Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 21826

Zip code 21826 in Fruitland, Maryland, is home to two elementary schools—Fruitland Primary (serving Pre-K through 2nd grade) and Fruitland Intermediate (serving 3rd through 5th grade)—both part of the Wicomico County Public Schools district, which holds a 2-star rating and ranks 16th out of 25 districts in Maryland.

Fruitland Intermediate stands out as the stronger performer in the area, earning a 3-star rating and climbing from the 44th to the 50th percentile in state rankings over three years. Its students outperform the district average in both math (35.4% proficient vs. 24.9%) and English Language Arts (44.4% vs. 41.5%), though they still trail the state average in ELA (51.7%) and science (32.4%). A notable concern is a sharp drop in math proficiency from 3rd grade (48.9%) to 4th grade (28.8%), suggesting a transition challenge. Chronic absenteeism at Fruitland Intermediate is a low 13.7%, well below the district’s 22.4% average, which likely supports its improving academics. In contrast, Fruitland Primary has a higher chronic absenteeism rate of 18.3%, despite serving a similar demographic (about 58% free/reduced lunch). Both schools invest heavily per student—over $18,000 each—but Fruitland Primary lacks academic performance data, making it difficult to assess the return on that spending.

Overall, families in this zip code benefit from a pipeline where students start at Fruitland Primary and move to the higher-performing Fruitland Intermediate. While the intermediate school is a local academic leader, it still has room to reach state benchmarks, particularly in science and ELA. The district-wide challenge of chronic absenteeism is less severe here, especially at the intermediate level, but the early-grade absenteeism at Fruitland Primary is a key area for improvement. These schools offer a solid foundation within a district that is working to raise its standing.