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Very Good

#408 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 30% in state

Deal Island School

Elementary School · Somerset County Public Schools

23275 Lola Wheatley Rd, Deal Island, MD 21821

Enrollment

118

Student-Teacher

11.8:1

Score

7.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland elementary schools

#391 of 882

In district

#3 of 7

Somerset County Public Schools

School environment

9.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Deal Island School

Deal Island School serves 118 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade in the rural community of Deal Island, Maryland. This small elementary school maintains an intimate learning environment with a student-teacher ratio of 11.8:1 and 10 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention in each classroom. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranking #106 out of 1,364 schools statewide, placing it in the 92nd percentile among Maryland elementary schools.

Students show solid achievement in English Language Arts, with 54% scoring proficient or above across grade levels, while math performance shows room for growth with 44% achieving proficiency. Deal Island School serves a close-knit rural community where the median household income is $42,250 and median home values are $176,600. The surrounding ZIP code has a population of just 765 residents, with 12% holding bachelor's degrees or higher and an 11.1% poverty rate.

This small public school provides a foundation of learning in one of Maryland's most rural settings, where students benefit from the focused attention that comes with a tight-knit educational community on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 118 students, Deal Island School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Located in a rural area, Deal Island School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.7Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+0.57 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics6.8Above Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency31.8%
Reading/ELA Proficiency47.6%
Math vs. State Avg+1.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.5 pts
Overall Proficiency40%
Expected (poverty-adj.)38%
vs. Expected+1.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile53th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.9Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$26,262

Deal Island School — Students at Deal Island School score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

55.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 33.8%
School
State
30.2%
ELA Proficiency 40.4%
School
State
51.1%

Based on 8 test records from MD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
34.5%
ELA
44.5%
2021*
Math
24.5%
ELA
15%
2022
Math
44.5%
ELA
54.5%
2025
Math
31.8%
ELA
47.6%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.7/10.

How Deal Island School Compares

See how Deal Island School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.4/10
70th percentile in MD
Academic
6.8/10
6.8/10
Growth
6.7/10
Above average
Environment
9.9/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
56%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
10 teachers

Location

23275 Lola Wheatley Rd, Deal Island, MD 21821

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Deal Island School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Vienna Elementary School (rated 9.8/10, 23.7 miles away, in nearby Vienna), which scores notably higher. Another option is Westside Intermediate (rated 9.2/10, 22.4 miles away, in nearby Hebron), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Greenwood Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 13.9 miles away, in nearby Princess Anne), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Deal Island, see our Deal Island schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 22.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Crisfield Academy and High School Crisfield 13.0 mi 4.1
Carter G Woodson Elementary Crisfield 13.7 mi 6.7
Somerset 6/7 Intermediate School Westover 12.8 mi 6.2
Greenwood Elementary School Princess Anne 13.9 mi 8.9
Princess Anne Elementary School Princess Anne 14.0 mi 8.2
Washington Academy and High School Princess Anne 14.2 mi 4.0
Westside Primary Quantico 18.1 mi 7.8
Tangier Combined Tangier 22.9 mi 8.6
South Dorchester School Church Creek 21.1 mi 6.6
Vienna Elementary School Vienna 23.7 mi 9.8
Bennett Middle Fruitland 20.4 mi 4.9
Westside Intermediate Hebron 22.4 mi 9.2
Fruitland Intermediate Fruitland 21.1 mi 7.2
STEPPING STONES LEARNING ACADEMY Fruitland 21.2 mi 6.8
Mardela Middle & High Mardela Springs 23.9 mi 5.0
Northwestern Elementary Mardela Springs 24.1 mi 6.5
Fruitland Primary Fruitland 21.4 mi 7.6
ASBURY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Salisbury 22.3 mi
Pinehurst Elementary Salisbury 22.5 mi 7.0
Pemberton Elementary Salisbury 22.8 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21821 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$51,500

Median Home Value

$151,700

Median Rent

$1,356/mo

Population

736

College Educated

8.4%

Homeownership

89.8%

Poverty Rate

15.4%

Median Age

56.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Deal Island School has a median household income of $51,500. It is a community where 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $151,700, with a median rent of $1,356/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.4%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
OLNEY ADVENTIST PREPARATORY Olney, MD 7.4
THE BANNER SCHOOL Frederick, MD 7.5
GRACE EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL Kensington, MD 7.3
ST COLUMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Oxon Hill, MD 7.3
ST JOHN'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL Olney, MD 7.3
BARNESVILLE SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES Dickerson, MD 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Deal Island School

What grades does Deal Island School serve?

Deal Island School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Deal Island School?

Deal Island School has an enrollment of approximately 118 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Deal Island School?

The student-teacher ratio at Deal Island School is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Deal Island School rank in MD?

Deal Island School is ranked #408 out of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Deal Island School's MySchoolScout rating?

Deal Island School has a composite rating of 7.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Deal Island School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Deal Island School has 33.8% math proficiency and 40.4% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Deal Island School a charter school?

No, Deal Island School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Deal Island School a Title I school?

No, Deal Island School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Deal Island School?

55.9% of students at Deal Island School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
118
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
10
Free/Reduced Lunch
55.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Somerset County
Data Year
2023–2024

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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