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Tilghman Elementary

Q: Is Tilghman Elementary a good school?

Tilghman Elementary ranks 533 rd of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

533^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 38% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Tilghman Elementary is a small, rural school in Tilghman, MD, serving 99 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the Talbot County Public Schools district.

This school presents a fascinating paradox for parents. On one hand, it offers exceptional resources: a very low student-teacher ratio of 10.5:1 and high per-student spending of $23,455 per year—far more than nearby schools like Easton Elementary ($19,911) or high-performing Mount Harmony Elementary ($15,570). On the other hand, its academic performance has been extremely volatile. In 2022-2023, math proficiency soared to 45.2% (nearly triple the district average), but it crashed to 15.4% the following year before recovering slightly. This wild swing is a direct result of the school's tiny size—a single class of high or low performers can dramatically shift the entire school's averages. The school's state ranking has dropped from the 77th percentile in 2021-2022 to the 38th percentile in the most recent data.

The most pressing concern for families is chronic absenteeism, which sits at 29.8%—nearly double the rate at St. Michaels Elementary (14.0%) and far above the Calvert County Public Schools schools (all under 14%). When nearly a third of students are chronically absent, it undermines the potential benefits of small class sizes and high funding. The 2022-2023 anomaly proves Tilghman can achieve at a very high level, but consistency remains the critical missing ingredient. For parents, this school offers tremendous potential for individualized attention, but addressing attendance issues will be key to unlocking its full promise.

Students ?

10.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,455

Per pupil spending ?

58.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

21374 Foster Ave
Tilghman, MD 21671

(410) 886-2391

District: Talbot County Public Schools

Students who attend Tilghman Elementary usually attend:

High:

St. Michaels Middle/High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.9%

Hispanic:

4.0%

Two or more races:

2.0%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Tilghman Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 61st percentile in 2014 → 38th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (32% vs 39% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 23 percentile points since 2014

!Near the bottom of Talbot County Public Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school32%

District avg34%

Maryland avg39%

533^rd of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 48 pts since 2016

From top 14% (2016) to bottom 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 5Elementary Schools in the Talbot County Public Schools

14^th of 25Talbot 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	34.5	533 of 864	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	22.3	657 of 865	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	47.0	398 of 859	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.1	215 of 855	74.9%	★★★★☆
2022	76.7	200 of 862	76.8%	★★★★☆
2021	50.1	282 of 802	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	79.7	168 of 853	80.3%	★★★★☆
2016	86.4	119 of 845	85.9%	★★★★☆
2015	69.5	257 of 859	70.1%	★★★★☆
2014	65.2	338 of 867	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	44.2	516 of 847	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	58.2	416 of 857	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	27.9	677 of 853	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	68.4	297 of 855	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	51.1	480 of 850	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2008	59.9	390 of 838	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	59.6	364 of 818	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	55.5	397 of 804	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2005	51.1	435 of 805	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	34.7	582 of 803	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	49.7	236 of 528	55.3%	★★★☆☆

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)

White (2021)55th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts44%-7 vs state

Mathematics19%-8 vs state

5.0

4 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★4

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

This school is like a private school. Small teacher to student ratio, all the kids grow up with each other, and an outstanding afterschool program! Close Quote

by a parent
Saturday, September 12, 2020

Tilghman Elementary School packs big school resources in a small package. The school has excellent and dedicated teaching staff augmented by strong community volunteer program that assists in areas such as tutoring, music and art. The teacher to student ratio is excellent so the strengths and weaknesses of each child are well known and the test scores, which are well above state average, reflect it. A real gem in the public school system. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Having went to school at Tilghman Elementary and now having children to go to the same school I get to see all aspects of the school. This is a very caring school for both student and parent. They work hard on a one on one basis with your child. It gives you the feeling of a small private school vs a large public school. Its a great school to start your children. There are several families from out of the country that have decided to stay just so their child can attend this school. The staff have been there for years and know each child and family on a personal level. Close Quote

Schools Near Tilghman Elementary

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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
Tilghman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	21374 Foster Ave	Tilghman	21671	Talbot County	Talbot County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 886-2391	99	9	10.5	58.6%	92 (92.9%)	1 (1.0%)	4 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.0%)	34.5	533^rd of 864 public elementary schools	38.3%		22.3	657^th of 865 public elementary schools	24.0%	124	25.0	25.0		19.4	50.0	33.3		44.4		$23,455	$1,539	$21,916
St. Michaels Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Seymour Ave	St Michaels	21663	Talbot County	Talbot County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 745-2882	332	27	12.3	47.9%	234 (70.5%)	44 (13.3%)	33 (9.9%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.8%)	56.2	358^th of 864 public elementary schools	58.6%		53.2	383^rd of 865 public elementary schools	55.7%	25	34.0	34.4	37.8	35.3	55.3	42.6	53.3	49.7	40.0	$20,271	$1,990	$18,281
Beach Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7900 Old Bayside Rd	Chesapeake Beach	20732	Calvert County	Calvert County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 550-9520	502	31	16.0	24.3%	306 (61.0%)	78 (15.5%)	39 (7.8%)	9 (1.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (13.5%)	79.1	187^th of 864 public elementary schools	78.4%		83.1	153^rd of 865 public elementary schools	82.3%	34	55.4	49.5	35.3	47.8	67.4	71.9	66.2	68.8	42.6	$16,316	$863	$15,453
Deale Elementary	Public	K-5	759 Masons Beach Rd	Deale	20751	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-1695	203	18	11.0	19.7%	169 (83.3%)	6 (3.0%)	14 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.9%)	83.8	142^nd of 864 public elementary schools	83.6%		68.6	268^th of 865 public elementary schools	69.0%	126	63.3	54.1	39.3	52.6	70.0	75.7	60.7	69.5	50.0	$22,933	$1,669	$21,264
Windy Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9550 Boyds Turn Rd	Owings	20736	Calvert County	Calvert County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 550-9790	598	42	14.4	30.6%	400 (66.9%)	40 (6.7%)	69 (11.5%)	19 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (11.7%)	78.4	193^rd of 864 public elementary schools	77.7%		85.4	132^nd of 865 public elementary schools	84.7%	61	66.7	53.2	38.0	53.7	71.1	69.4	53.3	65.3	35.5	$18,122	$1,503	$16,618
Shady Side Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4859 Atwell Rd	Shady Side	20764	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-1621	391	27	14.3	27.6%	309 (79.0%)	25 (6.4%)	31 (7.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.4%)	63.8	292^nd of 864 public elementary schools	66.2%		60.7	327^th of 865 public elementary schools	62.2%	35	45.5	43.5	28.4	38.6	63.0	59.7	49.3	56.8	35.8	$19,097	$1,311	$17,785
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
Traceys Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	20 Deale Rd	Tracys Landing	20779	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 867-8305	448	31	14.4	60.5%	215 (48.0%)	36 (8.0%)	172 (38.4%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.7%)	42.7	461^st of 864 public elementary schools	46.6%		51.8	391^st of 865 public elementary schools	54.8%	70	36.1	24.3	20.0	26.1	37.7	41.4	45.0	41.7	37.5	$17,763	$1,178	$16,585
Sunderland Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	150 Clyde Jones Rd	Sunderland	20689	Calvert County	Calvert County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 550-9390	606	41	14.9	21.0%	428 (70.6%)	75 (12.4%)	45 (7.4%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.3%)	94	45^th of 864 public elementary schools	94.8%		86.4	118^th of 865 public elementary schools	86.4%	73	75.7	61.2	64.9	67.5	75.7	82.7	79.4	79.1	57.1	$16,390	$1,110	$15,280
White Marsh Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4322 Lovers Ln	Trappe	21673	Talbot County	Talbot County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 476-3144	289	23	12.7	57.1%	178 (61.6%)	32 (11.1%)	55 (19.0%)	8 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.5%)	69.2	262^nd of 864 public elementary schools	69.7%		76.4	210^th of 865 public elementary schools	75.7%	52	62.8	45.2	35.0	48.0	60.5	61.9	45.0	56.0	35.9	$18,503	$1,807	$16,696

Frequently Asked Questions about Tilghman Elementary

What schools do graduates of Tilghman Elementary attend?

Students who attend Tilghman Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : St. Michaels Middle/High School

What district is Tilghman Elementary in?

Talbot County Public Schools

How many students attend Tilghman Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 99 students attended Tilghman Elementary.

Is Tilghman Elementary a good school?

Tilghman Elementary ranks 533^rd of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Tilghman Elementary?

Students at Tilghman Elementary are 93% White, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

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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.