Kent County Public Schools (KCPS) is a school district headquartered in Rock Hall, Maryland.[1] It operates public schools in Kent County, where it is the sole school district.[2]

As of 2021 it had about 1,800 students, making it the smallest school district in the state in terms of the number of students.[3]

In 2002 Bonnie Ward became the superintendent of the school district.[4]

Superintendent Karen Couch established a pre-kindergarten program for all families in the county. In 2021 she was awarded the 2021 Maryland Superintendent of the Year award by the Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland.[5]

History

From circa 1997 to 2017 student enrollment declined, leading to a decline in funding and the board considering closing two elementary schools.[6]

Governance

The district has a non-voting student on the school board.[7]

The current district headquarters is in Rock Hall.[1] The district headquarters was previously in Chestertown.[8]

Schools

Secondary
Elementary
  • Galena Elementary School (Galena)
  • Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School (Chestertown) - As of 2021 it had about 264 students.[12]
  • Rock Hall Elementary School (Rock Hall)

Former schools

Former high schools
  • H. H. Garnett High, the county’s school for African Americans during segregation
  • Chestertown High School - It moved from its original 1915 building in 1953.[13] Its second building was built in 1946. Chestertown High School closed in 1971 when it consolidated with Kent County High, and the building became Chestertown Middle School.[14] The building is now Kent County Middle School.
  • Galena High School - In 1921 it began in a wooden building. The brick building was constructed in 1949. The high school consolidated into Kent County High in 1971, and building became Galena Middle School.[15] The building is now (as of 2021) Galena Elementary School.[16]
  • Rock Hall High School - The building was constructed in 1949. The high school consolidated into Kent County High in 1971, and building became Rock Hall Middle School.[17] It is now (as of 2021) Rock Hall Elementary School.[18]
Former middle schools[19]
  • Chestertown Middle School
    • The building was constructed in 1946. The middle school opened in the former Chestertown High in 1971. A renovation was done in 1975.[14] The building is now Kent County Middle School.
  • Galena Middle School
    • The building was constructed in 1949. The middle school opened in the former Galena High in 1971. An addition was built in 1974.[15] The building is now (as of 2021) Galena Elementary School.[16]
  • Rock Hall Middle School
    • The building was constructed in 1949. The middle school opened in the former Rock Hall High in 1971.[17] It is now (as of 2021) Rock Hall Elementary School.[18]

All three middle schools consolidated into Kent County Middle in Chestertown in 2010.[6]

Former elementary schools

In 2016 four members favored and one was against closing the two schools.[24] In 2017 the vote to close was unanimous.[25] Garnet Elementary School's boundary was to be adjusted.[26] In 2019 there were discussions about possibly reopening Millington Elementary.[27]

Facilities

The current district headquarters, in Rock Hall,[1] is the former Rock Hall Elementary School.[28]

The former school district headquarters, on about 4 acres (1.6 ha) of land, opened in September 1015 as Chestertown High School. An addition was made in 1953, when it was converted into an elementary school. The facility became the headquarters of the Kent County school district in 1973. It closed in 2010. The following year the school district gave the building to the Kent County Commissioners as the school district decided it no longer needed the building. Washington College purchased the property and razed the building in June 2015.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Home". Kent County Public Schools. Retrieved June 10, 2021. District Office: 5608 Boundary Ave Rock Hall, MD 21661
  2. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kent County, MD" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2022. - Text list
  3. ↑ "Superintendent's Page". Kent County Public Schools. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Ward named superintendent of Kent schools". The Baltimore Sun. May 8, 2002. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Dr. Karen M. Couch Named 2021 Maryland Superintendent of the Year". Kent Pilot. September 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2021. - Press release by the Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland.
  6. 1 2 Divilio, Daniel (February 23, 2017). "Board to hold hearing Monday on school closings". My Eastern Shore, Maryland. Adams Publishing Group. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  7. ↑ Brady, Mackenzie (June 26, 2020). "Jones to be seated as school board's student member". Star Democrat. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Kent County Public Schools - Information". Kent County Public Schools. October 13, 2004. Archived from the original on October 13, 2004. Retrieved June 10, 2021. Kent County Board of Education 215 Washington Avenue Chestertown, MD 21620
  9. 1 2 "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Butlertown CDP, MD" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Home". Kent County High School. Retrieved June 10, 2021. Kent County High School 25301 Lambs Meadow Rd Worton, MD 21678
  11. ↑ "School Info". Kent County High School. November 1, 2000. Archived from the original on November 1, 2000. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Home". Garnett Elementary School. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Time capsule from former Chestertown school to be opened Aug. 9". My Eastern Shore, Maryland. Adams Publishing Group. July 27, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Welcome". Chestertown Middle School. October 2, 2006. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  15. 1 2 "Profile". Galena Middle School. September 19, 2004. Archived from the original on September 19, 2004. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Home". Galena Elementary School. Retrieved June 10, 2021. 114 South Main Street Galena, MD 21635
  17. 1 2 "Profile". Rock Hall Middle School. September 19, 2004. Archived from the original on September 19, 2004. Retrieved June 10, 2021. Rock Hall Middle School 21203 Sharp Street Rock Hall, MD 21661
  18. 1 2 "Home". Rock Hall Elementary School. Retrieved June 10, 2021. Rock Hall Elementary 21203 Sharp Street Rock Hall, MD 21661
  19. ↑ "Schools". Kent County Public Schools. March 9, 2000. Archived from the original on March 9, 2000. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Home". Millington Elementary School. October 31, 2016. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Profile". Millington Elementary School. October 2, 2006. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Home". Worton Elementary School. October 31, 2016. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2021. 11085 Worton Road, Worton, MD 21678
  23. ↑ "Welcome to our school!". Worton Elementary School. October 2, 2006. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  24. ↑ Divilio, Daniel (February 19, 2016). "4-1 vote closes Millington and Worton schools". My Eastern Shore, Maryland. Adams Publishing Group. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  25. ↑ Divilio, Daniel (March 21, 2017). "Millington, Worton elementary schools closing". Kent County News. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Board of Education Action and Written Decision to Close Millington Elementary School and Worton Elementary School" (PDF). Kent County Public Schools. March 22, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  27. ↑ Divilio, Daniel (May 16, 2019). "Fithian seeks conversation about Millington school". Kent County News. Retrieved June 10, 2021. - Alternate title at Pressreader: "County seeks talks about Millington school"
  28. ↑ "RHES Elementary School School Profile". Rock Hall Elementary School. Archived from the original on September 19, 2004. Retrieved June 10, 2021. Rock Hall Elementary School 5608 Boundary Ave Rock Hall, Maryland 21661 - The addresses of the former Rock Hall Elementary and the current (as of 2021) district headquarters match.
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