Caroline County Schools & Education
Caroline County, Maryland
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 89.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,952
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,395
School Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 72/100
State Score Position
#19
of 24 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Caroline County
Measured School Summary
Caroline County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.0%.
Funding Context
Caroline County spends $9,952 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 13% below the Maryland average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Caroline County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
10 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
63/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #19 of 24 Maryland counties with school score data.
Completion
88.0%
1.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$9,952
$443 below the state average
School coverage
10
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Caroline County has 10 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Caroline County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Caroline County Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 10 of 10 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#19
of 24 Maryland counties with school score data. The county score is 9 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Caroline County Public Schools
Elementary to high school visible
5,667 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Caroline County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 10 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Caroline County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Caroline County, Maryland
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Small-Town Learning on the Eastern Shore
Caroline County features a small, focused educational system of just 10 public schools. This landscape includes 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools serving a total of 5,667 students. All schools operate under a single county-wide district, providing a close-knit environment for local youth.
Traditional Focus Without Charter Schools
Caroline County Public Schools is the sole provider of public education in the area, with no charter schools in operation. North Caroline High School is the largest institution in the county, enrolling 1,226 students. Lockerman Middle School follows as the second largest, serving 866 students in the heart of the district.
Rural Roots and Consolidated Campuses
The county’s schools are split between 7 rural locations and 3 town settings, emphasizing the area's agricultural identity. While the total student count is low, the average school size of 630 students indicates that facilities are fairly large for the population. Attendance here feels personal yet provides the scale needed for diverse programming.
School Overview
Total Schools
10
in Caroline County
Reported Enrollment
5,667
10 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Caroline County
10 Public Schools in Caroline County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 10 of 10 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Caroline High School | Profile | Caroline County Public Schools | Ridgely, 21660Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,226 |
| Lockerman Middle School | Record | Caroline County Public Schools | Denton, 21629Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 866 |
| Greensboro Elementary School | Record | Caroline County Public Schools | Greensboro, 21639Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 785 |
| Denton Elementary School | Record | Caroline County Public Schools | Denton, 21629Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 627 |
| Colonel Richardson High School | Record | Caroline County Public Schools | Federalsburg, 21632Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 549 |
| Ridgely Elementary School | Record | Caroline County Public Schools | Ridgely, 21660Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 444 |
| Preston Elementary School | Record | Caroline County Public Schools | Preston, 21655Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 406 |
| Federalsburg Elementary School | Record | Caroline County Public Schools | Federalsburg, 21632Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 390 |
| Colonel Richardson Middle School | Record | Caroline County Public Schools | Federalsburg, 21632Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 374 |
| Caroline Career & Technology Center | Record | Caroline County Public Schools | Ridgely, 21660Rural: Fringe | UG | Vocational | 0 |
North Caroline High School
Caroline County Public Schools
Ridgely, 21660 / Rural: Fringe
Lockerman Middle School
Caroline County Public Schools
Denton, 21629 / Town: Distant
Greensboro Elementary School
Caroline County Public Schools
Greensboro, 21639 / Rural: Distant
Denton Elementary School
Caroline County Public Schools
Denton, 21629 / Town: Distant
Colonel Richardson High School
Caroline County Public Schools
Federalsburg, 21632 / Rural: Distant
Ridgely Elementary School
Caroline County Public Schools
Ridgely, 21660 / Rural: Distant
Preston Elementary School
Caroline County Public Schools
Preston, 21655 / Rural: Distant
Federalsburg Elementary School
Caroline County Public Schools
Federalsburg, 21632 / Town: Fringe
Colonel Richardson Middle School
Caroline County Public Schools
Federalsburg, 21632 / Rural: Distant
Caroline Career & Technology Center
Caroline County Public Schools
Ridgely, 21660 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,952
State avg $10,395
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Caroline County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Maryland counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Maryland?
How should I read the school score in Caroline County?
What is the graduation rate in Caroline County?
How much does Caroline County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Caroline County, Maryland — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Caroline County, Maryland?
Caroline County features a small, focused educational system of just 10 public schools. This landscape includes 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools serving a total of 5,667 students. All schools operate under a single county-wide district, providing a close-knit environment for local youth.
What are the major school districts in Caroline County, Maryland?
Caroline County Public Schools is the sole provider of public education in the area, with no charter schools in operation. North Caroline High School is the largest institution in the county, enrolling 1,226 students. Lockerman Middle School follows as the second largest, serving 866 students in the heart of the district.
What is the school experience like in Caroline County?
The county’s schools are split between 7 rural locations and 3 town settings, emphasizing the area's agricultural identity. While the total student count is low, the average school size of 630 students indicates that facilities are fairly large for the population. Attendance here feels personal yet provides the scale needed for diverse programming.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.