Best Public Schools in Zip Code 21903

The three public schools in zip code 21903 (Perryville, MD) serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade within the Cecil County Public Schools district, which is ranked 17th out of 25 districts in the state.

Perryville High School is the standout performer in the area, earning a 4-star rating and achieving an impressive 68.4% proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), far exceeding both the district (46.9%) and state (51.7%) averages. However, this strength is contrasted by a severe weakness in mathematics, where only 1.6% of students are proficient—a staggering 25.5 percentage points below the district average. In contrast, Perryville Middle School serves as a stable middle ground with a consistent 3-star rating, and it shows a notable strength in Algebra I, where 43.5% of students are proficient, more than double the district and state averages. Perryville Elementary School is the most challenged school, with a 1-star rating and proficiency rates well below district and state averages in all subjects, despite having the highest spending per student ($18,181) and the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (56.03% free/reduced lunch).

Key takeaways for parents include a clear "math crisis" at the high school level that does not appear to originate from the middle school, which has healthier math scores. Chronic absenteeism is a growing concern, rising from 17.5% at the elementary school to 24.9% at the high school, both above the district average. Notably, spending does not correlate with performance here, as the elementary school spends the most per student but achieves the lowest academic results, likely reflecting the significant challenges associated with higher poverty rates. Overall, families should expect a mixed experience: strong ELA instruction at the high school, excellent advanced math at the middle school, but significant academic struggles at the elementary level.