Fruitland Intermediate

Fruitland Intermediate in Fruitland, MD, serves 343 students in grades 3 through 5 and is part of the Wicomico County Public Schools district, where over half of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school stands out for its strong math performance, with 35.4% of students proficient in math—significantly higher than the district average of 24.9% and the state average of 27.1%. This is especially impressive when compared to nearby schools like Glen Avenue School (17.5% math proficiency) and East Salisbury Elementary (14.0% math proficiency). The school’s 3rd graders are particularly strong, with 48.9% proficient in math, outperforming both district and state averages. Fruitland Intermediate also has a low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.7%, the lowest among comparable area schools, which supports consistent learning. Interestingly, the school achieves these results with lower per-student spending ($18,588) than many lower-performing peers, such as Pemberton Elementary ($20,305) and Pinehurst Elementary ($20,002).

While math is a clear strength, English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency at 44.4% is above the district average but below the state average of 51.7%. The school’s performance has been steadily improving over the last three years, with ELA proficiency rising from 33.8% to 44.4%. However, North Salisbury Elementary remains the top-performing peer, excelling in both subjects and providing a benchmark for growth. Fruitland Intermediate also shows a strong foundation in 3rd grade, which is notable given that its feeder school, Fruitland Primary, has higher rates of economic disadvantage and chronic absenteeism. This suggests effective interventions at the intermediate level, though the school faces equity challenges in supporting all student groups equally.