Dorchester County Public Schools

Dear Dorchester County Public Schools Community,

Our mission at Dorchester County Public Schools is clear: to provide a safe, accessible, and academically challenging environment where every child can thrive—not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. Guided by our vision that every child is engaged, empowered, and equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in a rapidly changing world, we are dedicated to fostering both excellence and joy in learning and teaching.

Over the past several years, we have made meaningful progress on our journey to improve our standing among Maryland’s 24 school systems. While we began at 23rd, I am proud to share that we have moved up to 19th in English Language Arts and 20th in Math across all student groups. This progress is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, educators, and community partners.

Last year, 82% of our rated schools earned 3-star or higher ratings, highlighting our ongoing commitment to academic excellence, student success, and joyful learning experiences. As we look ahead, we remain focused on four strategic priorities—Advancing Academics, Optimizing Operations, Pursuing Partnerships, and Cultivating Communication—to continue this positive momentum through 2028 and beyond.

At Dorchester County Public Schools, every step forward brings us closer to a brighter future where every child is prepared and empowered to succeed.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jymil S. Thompson

Superintendent

Dorchester County Public Schools

Celebrating the milestones and accomplishments that bring DCPS closer to our goal of becoming one of Maryland’s top 15 school districts!

Over the first few weeks of this school year, we have begun to implement THRIVE 21613 - a new initiative with integrated shoulder-to-shoulder support and enrichment from all across our community. To learn more about THRIVE 21613, click the button below. 👇

As we reflect on our recent Community Launch, we want to give a special shout-out to our first Visionary Sponsor, Moving Dorchester Forward (MDF)!

🔗Learn more about MDF here.

MDF will play a vital role in the success of THRIVE 21613, serving as the district’s quarterback for the ENOUGH Initiative and helping to connect the work of our schools with the broader resources, partnerships, and opportunities available throughout our community.

This partnership is a powerful example of what is possible when schools and community organizations come together around a shared vision for our students. THRIVE 21613 is about creating meaningful pathways for students to discover their strengths, build connections, and see a future full of possibilities—and MDF’s leadership and community connections will help us turn that vision into action.

We are incredibly grateful for MDF’s investment in our students and their commitment to helping move Dorchester forward. When we align our resources, relationships, and purpose, we create greater opportunities for every student to thrive.

Thank you, MDF, for believing in the vision and for being one of the partners helping us build what’s next for DCPS!

The vision for THRIVE 21613 is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: when we invest in children and families from the very beginning, we create stronger pathways for success throughout their educational journey and beyond.

That vision is already taking shape at Choptank Elementary. During Choptank’s Open House Night, families had the opportunity to meet members of the future Choptank Judy Center Early Learning Hub, including Shayma Johnson Stover, Family Services Coordinator, and Sasha Cousins-McCalla, Program Site Manager.

The Judy Center, which will officially come to Choptank next year, represents the “cradle” in THRIVE 21613’s cradle-to-career continuum. As a key component of the place-based strategies at the heart of the THRIVE 21613 initiative, the Judy Center will help connect young children and their families with early learning opportunities, resources, and supports—laying the groundwork for success well before a child enters kindergarten.

From early childhood through elementary school and beyond, THRIVE 21613 is working to build a connected continuum of support that meets children and families where they are. With the future Judy Center at Choptank, that continuum is becoming more visible, and more importantly, more accessible to the community we serve.

Leadership doesn’t just happen—it’s cultivated.

Last month, our district leadership team engaged in an energizing professional learning experience with Ann McCarty Perez of Creative Leadership Solutions, taking a deep dive into Fearless Leadership.

The experience was about more than leadership theory. Through meaningful conversations and reflection, leaders were challenged to think differently, lead boldly, and create solutions that drive collective impact for our students and schools.

We were also excited to welcome members of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)—including Dr. Elise Brown, Dr. Tennette Smith, Ms. Jennifer Wojcik, and Ms. Donna Smith—who joined us on campus for this important opportunity to learn and grow together.

When leaders come together, ideas grow, possibilities expand, and impact reaches further. We’re proud to invest in the leadership capacity that will help move us forward.

Our THRIVE 21613 tutors have officially completed onboarding and are beginning their important work with students across the district! While Choptank Elementary serves as our THRIVE elementary school, our tutors expand their support to students at all Title I elementary schools throughout the district to include Hurlock, Maple, and Sandy Hill.

As part of their preparation, tutors participated in professional development sessions with Human Resources and Student Services, building a strong foundation for their roles. Most recently, they completed specialized training with Reading Partners on the tutoring platform they will use to provide services to students.

We are excited to see our tutors put their training into action and make a meaningful impact on student learning and success across our district this year!

Register HERE for Ask a Therapist Live.

Click HERE for more information about parent coaching.

High school athletics are in full swing, and you can find the links to schedules below for the CSD Vikings and NDHS Eagles. Check back often for updates, game times, and schedule changes!

Our cafeteria teams recently helped make grandparents’ breakfasts at two of our schools extra special! With delicious pastries and fresh fruit, students and their grandparents enjoyed a welcoming breakfast and time together at school.

The events were a hit with both grandparents and students, bringing smiles and creating special memories around the breakfast table.

A big thank-you to our cafeteria staff for the preparation, care, and hard work that went into these mornings. Your efforts helped make these events a wonderful experience for our students and their families!

As we begin the 2026-2027 school year, we are continuing to use the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to help keep our students, staff, and schools safe.

The SRP, developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation and recommended by the Maryland Center for School Safety, provides a consistent, easy-to-understand framework for responding to a variety of emergency situations. By using the same language and procedures across our schools, we help ensure that students and staff know what to expect and how to respond when it matters most.

We are committed to creating safe, supportive learning environments where every student can thrive. Thank you to our families for partnering with us in this important work!

🔗 Learn more about the Standard Response Protocol at iloveuguys.org

The Central Office has recently relocated several departments to:

Central Office - Support Campus

2455 Cambridge Beltway

Cambridge, Maryland

Those departments are Transportation, Maintenance, Food Service, Special Education, and Student Services. The building has previously served as the New Directions Learning Academy and the Vo-Tech Center and is located next to the football field at the Cambridge-South Dorchester High School campus.

The departments that remain at 700 Glasgow Street are Human Resources, Finance, Instruction, Administrative Services, and the Office of the Superintendent, all of which will be moving to a new location at a later date.

A big thank-you to Educational Systems Federal Credit Union for their generous donation of backpacks to support our students! The backpacks were delivered to our Student Services team, who will distribute them to students throughout the school community.

We are grateful for partners like Educational Systems Federal Credit Union who help ensure our students have the resources they need to feel prepared, supported, and ready to learn. Thank you for investing in our students!

Mace’s Lane Middle School is proud to be recognized by Habitat for Humanity as its Community Partner of the Year! This recognition celebrates the growing partnership between Habitat for Humanity and Mace’s Lane Middle School, which includes a pilot program that introduces middle school students to carpentry and the skilled trades.

Through hands-on experiences, Habitat is helping students discover new interests, develop practical skills, and build an early connection to career opportunities in the trades. The partnership also serves as a bridge to future opportunities through DCTC, helping prepare students for success in high school career and technical education programs.

We are grateful to Habitat for Humanity for investing in our students and helping foster a deeper connection between Mace’s Lane, DCTC, and the trades community. Together, we are creating pathways that inspire students to explore their talents, discover a love for the trades, and envision exciting possibilities for their futures.

We’re excited to share that Girls on the Run has expanded to all elementary schools throughout Dorchester County Public Schools! This incredible program empowers girls to build confidence, develop healthy habits, and strengthen connections with their teammates and community.

With this exciting expansion comes a greater need for community support. We are currently seeking team sponsors to help cover the costs associated with these programs and ensure that our students have access to this valuable experience.

Thank you to our current sponsors:

Amick Farms

Cambridge Multi-Sport

Koski Enterprises, Inc.

WIN Transport, Inc.

Interested in sponsoring a team? Please contact Casey O’Bier at obierc@dcpsmd.org to learn more about how you can support our students and make a difference in the lives of young runners across Dorchester County!

Local businesses and community organizations are invited to participate in our Middle School Career Networking Events throughout the 2026-27 school year.

These events give students the opportunity to explore career pathways, connect with professionals, ask questions, and discover how what they learn in school connects to future careers. Businesses are encouraged to bring an interactive display, hands-on activity, career game, and/or SWAG to help make the experience engaging and memorable for students.

2026-27 Events:

Mace's Lane Middle School: September 30, 2026 — THANK YOU to our participants!

North Dorchester Middle School: December 17, 2026 — 416 students

South Dorchester School: March 19, 2027 — 67 students

Business registration is required. Please use the registration link here to sign up!

Hey, we know that guy!

Our very own Superintendent Dr. Thompson participated in #MarylandShowsUp, an awareness campaign highlighting the importance of building strong attendance habits from the very start of the school year.

September was Attendance Awareness Month, but the message extends far beyond one month: every day matters, and every day is an opportunity to show up for our students. Change begins with the way we lead, the habits we model, and our commitment to being present for the students we serve.

When we show up, our students know that they matter—and their presence matters, too!

Dorchester County Public Schools is proud to partner with the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) to create meaningful opportunities for parents and families to connect, build resilience, and thrive together!

There are still opportunities for families in our community to get involved:

PEP Family Resiliency Program (An 8-week program designed to support and strengthen families through connection, encouragement, and practical tools.)

💻 Flexible options: Join virtually via Zoom or attend in person

📅 Tuesdays beginning October 13

👉 Register: tinyurl.com/DoCo-PEP

PEP Up & Thrive Crab Feast — Mace’s Lane Location 🦀 (Enjoy an evening of good food and good conversation! Parents can connect over crabs and conversation while kids enjoy pizza and fun activities.)

🆓 Free event!

📅 Thursday, October 8 | 5–7 PM

👉 RSVP: tinyurl.com/PEP-Fall26-DCPS

Questions? Contact Tina Benson at tina.benson@PEPparent.org or (301) 929-8824.