Worcester County Public Schools is making a positive difference for the children of Worcester County. The goal of the school system is to ensure that each child achieves, progresses, and succeeds so that they graduate "college and career ready."
Below are a few basic facts which describe Worcester County Public Schools:
The school system has some of the lowest class sizes in Maryland, with middle and high schools averaging a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:22 and elementary schools averaging 1:18.
With 94 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced on the 2011 Maryland School Assessments (MSA), Worcester County Public Schools ranks first in the state overall, out of 24 school systems.
2011 MSA scores rank first in the state in Reading (at 94.42 percent) and first in the state in Mathematics (at 93.57 percent).
In Grades 3 through 8 in both Reading and Mathematics, our 2011 MSA scores by grade level rank first in the state in 7 of the 12 indicators.
Maryland is ranked #1 in the nation for providing the best public education system for the third consecutive year. Over half of the Advanced Placement tests (51 percent) administered in 2010-2011 demonstrated student mastery with a score of 3 or above. This is nearly twice the success rate of the state average.
In the class of 2011, an impressive 84 percent of the graduates are attending college or a specialized training school this fall. In addition, these graduates were offered $13.6 million in merit-based scholarships.
All 14 schools are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, one of only two Maryland school systems to earn this accomplishment.
Eight (8) of our 12 eligible schools are Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, the highest concentration of Blue Ribbon Schools in the state (Ocean City, Showell, and Snow Hill Elementary Schools; Snow Hill and Stephen Decatur Middle Schools; and Pocomoke, Snow Hill, and Stephen Decatur High Schools).
Four (4) of our schools are National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (Ocean City, Showell, and Snow Hill Elementary Schools and Stephen Decatur Middle School).
A record nine (9) schools received the highest Gold designation as Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS) schools (Buckingham, Pocomoke, and Snow Hill Elementary Schools; Cedar Chapel Special School; Berlin Intermediate School; Pocomoke and Snow Hill Middle Schools; and Snow Hill and Stephen Decatur High Schools.)
Three (3) WCPS teachers (one from Ocean City Elementary, Berlin Intermediate, and Stephen Decatur Middle Schools) have been selected as Race to the Top (RTTT) "Master Teachers," and one instructional coordinator is serving as one of the eight state representatives on a RTTT transition and implementation team.
Our school system consistently ranks in the top-five for dollars spent in the classroom, when compared with all 24 schools systems.
WCPS had 1,325 volunteers serving in our schools in 2010-2011, representing an increase of 4.7 percent from the previous year.
Parents gave our volunteer program a favorability rating of 96 percent on the 2011 Communications Survey. (The favorability rating represents the percent of parents who selected excellent, good, or satisfactory when rating this survey item.)
Business partnerships increased in 2010-2011, from 932 in 2009-2010 to 1,014, representing an 8.8 percent increase.
Community members involved in the Accreditation for Growth (AFG) process for school improvement increased by 14 percent in 2010-2011, from 113 volunteers in 2009-2010 to 129.
When rating our efforts to involve parents in the education of their child, parents gave a favorability rating of 96 percent on the 2011 Communications Survey, with 46 percent of respondents rating our efforts as "excellent.'
Ninety-eight (98) percent of our parents believe that we provide our students with an educational program that has high academic standards, rigorous programs, and quality instruction, as indicated on the 2010 Parent Survey.
In 2010-2011, 47.7 percent of our high-school students earned WeXL Scholastic Achievement Recognition for high academic achievement, up 3.9 percentage points from the previous school year.
An impressive 66 percent of our students had their parents complete and submit the 2010 Parent Survey, while the 2011 Communications Survey realized a 53 percent return rate. Both return rates indicate strong parental involvement.
"Overall Rating of School Communications" earned a favorability rating of 97 percent on the 2011 Communications Survey, while "Overall Rating of School System Communications" earned 98 percent.
The student-to-computer ratio is 2.8:1.
Superintendent Dr. Jon Andes was the Maryland Superintendent of the Year (2001), a National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award recipient (2001), a Maryland Minority Achievement Award recipient (2004), and a Maryland University Leadership Award recipient (2007).
