Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its Maryland rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

Mace's Lane Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

311^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 339 Maryland Middle Schools

Better than 8% of Maryland middle schools

Summary

Mace's Lane Middle School in Cambridge, MD, serves 490 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of the Dorchester County Public Schools district, which ranks in the 16th percentile statewide.

This school faces significant challenges that set it apart from nearby schools. Most notably, only 3.1% of students are proficient in math, which is dramatically lower than the district average of 16.3% and far below comparable schools like North Dorchester Middle School (18.8%) and Colonel Richardson Middle School (16.2%). English Language Arts proficiency is also low at 19.9%. Additionally, chronic absenteeism is at a crisis level of 50.8%, more than double the rates at Easton Middle (25.6%) and North Dorchester (23.9%). Despite spending $24,534 per student—the highest among its peers—academic outcomes remain the lowest, suggesting that the school's high poverty rate (87.76% free/reduced lunch) and attendance crisis require more targeted interventions.

There are some bright spots. A small group of advanced 8th graders taking Algebra I performed well, with 26.3% proficiency in 2024-2025, actually exceeding the state average. However, the vast majority of students in standard grade-level math are being left behind. The comparison to North Dorchester Middle School, also in the same district, is telling: North Dorchester has a lower poverty rate (62.8%), lower absenteeism (23.9%), and spends less per student ($20,939), yet ranks in the 64th percentile statewide. This shows that while poverty is a factor, Mace's Lane's challenges are amplified by a severe attendance crisis that is not present to the same degree at its district peer.

490

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,534

Per pupil spending ?

87.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1101 Mace's Lane
Cambridge, MD 21613

(410) 228-2111

District: Dorchester County Public Schools

Students who attend Mace's Lane Middle School usually attend:

High:

Cambridge-South Dorchester High School

Feeder schools for Mace's Lane Middle School:

Elementary:	Choptank Elementary School
	Maple Elementary School
	Sandy Hill Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

58.6%

Hispanic:

18.2%

White:

12.7%

See top rated Maryland middle schools

Compare Mace's Lane Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 12th percentile in 2016 → 8th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (12% vs 37% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (8th percentile)

!English Language Arts scores 32 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school12%

District avg26%

Maryland avg37%

311^th of 339

Maryland public middle schools ?

Bottom 8%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 12% (2016) to bottom 8% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Middle Schools in the Dorchester County Public Schools

21^st of 25Dorchester 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	14.0	311 of 339	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.5	308 of 337	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.2	306 of 328	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	10.3	296 of 322	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	19.1	285 of 333	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	12.1	276 of 303	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.3	252 of 316	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.6	247 of 328	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	13.0	287 of 317	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	13.6	276 of 314	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	15.0	279 of 315	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	18.8	271 of 339	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	13.1	285 of 316	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	12.1	284 of 314	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	14.3	280 of 309	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	30.4	255 of 324	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	22.3	256 of 301	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	13.9	248 of 283	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	80.3	55 of 264	79.2%	★★★★☆
2006	84.1	36 of 254	85.8%	★★★★☆
2005	84.1	36 of 255	85.9%	★★★★☆
2004	84.1	33 of 252	86.9%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	10.4	255 of 259	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	9.2	289 of 303	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	31.3	143 of 207	30.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	19.8	249 of 273	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	15.3	260 of 288	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	8.0	203 of 210	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2021)31st percentile+22 vs school

Male (2021)10th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)9th percentile~ school

Female (2021)5th percentile-4 vs school

White (2021)3rd percentile-6 vs school

African American (2021)2nd percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I20%~ state avg

English Language Arts20%-32 vs state

Science11%-20 vs state

Mathematics3%-24 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

Rate Mace's Lane Middle School

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a teacher
Saturday, January 17, 2015

Looking at Mace's Lane history, you want to cry for anyone and everyone associated with the school. A quick look at their test results shows a 10yr roller coaster from a 2004 grade8 proficiency percentage of 20%, but then over the next 5yrs, ML struggled but climbed to 55% proficiency IN 2009. The next 5yrs with poor administration, hopelessness within the staff, and zero inclination to find a bit of discipline, the school steeply plummeted back down to 25.9% for the grade8 graduates. The School Board unanimously rejected the efforts to bring the Maryland Eastern Shore a charter school that would attempt a more focused agenda. Every year another year's class moves ahead with little if any progress and little hope for improvement. The Board of Education, the administration, and the Maryland State of Education are all to blame. Close Quote

Schools Near Mace's Lane Middle School

Load more schools when map is moved

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/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 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	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 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Mace's Lane Middle School	Public	6-8	1101 Mace's Lane	Cambridge	21613	Dorchester County	Dorchester County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 228-2111	490	40	12.2	87.8%	62 (12.7%)	287 (58.6%)	89 (18.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (10.0%)	14	311^th of 339 public middle schools	8.3%		14.5	308^th of 337 public middle schools	8.6%	3	2.6	3.5	1.5	3.1	20.1	23.5	16.0	19.9	20.0	11.3	$24,534	$4,475	$20,059
North Dorchester Middle School	Public	6-8	5745 Cloverdale Road	Hurlock	21643	Dorchester County	Dorchester County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 943-3322	414	30	13.8	62.8%	253 (61.1%)	81 (19.6%)	43 (10.4%)	7 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.2%)	59.4	122^nd of 339 public middle schools	64.0%		66.3	104^th of 337 public middle schools	69.1%	18	16.2	16.8	13.7	18.8	51.4	55.6	59.5	55.4	54.8	36.7	$20,939	$3,722	$17,217
Easton Middle	Public	6-8	201 Peachblossom Rd	Easton	21601	Talbot County	Talbot County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 822-2910	703	56	12.5	69.7%	270 (38.4%)	128 (18.2%)	232 (33.0%)	10 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (9.0%)	34.8	206^th of 339 public middle schools	39.2%		36.6	198^th of 337 public middle schools	41.2%	8	10.6	15.0	6.3	14.3	33.3	43.2	39.4	38.6	54.7	20.7	$18,732	$1,807	$16,925
Colonel Richardson Middle School	Public	6-8	25390 Richardson Rd	Federalsburg	21632	Caroline County	Caroline County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 479-1462	390	29	13.4	68.5%	220 (56.4%)	84 (21.5%)	37 (9.5%)	4 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (11.3%)	52.2	148^th of 339 public middle schools	56.3%		56	135^th of 337 public middle schools	59.9%	13	13.7	17.8	7.3	16.2	50.5	57.3	50.4	53.0	52.0	28.3	$19,945	$1,637	$18,308

Frequently Asked Questions about Mace's Lane Middle School

What district is Mace's Lane Middle School in?

Dorchester County Public Schools

How many students attend Mace's Lane Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 490 students attended Mace's Lane Middle School.

Is Mace's Lane Middle School a good school?

Mace's Lane Middle School ranks in the bottom 8.3% of Maryland middle schools.

What high school do graduates of Mace's Lane Middle School attend?

Students who attend Mace's Lane Middle School usually go on to attend Cambridge-South Dorchester High School

What is the racial makeup of Mace's Lane Middle School?

Students at Mace's Lane Middle School are 59% African American, 18% Hispanic, 13% White, 10% Two or more races.

Rate Mace's Lane Middle School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MDMaryland Middle School Rankings

MDMaryland District Rankings

Schools in Cambridge, MD

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Mace's Lane Middle School!

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.