Showell Elementary

Showell Elementary in Berlin, MD, is a high-performing public school serving 638 students from Pre-K through 4th grade, and it is part of the top-ranked Worcester County Public Schools district. The school has consistently earned a 4 or 5-star rating from SchoolDigger over the past five years, placing it in the 89th percentile among all Maryland elementary schools. With a low student-teacher ratio of 11.4:1, Showell stands out for its exceptional English Language Arts (ELA) performance, where 73% of students are proficient—well above the state average of 51.7%. This strength is a key differentiator from nearby schools like Snow Hill Elementary, which excels in math (74.2% proficiency) but lags in ELA (62.9%).

Showell also demonstrates remarkable effectiveness with students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, ranking in the 92nd percentile statewide for this subgroup and earning a 5-star rating. This achievement highlights the school’s ability to close achievement gaps, even as it spends less per student ($20,550) than other Worcester County schools like Buckingham Elementary ($21,851) and Ocean City Elementary ($21,516). Additionally, Showell has made significant progress in reducing chronic absenteeism, dropping from 29.6% in 2021-2022 to 15.1% in 2024-2025—lower than the district average and nearby rivals like Buckingham (18.2%) and Ocean City (16.6%).

While Showell’s math scores (61.9% proficiency) are strong compared to the state average, they trail those of Snow Hill and Buckingham, suggesting an opportunity for growth. The school’s performance with Special Education students is more moderate, ranking in the 60th percentile, which points to a potential area for targeted improvement. Overall, Showell’s consistent high rankings, efficient spending, and focus on attendance and equity make it a reliable choice for families, especially when compared to schools in the neighboring Wicomico County Public Schools district, where proficiency rates can be 20-30 percentage points lower.