Dorchester County Schools & Education
Dorchester County, Maryland
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
51/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
79.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
79.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 89.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,998
National avg $13,239
State avg $10,395
School Score
51/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 72/100
State Score Position
#22
of 24 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Dorchester County
Measured School Summary
Dorchester County has midrange measured school signals (score: 51/100) with a graduation rate of 79.0%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
Dorchester County spends $10,998 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 30% below the Maryland average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 10.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Dorchester 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
13 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
51/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #22 of 24 Maryland counties with school score data.
Completion
79.0%
10.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$10,998
$603 above the state average
School coverage
13
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
Dorchester County has 13 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 Dorchester 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
Dorchester County Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 13 of 13 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#22
of 24 Maryland counties with school score data. The county score is 21 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.
Dorchester County Public Schools
Elementary to high school visible
4,523 students
13 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Dorchester County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 13 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 Dorchester 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 Dorchester 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-Scale Learning in Dorchester County
Dorchester County manages 13 public schools, including 7 elementary and 4 secondary campuses. The district supports a total enrollment of 4,523 students, making it one of the smaller educational footprints in the state. One alternative school is available to provide specialized support within this compact system.
Centralized Governance for Local Schools
Dorchester County Public Schools is the only district in the county, overseeing all 13 local campuses. There are currently no charter schools in operation, with 100% of students attending traditional public facilities. This provides a straightforward educational path for families moving into the region.
A Predominantly Rural Learning Environment
Nine of the county's schools sit in rural locales, while four serve town centers. Small school sizes are the norm here, with an average enrollment of just 411 students. Cambridge-South Dorchester High is the largest school in the county, housing 784 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
13
in Dorchester County
Reported Enrollment
4,523
13 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Dorchester County
13 Public Schools in Dorchester County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 13 of 13 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge-South Dorchester High School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Cambridge, 21613Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 784 |
| North Dorchester High School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Hurlock, 21643Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 572 |
| Mace's Lane Middle School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Cambridge, 21613Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 481 |
| North Dorchester Middle School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Hurlock, 21643Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 415 |
| Maple Elementary School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Cambridge, 21613Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 392 |
| Hurlock Elementary School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Hurlock, 21643Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 384 |
| Choptank Elementary School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Cambridge, 21613Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 375 |
| Sandy Hill Elementary | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Cambridge, 21613Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 374 |
| Warwick Elementary School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Secretary, 21664Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 347 |
| South Dorchester School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Church Creek, 21622Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 225 |
| Vienna Elementary School | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Vienna, 21869Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 174 |
| Dorchester County Career and Technology Center | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Cambridge, 21613Rural: Fringe | UG | Vocational | 0 |
| Judith P. Hoyer Early Childhood Center | Record | Dorchester County Public Schools | Cambridge, 21613Town: Distant | UG | Alternative | 0 |
Cambridge-South Dorchester High School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Cambridge, 21613 / Rural: Fringe
North Dorchester High School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Hurlock, 21643 / Rural: Distant
Mace's Lane Middle School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Cambridge, 21613 / Town: Distant
North Dorchester Middle School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Hurlock, 21643 / Rural: Distant
Maple Elementary School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Cambridge, 21613 / Rural: Fringe
Hurlock Elementary School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Hurlock, 21643 / Rural: Distant
Choptank Elementary School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Cambridge, 21613 / Town: Distant
Sandy Hill Elementary
Dorchester County Public Schools
Cambridge, 21613 / Town: Distant
Warwick Elementary School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Secretary, 21664 / Rural: Distant
South Dorchester School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Church Creek, 21622 / Rural: Distant
Vienna Elementary School
Dorchester County Public Schools
Vienna, 21869 / Rural: Distant
Dorchester County Career and Technology Center
Dorchester County Public Schools
Cambridge, 21613 / Rural: Fringe
Judith P. Hoyer Early Childhood Center
Dorchester County Public Schools
Cambridge, 21613 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,998
State avg $10,395
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Dorchester 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 Dorchester County?
What is the graduation rate in Dorchester County?
How much does Dorchester County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Dorchester County, Maryland — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Dorchester County, Maryland?
Dorchester County manages 13 public schools, including 7 elementary and 4 secondary campuses. The district supports a total enrollment of 4,523 students, making it one of the smaller educational footprints in the state. One alternative school is available to provide specialized support within this compact system.
What are the major school districts in Dorchester County, Maryland?
Dorchester County Public Schools is the only district in the county, overseeing all 13 local campuses. There are currently no charter schools in operation, with 100% of students attending traditional public facilities. This provides a straightforward educational path for families moving into the region.
What is the school experience like in Dorchester County?
Nine of the county's schools sit in rural locales, while four serve town centers. Small school sizes are the norm here, with an average enrollment of just 411 students. Cambridge-South Dorchester High is the largest school in the county, housing 784 students.
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.