Summary:
Zip code 21601, encompassing Easton, Maryland, is served by three public schools—Easton Elementary, Easton Middle, and Easton High—all part of the Talbot County Public Schools district, which ranks in the middle of Maryland districts. These schools serve a combined 2,957 students, with a significant majority qualifying for free or reduced lunch, indicating high levels of economic need across the area.
Academic performance varies sharply by subject and school level. Easton High is a standout for English Language Arts (ELA), with 62.5% proficiency—well above the state average of 51.7%—but it struggles dramatically in math, where only 6.2% of students are proficient, the lowest in the zip code. In contrast, Easton Middle shows a split: its overall math proficiency is low at 14.3%, yet its Algebra I End-of-Course exam proficiency is an impressive 54.7%, far exceeding state and district averages. Easton Elementary has the highest poverty rate (75% free/reduced lunch) and the highest per-student spending ($19,911), but its academic performance is the lowest relative to peers, ranking in the bottom 28th percentile of Maryland elementary schools.
Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, especially at Easton High, where 34.3% of students are chronically absent—nearly 10 points above the district average. This likely contributes to its low math scores. A clear poverty gradient exists, with economic disadvantage decreasing as students get older (from 75% at elementary to 59% at high school), which may reflect families with higher incomes staying in the district or higher dropout rates among disadvantaged students. Overall, while Easton High excels in ELA and graduation rates, math proficiency across all three schools remains a significant concern, and higher spending at Easton Elementary has not yet translated into higher test scores.
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