Total enrollment
4,586
-181 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
Dorchester County
Maryland · Public K-12
Dorchester County, Maryland comes in at 13 public K-12 schools on the latest counts, totaling roughly 4,586 students, with a county median household income near $61,839. By level, that breaks down as 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Dorchester County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
38%
was 43%
% Hispanic
14%
was 8%
% Black
39%
was 40%
% Asian
1%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
13
1 districts
Enrollment
4,586
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,839
Below Maryland avg
Free/reduced lunch
73.4%
Above Maryland avg
Elementary
8
2,345 students
Middle
2
904 students
High
3
1,337 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Dorchester County Public Schools
4,586 students · 1 district in Dorchester County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Dorchester County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
19.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.7%
civilian labor
Median age
44
21.0% under 18
Test scores in Dorchester County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. Maryland state average: 51.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Warwick Elementary School· 75.4%
- Vienna Elementary School· 75.0%
- North Dorchester Middle School· 61.7%
- South Dorchester School· 52.8%
- Hurlock Elementary School· 50.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Mace's Lane Middle School· 23.2%
- Sandy Hill Elementary· 33.8%
- Cambridge-South Dorchester High School· 34.5%
- Choptank Elementary School· 34.8%
- North Dorchester High School· 42.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge-South Dorchester High School | Cambridge | High | 09-12 | 811 | · |
| North Dorchester High School | Hurlock | High | 09-12 | 526 | · |
| Mace's Lane Middle School | Cambridge | Middle | 06-08 | 490 | · |
| Maple Elementary School | Cambridge | Elementary | PK-05 | 483 | · |
| North Dorchester Middle School | Hurlock | Middle | 06-08 | 414 | · |
| Sandy Hill Elementary | Cambridge | Elementary | PK-05 | 393 | · |
| Hurlock Elementary School | Hurlock | Elementary | PK-05 | 391 | · |
| Warwick Elementary School | Secretary | Elementary | PK-05 | 346 | · |
| Choptank Elementary School | Cambridge | Elementary | PK-05 | 319 | · |
| South Dorchester School | Church Creek | Elementary | PK-08 | 230 | · |
| Vienna Elementary School | Vienna | Elementary | PK-05 | 183 | · |
| Dorchester County Career and Technology Center | Cambridge | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Judith P. Hoyer Early Childhood Center | Cambridge | Elementary | PK-05 | 0 | · |
Cities in Dorchester County
About Dorchester County
Across the low-population Maryland county of Dorchester County of about 32,754 residents, the public-school footprint covers 13 schools and about 4,586 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $61,839, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 10%. That income level is 36% below the Maryland median.
In terms of grade levels, Dorchester County comprises 8 elementary schools (2,345 students), 2 middle schools (904), and 3 high schools (1,337).
The largest single district in Dorchester County is Dorchester County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 4,586 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Dorchester County has decreased 4% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 4,767 students to 4,586. On the demographic side, Hispanic enrollment moved from 8% to 14% over the same window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Dorchester County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Dorchester County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data