Summary:
Zip code 21914 is home to a single school, Charlestown Elementary, a public school serving grades Pre-K through 5 with 305 students in the Cecil County Public Schools district.
Charlestown Elementary stands out as a strong performer within its district, consistently exceeding Cecil County averages in both Math and English Language Arts (ELA). In the 2025-2026 school year, the school's Math proficiency rate of 32.8% was over 12 percentage points higher than the district's 20.5%, while its ELA proficiency of 53.4% surpassed both the district (46.9%) and the state of Maryland (51.7%). The school also boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 12.1%, nearly half the district's rate of 21.9%, indicating a highly engaged student body. Its state ranking has been stable, hovering in the 55th to 56th percentile over the last two years, earning a consistent 3-star rating from Schooldigger.
Despite these strengths, a closer look reveals some areas for improvement. While 3rd grade students excel—particularly in ELA where 61.1% are proficient compared to the state average of 50.4%—performance drops in upper grades. Math proficiency falls below the state average in 4th grade (28.8% vs. 34.8%) and barely meets it in 5th grade (30.4% vs. 30.2%). Science is a clear weak point, with only 23.9% of 5th graders proficient versus the state's 32.4%. With a per-student spending of $17,972 and a moderate free/reduced lunch eligibility rate of 42.95%, the school has resources and a stable community foundation to target these academic gaps, particularly in upper-grade math and science.
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