The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Rising Sun Elementary
Rising Sun Elementary is a regular public school in Cecil County, Maryland, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of the elementary schools within the Cecil County Public Schools system and is located in the town of Rising Sun. The school was not identified as a charter or magnet school, and Title I status was not reported in the available data.
The student body is predominantly white, reflecting the demographics of the surrounding community. The school enrolls a substantial share of students from lower-income households, as indicated by the free and reduced-price lunch count. The locale brief describes Rising Sun as a small incorporated town with a historic downtown and a conservative political character. It originated as a stagecoach stop in the early 1700s and functions as a mix of small-town commercial and residential neighborhoods. The town experienced population growth in the 2000s before leveling off, and housing values and incomes have roughly doubled over the past two decades. Roads are the primary method of travel, with US Route 1 skimming the northwest edge of town.
State testing data from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program for the 2024-25 school year shows performance that varies by grade and subject. In English language arts, the proficiency rate at third grade was solid, with a noticeable drop in fourth grade and a steeper decline in fifth grade. Math performance showed a similar pattern of decline, with third grade the strongest and fifth grade falling to a low level. Science, which is tested in fifth grade, also produced a low proficiency rate. A multi-year trend for the school was not available, as only the single year of data was reported. Across all tested grades and subjects, the combined proficiency rate for English language arts was below a majority, and for math it was well below a majority. A parent may want to look into these performance patterns more closely with the school to understand the instructional supports available, particularly for older elementary students.
The school environment and access data, including discipline, course access, staffing, and attendance metrics, were not reported. Civil rights data and student support indicators were also absent. The school serves grades PK through 5, so there is no graduation rate to report. The district brief notes two parent-relevant changes in Cecil County Public Schools. A major construction project is underway to combine Bohemia Manor High School and Bohemia Manor Middle School into one shared campus, expected to be completed by August 2026. That project reshapes the secondary school experience for families in the Chesapeake City region feeder area. Additionally, in the prior budget cycle, the district warned of potential cuts to positions and programs if its budget request was not fully funded. The crisis was averted, and the district received its full request in the county’s record funding for the subsequent fiscal year.
For a family considering Rising Sun Elementary, the picture centers on an elementary school in a slow-growing small town that shows uneven academic results across grades. The strongest performance appears in early literacy at third grade, while math and reading proficiency decline through fifth grade, and science results are low. The student population is economically diverse by the meal program measure. The district context is one of recent budget stability after a funding scare, and a major facilities project is reshaping secondary options in one part of the county. Without more data on staffing, class size, or school climate, the most concrete questions a family would bring to the school involve how the school addresses the academic drop-off in upper elementary grades and what supports are in place for students who are not meeting proficiency benchmarks.
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