Summary:
In zip code 21826, there is one middle school, Bennett Middle, serving grades 6 through 8 in Fruitland, Maryland, as part of the Wicomico County Public Schools district.
Bennett Middle stands out for its exceptional performance in advanced mathematics, with 52.1% of students proficient in Algebra I and 71.4% proficient in Geometry—far exceeding district and state averages. However, overall math proficiency is 21.9%, below the state average of 27.1%, suggesting a strong advanced math program while many students struggle with grade-level math, especially in 7th grade where only 16.7% are proficient. English Language Arts (ELA) is a relative strength at 44.1% proficiency, above the district average of 41.5% but below the state's 51.7%, with 6th graders performing best at 46.3%. The school has shown positive momentum, improving its state ranking from the 42nd percentile to the 52nd percentile (3-star rating) in the 2025-2026 school year.
Key challenges include a chronic absenteeism rate of 24.5%, higher than the district average of 22.4%, which likely impacts academic performance. Despite high per-student spending of $19,198 and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.8:1, core proficiency rates remain below state averages, raising questions about resource allocation. The school serves 963 students, with 59.29% qualifying for free or reduced lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. Overall, Bennett Middle offers a strong advanced math pipeline and improving state rankings, but must address chronic absenteeism and general math proficiency to fully leverage its resources.
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