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
Enrollment
118
Student-Teacher
11.8:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
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
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Deal Island School — Students at Deal Island School score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
55.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)
Based on 8 test records from MD state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 34.5% (2019) to 31.8% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 44.5% (2019) to 47.6% (2025).
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.
Neighborhood Context
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
- Phone
- (410) 784-2449
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Somerset County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 2,894
- Schools in District
- 8
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $24,750
- District Rank
- #3 of 7
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.
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