The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 14% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Tilghman Elementary
Tilghman Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade, located in the small, historic Chesapeake Bay village of Tilghman Island. The school is part of Talbot County Public Schools. For a parent or resident evaluating this school, the first thing to know is that the student body is small and the community it draws from is tightly connected to the working waterfront and heritage tourism economy of the island.
The school's enrollment is small, which is typical for an island village school. The student population is overwhelmingly white, with very small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, an indicator that a significant portion of families in the area work in lower-wage maritime and service jobs. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so it is not possible to describe those populations from the record.
State assessment results are single-year, single-grade snapshot data, and there was no prior-year comparison available, meaning the school's performance trajectory cannot be assessed from the data provided. In math, third-grade results show a share of students scoring at the proficient level or above, while fifth-grade math proficiency was very low. Reading proficiency in third and fifth grades was somewhat higher than math but still below a majority of students. Fifth-grade science proficiency was also low across the tested group. Fourth-grade results for both math and reading were suppressed, likely due to a very small number of test-takers, which is common in a school of this size. A parent may want to ask the school directly about instructional supports in math and reading, particularly in the upper elementary grades.
There is no graduation rate to report because the school does not serve high school. No information on Advanced Placement, career and technical education, or dual-credit pathways is available, as those programs are not part of an elementary school's offerings. There was also no data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing ratios, so a parent interested in those areas would need to pursue them with the school or district.
The village of Tilghman Island is a working watermen's community with a slow-growing population. The housing market in the area carries a value that is a significant stretch relative to national household income, and the estimated monthly mortgage cost is high compared to what renting would cost, suggesting that buying a home here is a considerable financial commitment. The island is connected to the mainland by a drawbridge, and daily life is oriented around the waterfront, seafood operations, and tourism. There are no large employers; the economy is a mix of small maritime businesses, charter fishing, and hospitality. The school itself is a community anchor in a place where the nearest larger town is a drive away.
This school fits a family seeking a very small, community-based elementary experience in an authentic Eastern Shore island setting. The test results suggest that academic achievement, particularly in math and science, is an area where the school is not seeing strong outcomes at this point, and a parent may want to understand what interventions or curriculum changes are in place. The small size means students get a lot of individual attention, but it also means limited program variety and a peer group that is not economically diverse. For a family already living on the island or drawn to that lifestyle, Tilghman Elementary is the local school. For someone outside the area, the commute and housing costs would be central considerations.
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