Summary:
This analysis examines two middle schools in zip code 21811 (Berlin, MD), which together serve grades 5 through 8 and are part of the top-ranked Worcester County Public Schools district, the #1 district in Maryland.
The standout school in this area is Stephen Decatur Middle (grades 7-8), which is ranked #4 out of 339 middle schools in Maryland, placing it in the 99th percentile. Its academic performance is exceptional, with math proficiency at 64.7% and ELA proficiency at 83.1%, both far exceeding state averages. Notably, 100% of its 8th graders are proficient in Algebra I, a high school-level course, indicating strong high school readiness. Its feeder school, Berlin Intermediate (grades 5-6), also performs well above state averages, with math at 47.1% and ELA at 71.4%. A key finding is that student performance surges when moving from Berlin Intermediate to Stephen Decatur Middle, with math proficiency jumping nearly 18 points and ELA rising almost 12 points, showing the school accelerates learning rather than just maintaining it.
Despite Stephen Decatur Middle's elite performance, it has a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.0%, higher than the district average of 17.1% and Berlin Intermediate's 14.2%, which is a concern for sustaining its top ranking. Interestingly, Berlin Intermediate spends $1,478 more per student ($20,885 vs. $19,407) despite lower test scores, suggesting Stephen Decatur Middle may be more efficient with resources. Together, these schools form a powerful "Berlin Pipeline" that provides a strong foundation in grades 5-6 and then elevates students to elite performance in grades 7-8, making this area a model of educational excellence within the state's top district.
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