Summary:
In zip code 21817, there is one elementary school, Carter G Woodson Elementary, serving grades PK through 5 in Crisfield, MD, a high-poverty area where nearly 77% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Carter G Woodson Elementary is part of the Somerset County Public Schools district and holds a 2-star rating, ranking 596th out of 864 Maryland schools. The school spends a high $23,753 per student, yet academic performance is mixed. A bright spot is English Language Arts (ELA), where 38.8% of all students are proficient, outperforming the district average of 34%. Notably, 4th-grade ELA proficiency reaches 52.2%, exceeding the state average of 48.6%, suggesting a particularly effective teacher or program at that grade level. However, mathematics is a significant weakness, with only 18% of students proficient overall. The problem worsens as students advance: 5th-grade math proficiency drops to just 10.3%, far below the state average of 30.2%, indicating a "math cliff" where foundational skills are not being built.
Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, with 39.2% of students missing significant school time—higher than the district's 33.7%. This likely drives the disconnect between high spending and low outcomes, as students who are not in class cannot benefit from resources. For parents, this school offers a strong 4th-grade ELA program but struggles with math progression and attendance. The high poverty rate and absenteeism suggest that non-academic supports are essential for student success here.
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