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6.3avg / 10

Best Schools in Salisbury, Maryland

23 schools · 13 Elementary · 3 Middle · 4 High · 3 Other

Public: 15
Private: 8
Districts: 1
Avg Rating: 6.3/10
Estimated Scores: 40%
Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Salisbury?

Use this page to compare every school in Salisbury by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Pemberton Elementary

7.9/10

Elementary · Wicomico County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.

Prince Street School

7.3/10

Elementary · Wicomico County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.

North Salisbury Elementary

7.0/10

Elementary · Wicomico County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Salisbury for 2026 are Pemberton Elementary (7.9/10), Prince Street School (7.3/10), and North Salisbury Elementary (7.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Schools

23

15 public · 8 private

Avg Score

6.3

out of 10

Median Home

$258,500

home value · ACS

District

1

serving the city

Best value · beats the odds
Pemberton Elementary

Rates 7.9/10 despite 66% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Salisbury schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Salisbury

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 12 rated schools; 23 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#SchoolRating
1Pemberton Elementary7.9 / 10
2Prince Street School7.3 / 10
3North Salisbury Elementary7.0 / 10
4Parkside High6.9 / 10
5Salisbury Middle6.7 / 10
6Pinehurst Elementary6.7 / 10
7Wicomico Middle6.7 / 10
8Glen Avenue School6.4 / 10
9James M. Bennett High6.4 / 10
10East Salisbury Elementary6.3 / 10

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance
Avg school rating
6.3/10

30% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$68,011

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$258,500

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
31%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
23 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
53%

Of occupied housing units

How Salisbury compares

Maryland rank

#71 of 141

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.0

below Maryland avg (6.3)

Median household income

$68k

61% of Maryland median

Schools in this city

20

Wicomico County Public Schools runs Salisbury's public schools

15 public schools. Wicomico County Public Schools is the only district on the page.

Every assigned public school in Salisbury is a Wicomico County Public Schools school (15 of 15).

Among 12 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.9 to 7.9 — the spread is inside Salisbury, not a citywide average.

About Schools in Salisbury, Maryland

Salisbury, Maryland's public school system spans 15 ranked schools with an average score of 6.2 out of 10 — a serviceable baseline that masks meaningful variation across buildings. One in three schools (5 of 15, or 33%) clears the 7-point threshold, giving parents a real group of strong options to target rather than a single outlier to chase.

The elementary tier drives Salisbury's highest scores. North Salisbury Elementary leads all 15 ranked schools with an 8.5 — 2.3 points above the city average and the city's clearest standout. Glen Avenue School (7.9) and Prince Street School (7.6) follow closely, both well above the 6.2 mean. Charles H. Chipman Elementary (7.2) and Pinehurst Elementary (7.1) round out the top five. All five above-average performers are elementary schools, concentrating the strongest options at the earliest grades.

The remaining 10 schools cluster closer to or below the 6.2 city average. That spread — from 8.5 at the top down to the mid-range — means school choice within Salisbury carries real weight. A family in the North Salisbury zone and a family assigned elsewhere are not in equivalent situations academically. The difference is worth factoring into housing decisions before signing a lease or a contract.

For parents mapping their options: elementary boundaries deserve the closest attention, since all five top-scoring schools serve elementary grades. When evaluating schools below the 7-point line, ask for student growth data — a school near average may still be improving year over year, which matters for families planning to stay long-term. With a third of the city's schools scoring 7 or higher and one reaching 8.5, Salisbury has genuine high-performers, but the broader landscape is uneven enough that address matters as much as city.

Filter by ZIP:21804(15)21801(8)

Elementary Schools

13 schools
#SchoolRating
1503 students · Pre-K–5th7.9
2878 students · Pre-K–5th7.3
3303 students · Pre-K–1st7.1
4520 students · 3rd–5th7.0
5542 students · Pre-K–5th6.7
6389 students · Pre-K–2nd6.5
7388 students · 2nd–5th6.4
8480 students · 3rd–5th6.3
9713 students · Pre-K–2nd5.9
Private Schools4 schools

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

1191 students · Pre-K–8thNot Rated
Show all 13 elementary schools in Salisbury

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Middle Schools

3 schools
#SchoolRating
1869 students · 6th–8th6.7
2796 students · 6th–8th6.7
Private Schools1 school

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.

127 students · 1st–8thNot Rated

High Schools

4 schools
#SchoolRating
11,223 students · 9th–12th6.9
21,379 students · 9th–12th6.4
31,307 students · 9th–12th4.1
436 students · 10th–12th3.9

Other Schools

3 schools
#SchoolRating
1334 students · Pre-K–12thNot Rated
2131 students · Pre-K–12thNot Rated
3551 students · Pre-K–12thNot Rated

Schools in Salisbury

Salisbury, Maryland · 23 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes

Median Income

$68,011

Median Home Value

$258,500

Median Rent

$1,201/mo

Population

69,524

College Educated

31%

Homeownership

53%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

16.1%

Community Profile

Salisbury has a median household income of $68,011. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $258,500, with a median rent of $1,201/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.1%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

Elementary
13
Middle
3
High
4
Other
3

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Salisbury, Maryland

How many schools are in Salisbury, Maryland?

Salisbury has 23 schools, including 15 public and 8 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Salisbury, Maryland?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Salisbury is 6.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Salisbury, Maryland?

The top-ranked school in Salisbury on MySchoolScout is Pemberton Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10.

What is the best elementary school in Salisbury, Maryland?

The top-ranked elementary school in Salisbury on MySchoolScout is Pemberton Elementary with a composite score of 7.9/10.

What is the best middle school in Salisbury, Maryland?

The top-ranked middle school in Salisbury on MySchoolScout is Salisbury Middle with a composite score of 6.7/10.

What is the best high school in Salisbury, Maryland?

The top-ranked high school in Salisbury on MySchoolScout is Parkside High with a composite score of 6.9/10.

How many school districts serve Salisbury, Maryland?

Salisbury is served by 1 school district: Wicomico County Public Schools.

What is the education level in Salisbury, Maryland?

According to Census data, 31% of adults in Salisbury have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Salisbury, Maryland?

The median household income in Salisbury is approximately $68,011 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Salisbury, Maryland?

Yes, Salisbury has 8 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Wicomico Day School with a score of 7.3/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Salisbury, Maryland?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Salisbury is 11.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Salisbury, Maryland?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Maryland Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.