Summary:
Zip code 21663 in St. Michaels, Maryland, is served by two public schools within the Talbot County Public Schools district: St. Michaels Elementary (Pre-K through 5th grade) and St. Michaels Middle/High School (6th through 12th grade), with a combined enrollment of 781 students.
These two schools present a fascinating contrast in academic strengths. St. Michaels Elementary is a standout for mathematics, with 35.3% of students proficient—dramatically outperforming both the district (20.7%) and state (27.1%). This success, however, does not carry over to the middle/high school, where math proficiency drops to just 11.5%, less than half the state average. In English Language Arts, the roles reverse: St. Michaels Middle/High School excels with 57.5% proficiency, surpassing both the district (46.8%) and state (51.7%), while the elementary school is slightly below the state average at 49.7%. The elementary school also enjoys a lower chronic absenteeism rate (14.0% vs. 26.7%) and a more favorable student-teacher ratio (12.3:1 vs. 14.6:1), while spending over $2,000 more per student annually.
A critical warning sign is the 0% proficiency rate in Geometry at the middle/high school for two consecutive years, suggesting a systemic issue with curriculum or instruction. The elementary school has shown a clear upward trend, improving from a 2-star to a 3-star ranking, while the middle/high school has fluctuated in the 3-star range. Both schools serve a significant population of economically disadvantaged students, with about 46-48% receiving free or reduced-price lunch. For parents, this data highlights a school system with clear strengths in elementary math and high school English, but with a notable "math cliff" that needs attention as students transition to higher grades.
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