Wicomico County Public Schools

Salisbury, Maryland — 25 schools

14,900
Total Enrollment
25
Schools
$20,295
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wicomico County Public Schools operates 25 public schools serving 14,900 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Maryland. The school portfolio breaks down into 13 other, 6 elementary, 4 high, 2 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 15,582 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Wicomico County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $20,295 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 19.7% local, 66.2% state, and 14.1% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $97,361 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 73/100, ranked #6 of 24 in Maryland against a state average of 52 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 25 schools offering Advanced Placement (26 AP courses district-wide), a 398.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 36.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 38.0% White, 36.7% African American, 14.1% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Wicomico County Public Schools school enrollment varies 42× across entities

Wicomico County Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 35 students (lowest) to 1,474 students (highest), a spread of 1,439 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Wicomico County Public Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 53.8% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Wicomico County Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 398:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Wicomico County Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 36.6% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

14.1%
Federal
66.2%
State
19.7%
Local

Funding Equity

73
Equity Score
6 / 24
State Rank
52
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Wicomico County county, where this district is located.

$1,054
Studio/mo
$1,061
1 BR/mo
$1,378
2 BR/mo
$1,818
3 BR/mo
$1,825
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$97,361
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 25 schools in Wicomico County Public Schools.

White 38.0%
Hispanic or Latino 14.1%
African American 36.7%
Asian 2.4%
Multiracial 8.1%
Other 0.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

4 / 25
Schools with AP
26 AP courses total
398.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
36.6%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Wicomico County Public Schools

School Enrollment
James M. Bennett High
1,474
Wicomico High
1,304
Parkside High
1,272
Prince Street School
976
Bennett Middle
963
Delmar Elementary
914
Salisbury Middle
847
Wicomico Middle
827
Mardela Middle & High
742
Beaver Run School
741
Pinehurst Elementary
564
North Salisbury Elementary
526
Pemberton Elementary
506
East Salisbury Elementary
486
Fruitland Primary
445
West Salisbury
409
Glen Avenue School
386
Fruitland Intermediate
343
Westside Intermediate
342
Northwestern Elementary
340
Pittsville Elementary & Middle
325
Willards Elementary
311
Charles H. Chipman Elementary
303
Westside Primary
201
Wicomico County Evening High
35

Nearby Districts in Maryland

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Compare Wicomico County Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Montgomery County Public Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Wicomico County Public Schools?

Wicomico County Public Schools has 25 schools, including 4 high, 13 other, 2 middle, 6 elementary. Total enrollment is 14,900 students.

How much does Wicomico County Public Schools spend per student?

Wicomico County Public Schools spends $20,295 per student. The district has an equity score of 73/100, ranking #6 in Maryland.

What is the average teacher salary in Wicomico County Public Schools?

The average teacher salary in Wicomico County Public Schools is $97,361 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Wicomico County Public Schools?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Wicomico County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Wicomico County Public Schools?

Wicomico County Public Schools students are 38.0% White, 36.7% African American, 14.1% Hispanic or Latino, 2.4% Asian, averaged across 25 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wicomico County Public Schools?

Wicomico County Public Schools has an equity score of 73/100, ranking #6 out of 24 districts in Maryland. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

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