The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Charlestown Elementary
Charlestown Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the small, historic town of Charlestown, Maryland. The school sits within the town itself, integrated into the compact town center, and is part of Cecil County Public Schools. For middle and high school, students from this area attend Perryville Middle School and Perryville High School in the nearby town of Perryville.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a substantial share of students who are Black, two or more races, Hispanic, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. A significant portion of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a notable level of economic diversity. The school serves grades pre-kindergarten through five, and its enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving that grade band.
On the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, the school's proficiency rates in English language arts and math show a mixed picture. In English language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency standards was around the midpoint across the tested grades, with fourth grade showing a stronger result than third and fifth grades. In math, proficiency rates were lower across all three tested grades, with a modest share of students meeting the state's proficiency benchmark. Science results, from the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment taken in fifth grade, were lower still. These figures represent a single year of data, so no trend is available to indicate whether performance is improving or declining.
The school's student body is economically diverse, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the provided information. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not reported.
Charlestown itself is a small, quiet, water-oriented town on the Northeast River. It is the oldest town in Cecil County and the third oldest in Maryland, with a historic district of many buildings dating to the colonial and early post-Revolutionary period. The town has limited commercial activity, consisting of a few marinas, a general store, two restaurants, a post office, and the elementary school. Most residents likely commute to jobs elsewhere, given the limited local commercial base and proximity to Interstate 95. The town has experienced population growth over the past couple of decades, though its small physical footprint constrains large-scale development. Housing values have risen substantially over that period.
At the district level, Cecil County Public Schools recently completed a budget cycle that initially threatened cuts to programs and positions, including pre-kindergarten and class sizes, but ultimately received its full funding request, described as record funding. A major construction project is underway to combine Bohemia Manor High School and Middle School into one shared campus, expected to be complete by August 2026, which will reshape the secondary experience for families in that feeder area. Charlestown Elementary feeds into Perryville Middle and High Schools, not the Bohemia Manor campus, so that project does not directly affect this school's families.
For a family considering Charlestown Elementary, the school offers a neighborhood elementary experience in a small, historic town with limited commercial activity and a quiet, water-oriented character. The academic results show room for growth, particularly in math and science, where proficiency rates are lower than in English language arts. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the instructional approach and any support programs in place. The school's size is moderate for an elementary school, and the student body is economically diverse. The town itself is compact and walkable in its historic core, but most residents rely on cars for transportation, and the local commercial base is minimal, meaning most daily needs and employment are found outside town.
See more original research from School Decision →