Summary:
The 21837 zip code in Mardela Springs, Maryland, is served by two public schools within the Wicomico County Public Schools district, which holds a 2-star rating and ranks 16th out of 25 districts in the state.
Mardela Middle & High (grades 6-12, 742 students) is the standout school in the area, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 81st percentile statewide. It significantly outperforms both the district and state averages in English Language Arts (ELA), with a 64.9% proficiency rate that is 23.4 points higher than the district. The school also boasts a strong 93.1% graduation rate and has shown rapid improvement, jumping from a 3-star to a 4-star rating in just two years. In contrast, Northwestern Elementary (grades PK-5, 340 students) is a solid, above-average school with a 3-star rating. Interestingly, Northwestern Elementary achieves a higher overall math proficiency (43%) than Mardela Middle & High (31.7%), despite having a slightly higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students. This suggests that while Mardela Middle & High excels in accelerating ELA growth, math proficiency may dip as students transition from elementary to secondary levels.
A key challenge is chronic absenteeism, which is notably higher at Mardela Middle & High (25.1%) compared to Northwestern Elementary (16.8%) and the district average (22.4%). This poses a risk to the secondary school's continued success. However, Mardela Middle & High demonstrates a "hidden" strength in advanced math, with Algebra I proficiency (35.3%) more than double the district's rate (15.5%). The school also spends $2,557 more per student than Northwestern Elementary ($18,754 vs. $16,197), a higher investment that correlates with its superior state ranking and strong outcomes in ELA and advanced coursework.
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