The reported proficiency rate for Science is 31%.
Original Research by School Decision on Stephen Decatur High
Stephen Decatur High is a large regular public high school serving grades nine through twelve in Berlin, Maryland, part of Worcester County Public Schools. The school sits in a small historic town that has seen deliberate revitalization of its downtown commercial district since the late 1980s, with a walkable Main Street lined with brick Victorian-era buildings. Berlin is a short drive from Ocean City and Assateague Island, and its civic anchors include Atlantic General Hospital and the school system itself as major employers. The town has been growing modestly, with a population increase since the last census, and the surrounding area includes the waterfront community of Ocean Pines. Home values in Berlin’s ZIP code are roughly comparable to the Maryland median; the local market has seen a slight year-over-year dip, and the monthly cost of owning a home is a bit higher than renting, though both are within reach for many middle-income households. The national unemployment rate sits just above four percent, and real median household income has held steady in the low eighties nationally, giving a general sense of the economic backdrop families might consider.
Academically, the school’s performance picture is mixed. English language arts proficiency is strong, with a large majority of students meeting state standards. Math proficiency is notably lower, and science proficiency from the most recent available testing also shows a modest share of students reaching the proficient level. These scores come from a single year, so no trend is available. The school’s graduation rate was not reported in the data provided, which is a gap a parent may want to clarify directly with the school. State testing data for science reflects the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment and is several years old; more current results were not present in the data.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating some economic diversity. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, nor were data on discipline, attendance, or staffing. These omissions mean that aspects of the school environment and student support are not captured here and would require direct inquiry.
The school offers a comprehensive high school program, but specific course offerings, career and technical education pathways, and Advanced Placement or dual-enrollment options were not detailed in the available data. Because the data set does not include program listings, this narrative cannot describe the breadth of academic pathways offered. A parent interested in those details should review the school’s website or contact the counseling office.
Comparisons to other schools in Worcester County are not possible here because the county contains only one high school district, so the neighbor comparison set is too small to yield meaningful benchmarks. The school operates as a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and Title I status was not reported.
Overall, Stephen Decatur High serves a large student population in a growing coastal-area town with a historic downtown. Its academic profile shows a clear strength in English, while math and science performance are areas where the school may be working to improve. The lack of several common data points—graduation rate, discipline, special population counts—means that families will need to gather additional information to get a full picture of the school’s culture and support systems. For a family already oriented toward Berlin and the surrounding Worcester County area, this is the only public high school option, so the choice is primarily about whether the school’s known strengths and gaps align with a student’s needs.
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