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Cumberland Aerial 2022Photo: Matthew Binebrink · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Cumberland · Allegany County Public Schools

Cumberland’s public schools score below 56% of Maryland districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Cumberland, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Maryland, not nationally.

#140of 261 Maryland townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Maryland state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
44%
▼ 1 pts vs MD 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
25%
▲ 0 pts vs MD 25%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▲ 1 pts vs MD 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.3K
▼ 5% vs MD $20.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.1
MD 14.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
10
3,541 students on the public path
In brief

Cumberland’s schools, in brief

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 44% and math 25% in spring 2022, against 45% and 25% statewide; 87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $19,329 per student, against $20,258 across Maryland (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Lighthouse Christian Academy (private), Bishop Walsh School, K-12/Diocese (private) and Beginnings Montessori School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Cumberland’s grade

B− Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 44% of Maryland school districts, #140 of 261 Maryland towns. Graduation is above the Maryland average; test scores are below it.

Maryland school districts we grade (25)Better than 44%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maryland towns with similar household incomes (49)Better than 43%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,002 test results and a graduating class of 548 could put Cumberland anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Cumberland’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,917 in math, 4,088 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cumberland, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to B−
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressA

Cumberland’s public schools are run by Allegany County Public Schools, which also serves Barton, Frostburg, Lonaconing and Luke and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Allegany County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 22 schools · 8,113 students · 13.1 per teacher (MD 14.5)
$19,329MD $20,258 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading44%
State average 45.1% · 4088 students tested
Math25%
State average 24.6% · 3917 students tested

Cumberland vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Maryland towns that share Cumberland’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CumberlandC+Allegany County

Every school in Cumberland

10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Maryland’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Cumberlandby address
South Penn Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
491 students10:1Rate it →
West Side Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
321 students12:1Rate it →
John Humbird Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
242 students12:1Rate it →
Washington Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
577 students14:1Rate it →
Braddock Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
536 students13:1Rate it →
Allegany High
High · Grades 9–12
A
719 students16:1Rate it →
Fort Hill High
High · Grades 9–12
A
655 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Lighthouse Christian Academy
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
285 students24:1Rate it →
Bishop Walsh School, K-12/Diocese
Grades PK–12
Private · Catholic
273 students9:1Rate it →
Beginnings Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Nonsectarian
73 students24:1Rate it →

Questions about Cumberland’s schools

Are Cumberland’s schools good?

On Maryland’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Cumberland children attend score below 56% of Maryland’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #140 of 261 Maryland towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 43%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cumberland in?

Allegany County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,113 students in 22 schools (2024–25).

Where do Cumberland kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Allegany High and Fort Hill High.

What is Cumberland’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Allegany County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across Maryland.

How much does Cumberland spend per student?

$19,329 in Allegany County Public Schools (FY2024), against $20,258 across Maryland. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Cumberland?

Yes: Lighthouse Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 285 students), Bishop Walsh School, K-12/Diocese (Catholic, grades PK–12, 273 students) and Beginnings Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 73 students).

Parents talk

What Cumberland families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cumberland → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Maryland. Stars are from neighbors.