Three Talbot Public Schools Raise Their State Star Ratings; Chapel District Earns Five Stars

EASTON, MARYLAND — Three of Talbot County's eight public schools improved their star ratings on the 2026 Maryland School Report Card, and every county school rated three stars or higher, Talbot County Public Schools said.

The state rates each school from one to five stars based on the percentage of points it earns across several measures. This year, one Talbot school earned five stars, four earned four stars and three earned three stars, according to the district's Oct. 29 release.

Chapel District Elementary earned five stars. The district said the school showed strong improvement in points earned and in its overall percentile ranking. Easton Elementary rose to four stars from three last year. Tilghman Elementary earned a new four-star rating. White Marsh Elementary and St. Michaels Elementary kept four stars. Easton High, Easton Middle and St. Michaels Middle High kept three stars.

Statewide, nearly 89% of public schools earned one of the top three ratings, three percentage points above 2025, and half earned four or five stars, up seven points, the Maryland State Department of Education said.

For elementary and middle schools, the ratings are based on academic achievement, academic progress, progress toward English language proficiency, and school quality and student success. High schools are rated on achievement, graduation rate, English language proficiency progress, readiness for post-secondary success, and school quality and student success.

"The Maryland Report Card is one of many ways that we can measure student success," Superintendent Sharon Pepukayi said in the release. "We have more work to do, but we will continue to make progress if we invest in the priorities and high leverage strategies outlined in our Align by 2029 Strategic Plan."

Each school's full report card, with points and percentiles, is posted at reportcard.msde.maryland.gov.