55.8	32.1				44.4	54.2	59.6	47.2				53.6		24.5		$25,215	$2,575	$22,640
Town Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	45805 Dent Dr	Lexington Park	20653	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 863-4044	220	16	13.4	56.4%	114 (51.8%)	42 (19.1%)	32 (14.5%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (12.7%)	54.7	367^th of 865 public elementary schools	57.6%		63.3	305^th of 865 public elementary schools	64.7%	62	50.0	42.2	25.8				39.2	50.0	48.9	41.9				47.1		29.0		$22,451	$1,023	$21,428

Frequently Asked Questions about South Dorchester School

How many students attend South Dorchester School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 230 students attended South Dorchester School.

What district is South Dorchester School in?

Dorchester County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of South Dorchester School attend?

Students who attend South Dorchester School usually go on to attend:

High : Cambridge-South Dorchester High School

What is the racial makeup of South Dorchester School?

Students at South Dorchester School are 86% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 3% African American, 2% Asian.

Is South Dorchester School a good school?

South Dorchester School ranks 249^th of 865 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate South Dorchester School!

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresJul 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.