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2008 - 2009 Highlights

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.  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 1:20 and elementary schools averaging 1:19.
 
• All of our schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, based on 2008 Maryland School Assessment (MSA) results.
 
• All of our schools are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, an accomplishment achieved by few school systems.
 
• Half of our eligible schools are Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (Ocean City, Showell, and Snow Hill Elementary Schools and Pocomoke, Snow Hill, and Stephen Decatur High Schools).  Our school system has the highest percentage of blue ribbon schools compared to any other school system in Maryland.
 
• Three (3) of our schools are National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (Ocean City, Showell, and Snow Hill Elementary Schools).
 
• The 2007 Maryland Teacher of the Year teaches for Worcester County Public Schools (Michelle Hammond, Stephen Decatur Middle School).

• Out of 24 school systems, our 2008 MSA scores rank in the top 5 in four of the six grade levels tested, in both reading and math!
 
• Our school system ranks first in the state (out of 24 school systems) in Grades 3 and 8 for both reading and math, as measured by the 2008 MSA.  (Scores also rank first in Grade 7 math.)

• Six (6) schools were named Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS) Exemplar Schools, the highest honor for schools participating in this nationwide character education program.

• 81% of the school system's Operating Budget is spent on instruction and instructional programs.

• Worcester County Public Schools consistently ranks in the top 5 for dollars spent in the classroom, when compared with all 24 Maryland school systems.
 
• 79% of the 2008 graduating seniors plan to attend college or special training schools.
 
• The school system has one of the lowest dropout rates in the state and one of the highest on-time graduation rates in the state!

• The 2008 graduating class was offered over $11.5 million in merit-based scholarships.
 
• In our annual Parent Survey, 98% of our parents indicate that the school system provides a quality education.
 
• 98% of parents surveyed in 2007 indicated that our schools are safe and orderly, up one percentage point from 2006. 
 
• Pocomoke and Snow Hill High Schools were named 2007 MCROTC Naval Honor Schools. (This is the fourth year for Pocomoke High School and the eighth year for Snow Hill High School.)
 
• Five (5) athletic teams were state champions and two students also earned individual state titles, a record number of state champions in any given year.  State championship teams were Pocomoke High School's Field Hockey (1A); Pocomoke High School's Boys Soccer Team (1A); Pocomoke High School's Girls Basketball Team (1A); Snow Hill High School's Boys Basketball Team (1A); and Stephen Decatur High School's Wrestling Team (3A-4A).  Stephen Decatur High School's Danny Miller and Skylar Snead also won individual state champion wrestling titles. 
 
• Nine (9) teachers became Nationally Board Certified (NBC), a record number in any given year.  Our school system now has 19 NBC teachers!
 
• The school system employs a staff of 1,192 competent and motivated individuals who have high expectations for themselves and others.

• Worcester County Public Schools is one of only four Maryland school systems to have at least 95 percent of classes taught by highly qualified teachers.  (Source:  2006 Master Plan Annual Update)
 
• The student-to-computer ratio is 2.8:1, and the ratio continues to improve.
 
• 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).

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