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Average

#560 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 41% in state

South Carroll High

High School · Carroll County Public Schools

1300 West Old Liberty Road, Sykesville, MD 21784

Enrollment

935

Student-Teacher

17.3:1

Score

6.8

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#560 of 1,363

In Sykesville

#11 of 11

public schools

In district

#32 of 40

Carroll County Public Schools

Academic growth

8.5 / 10

Excellent

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South Carroll High

6.8/10

High School in Sykesville · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Winfield Elementary

8.8/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Legacy School

6.7/10

2.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About South Carroll High

South Carroll High is a public high school in Sykesville, MD, part of Carroll County Public Schools. South Carroll High serves approximately 935 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio. South Carroll High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #560 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for South Carroll High show 80% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.8 · Average
  • District avg 6.7
  • MD avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

South Carroll High sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.5Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.18 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.5Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency9% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency75.3% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg-21.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+24.2 pts
Overall Proficiency42% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)60% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-17.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile38th
College Readiness8.9Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate97%
AP Participation39.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.3Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,548
Chronic Absenteeism27.6%

South Carroll High — Students at South Carroll High score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

19.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 79.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 81.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
51.1% (2025 MCAP)

Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
96%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
95%
ELA
93%
2011
Math
96%
ELA
91%
2012
Math
96%
ELA
89%
2013
Math
96%
ELA
97%
2014
Math
95%
ELA
93%
2015
Math
99.5%
ELA
95%
2016
Math
96%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
73%
ELA
84%
2019
Math
73%
ELA
84%
2020*
Math
64%
ELA
78%
2021*
Math
64%
ELA
78%
2022
Math
62%
ELA
47%
2025
Math
9%
ELA
75.3%

* 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: 8.5/10.

How South Carroll High Compares

See how South Carroll High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.8/10
59th percentile in MD
Academic
5.5/10
Average
Growth
8.5/10
Excellent
Environment
3.3/10
Needs Improvement
AP Courses
3
State avg: 3.1
Sports
21
10 boys' · 11 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
20%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
54 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
27.6%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
39.5% participation·State avg: 3.1 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics21sports offered
10 boys'·11 girls'·32 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1300 West Old Liberty Road, Sykesville, MD 21784

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering South Carroll High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Gateway School (rated 8.1/10, 6.9 miles away, in nearby Westminster), which scores notably higher. Another option is Liberty High (rated 8.0/10, 5.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Century High (rated 7.6/10, 2.9 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Sykesville, see our Sykesville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Winfield Elementary Westminster 1.0 mi 8.8
LEGACY SCHOOL Eldersburg 2.9 mi 6.7
Century High Sykesville 2.9 mi 7.6
Linton Springs Elementary Sykesville 3.2 mi 8.7
Eldersburg Elementary Sykesville 5.0 mi 8.8
Piney Ridge Elementary Sykesville 5.2 mi 8.8
Liberty High Sykesville 5.2 mi 8.0
Freedom District Elementary Sykesville 5.5 mi 8.9
Mechanicsville Elementary Sykesville 5.6 mi 8.2
Sykesville Middle Sykesville 6.3 mi 7.8
Robert Moton Elementary Westminster 6.9 mi 7.5
Flexible Student Support Westminster 6.9 mi 4.8
Gateway School Westminster 6.9 mi 8.1
Crossroads Middle School Westminster 6.9 mi
MOUNT AIRY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Mount Airy 7.1 mi 4.5
Friendship Valley Elementary Westminster 7.3 mi 8.3
PRIDE School Westminster 7.3 mi
FRIENDS MEETING SCHOOL Mount Airy 6.6 mi 8.1
IMMANUEL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Sykesville 6.8 mi
IMMANUEL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Sykesville 6.8 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21784 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$141,228

Median Home Value

$478,200

Median Rent

$1,673/mo

Population

37,813

College Educated

53.2%

Homeownership

87%

Avg Commute

35.1 min

Poverty Rate

4.1%

Median Age

39.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Middletown High Middletown, MD 6.8
Queen Anne's County High School Centreville, MD 6.7
DEMATHA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Hyattsville, MD 7.0
ELIZABETH SETON HIGH SCHOOL Bladensburg, MD 6.6
Havre de Grace High Havre De Grace, MD 6.6
Kent Island High School Stevensville, MD 6.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about South Carroll High

What grades does South Carroll High serve?

South Carroll High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend South Carroll High?

South Carroll High has an enrollment of approximately 935 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South Carroll High?

The student-teacher ratio at South Carroll High is 17.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does South Carroll High rank in MD?

South Carroll High ranks #560 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is South Carroll High's MySchoolScout rating?

South Carroll High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at South Carroll High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South Carroll High has 80% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is South Carroll High a charter school?

No, South Carroll High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is South Carroll High a Title I school?

No, South Carroll High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South Carroll High?

19.8% of students at South Carroll High 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
21 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
24 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
935
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
54
Free/Reduced Lunch
19.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Carroll County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.6%
4-Year Graduation
97.0%

District

Carroll County Public Schools
District Enrollment
26,123
Schools in District
44
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,548
District Rank
#32 of 40

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