Summary:
Zip code 21821, located in Deal Island, Maryland, is home to a single elementary school, Deal Island School, which serves 117 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade within the Somerset County Public Schools district.
Deal Island School stands out as a clear academic bright spot in a district that ranks near the bottom of Maryland (8th percentile). The school consistently performs in the top half of all Maryland elementary schools, earning a 3-star rating and ranking 344th out of 864 schools for the 2025-2026 school year. Its Math proficiency rate of 34.6% is nearly three times the district average of 12.1%, and its English Language Arts proficiency of 55.8% significantly exceeds the district's 34.0%. The school benefits from a very low student-teacher ratio of 14.6:1 and high per-student spending of $23,361, though this high investment does not translate into top-tier state performance. A notable challenge is a dramatic drop in Math proficiency between 3rd grade (50% proficient) and 4th grade (25% proficient), suggesting a difficult curriculum transition or a need for targeted support. Additionally, chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 28.4% of students missing 10% or more of the school year, though this is lower than the district average of 33.7%.
While the school excels in Math and ELA relative to its district, its 5th-grade Science proficiency of 31.3% is essentially at the state average of 32.4%, indicating a potential area for growth. With 52.14% of students receiving free or reduced lunch, the school serves a moderately economically disadvantaged population. Overall, Deal Island School offers a strong academic environment compared to its surrounding district, but faces challenges with grade-level performance dips and high absenteeism that families should consider.
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