Excellent
#45 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 3% in state
Stephen Decatur Middle
Middle School · Worcester County Public Schools · Berlin, MD
A Worcester County Public Schools middle school where students score 24 points above what's typical for similar communities.
9815 Seahawk Rd, Berlin, MD 21811
- Math 57% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 78% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Stephen Decatur Middle score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 34 points since 2020, reaching 68% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 75% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
44.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Stephen Decatur Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 17Car-Dependent
- Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated974/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Berlin), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$91,293
Median home value
$362,500
Median rent
$1,398/mo
College educated
36.1%
Homeownership
81.4%
Poverty rate
7.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21811; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester Preparatory SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | PK–12 | 2.3 mi | 463 | Compare → |
| Seaside Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.0private | PK–12 | 4.4 mi | 153 | Compare → |
| Cedar Chapel Special SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | 1–12 | Not available | 50 | Compare → |
| Pocomoke MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | 4–8 | Not available | 466 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Worcester County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 14
- Rank in district
- #2 of 13
- District spending per student
- $22,643NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Stephen Decatur Middle is listed in Worcester County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Stephen Decatur Middle
Stephen Decatur Middle is a public middle school in Berlin, MD, part of Worcester County Public Schools, serving approximately 670 students in grades 7th-8th with a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 out of 10 and ranks #45 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Stephen Decatur Middle
What grades does Stephen Decatur Middle serve?
Stephen Decatur Middle serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Stephen Decatur Middle?
Stephen Decatur Middle has an enrollment of approximately 670 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Stephen Decatur Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Stephen Decatur Middle is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Stephen Decatur Middle rank in MD?
Stephen Decatur Middle ranks #45 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Stephen Decatur Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Stephen Decatur Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 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 Stephen Decatur Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Stephen Decatur Middle has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Stephen Decatur Middle a charter school?
No, Stephen Decatur Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Stephen Decatur Middle a Title I school?
No, Stephen Decatur Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Stephen Decatur Middle?
44.3% of students at Stephen Decatur Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 7th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 670
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 55
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Worcester County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.8%
- Phone
- (410) 641-2846
- Area population (ZIP 21811)
- 24,263
- Area average commute
- 22.5 min
- Area median age
- 55.2
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 21811; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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