The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in Math. The lowest is 61% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Buckingham Elementary
Buckingham Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fourth grade in Berlin, Maryland, as part of Worcester County Public Schools. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet school. With an enrollment that places it among the larger elementary schools in the region for its grade band, the school draws from a town that has seen steady population growth and ongoing downtown revitalization. Berlin itself is a historic town with a walkable Main Street corridor of shops, dining, and Victorian architecture, located a short distance from Ocean City and Assateague Island. The school’s setting is residential, and the Worcester County school district is one of the area’s top employers.
Because Buckingham Elementary serves only through fourth grade, several metrics that apply to older grade spans do not apply here. There is no graduation rate to report, no high school course access data, and no college or career readiness measures. The school’s academic profile is built entirely on state assessment results for third and fourth graders in math and English language arts. Those results come from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, and they show a measurable drop between the two tested grades. In third grade, the share of students scoring at a proficient level or above was strong in both subjects, particularly in math. By fourth grade, the proficiency rate in math declined substantially, and the English language arts rate also fell, though less steeply. A single year of data is available, so it is not possible to say whether this pattern is typical or a one-year fluctuation. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students through this transition and what steps are taken to maintain achievement as students move up.
The student body is majority white, with Black students making up about a quarter of the enrollment, followed by smaller shares of students who are Hispanic or identify with two or more races. The school did not report its share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, nor did it report counts of students with disabilities or English learners. Without those figures, it is difficult to assess the level of economic diversity or the intensity of specialized support the school provides. A parent who wants to understand the range of student needs and the supports available would need to ask the school directly.
The school sits within Worcester County Public Schools, a district that serves the entire county. Berlin’s public school students progress from Buckingham Elementary to Berlin Intermediate School, then to Stephen Decatur Middle School and Stephen Decatur High School. The district’s recent plans and capital investments were not detailed in the available material, so there is little to report on new construction or renovations affecting this school.
Housing in the area is priced at a level that aligns closely with the Maryland statewide benchmark, reflecting the desirability of this part of the Eastern Shore. Berlin’s growth has been steady, and the town continues to attract residents drawn to its historic character and proximity to the coast. For a family considering this area, the school fits as a neighborhood elementary option within a larger county system, with no surprises in its academic profile but a notable dip in fourth-grade scores that merits attention.
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