Schools in Zip Code 21629

The two public schools in zip code 21629, serving the Denton, Maryland area, are Denton Elementary School (grades PK-5) and Lockerman Middle School (grades 6-8), both part of the Caroline County Public Schools district, which holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 40th percentile statewide.

Denton Elementary School is the standout performer in the area, consistently exceeding district and state averages in both math and English Language Arts (ELA). In the 2025-2026 school year, it achieved a 32.8% math proficiency rate and a 53.4% ELA proficiency rate, both above the state averages of 27.1% and 51.7%, respectively. Its state ranking has improved for three consecutive years, now sitting in the 57th percentile. The school also benefits from a lower chronic absenteeism rate (22.5%) compared to the district average (28.0%) and spends $18,834 per student, which is over $3,000 more than the middle school. In contrast, Lockerman Middle School presents a mixed picture: while its overall math proficiency (21.5%) lags behind state averages, it excels in advanced coursework, with 68.3% of students taking Algebra I achieving proficiency—far exceeding the state average of 21.3%. However, Lockerman struggles with a high chronic absenteeism rate of 31.7%.

A key takeaway is that despite both schools serving a similar socioeconomic population (roughly 60-62% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch), Denton Elementary achieves notably stronger academic results, suggesting that school-level factors like higher per-student spending and a lower student-teacher ratio (11.9 vs. 14.2) are making a significant difference. The "Algebra I anomaly" at Lockerman Middle School indicates a strong program for advanced math students, even as the majority of 8th graders struggle with grade-level math. Overall, families in this zip code will find a high-performing elementary school and a middle school with a standout advanced math program but facing challenges with attendance and general proficiency.