Kent County Public Schools Explained

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]

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

• Kent County High School (unincorporated area, Butlertown census-designated place,^{[9] [10]} Worton postal address)
  • It opened in 1971 as a merger of three high schools. It is in the center of Kent County.^[11]
• Kent County Middle School (Chestertown)

Elementary

• Galena Elementary School (Galena)
• Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School (Chestertown) - 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

• Millington Elementary School (Millington)^[20]
  • In addition to Millington its attendance boundary included Chesterville, Galena, Georgetown, Golts, Massey, and Sassafras.^[21]
• Worton Elementary School (Butlertown CDP,^[9] Worton postal address^[22]
  • In addition to Worton its attendance boundary included Betterton, Kennedyville, Lynch, Melitota, and Still Pond.^[23]

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 4acres 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]

External links

• Kent County Public Schools

Notes and References

1. Web site: Home. Kent County Public Schools. 2021-06-10. District Office: 5608 Boundary Ave Rock Hall, MD 21661.
2. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kent County, MD. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022-07-25. - Text list
3. Web site: Superintendent's Page. Kent County Public Schools. 2021-06-10.
4. Web site: Ward named superintendent of Kent schools. The Baltimore Sun. 2002-05-08. 2021-06-10.
5. Web site: Dr. Karen M. Couch Named 2021 Maryland Superintendent of the Year. Kent Pilot. 2020-09-10. 2021-06-10. - Press release by the Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland.
6. Web site: Divilio. Daniel. Board to hold hearing Monday on school closings. My Eastern Shore, Maryland. Adams Publishing Group. 2017-02-23. 2021-06-10.
7. Web site: Jones to be seated as school board's student member. Brady. Mackenzie. Star Democrat. 2020-06-26. 2021-06-10.
8. Web site: Kent County Public Schools - Information. Kent County Public Schools. 2004-10-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20041013124753/http://www.kent.k12.md.us/kcps/info/main.html. 2021-06-10. 2004-10-13. Kent County Board of Education 215 Washington Avenue Chestertown, MD 21620.
9. Web site: 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Butlertown CDP, MD. U.S. Census Bureau. 2021-06-10.
10. Web site: Home. Kent County High School. 2021-06-10. Kent County High School 25301 Lambs Meadow Rd Worton, MD 21678.
11. Web site: School Info. Kent County High School. 2000-11-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20001101190157/http://www.kent.k12.md.us/kcps/kchs/schoolinfo.html. 2021-06-10. 2000-11-01.
12. Web site: Home. Garnett Elementary School. 2021-06-10.
13. Web site: Time capsule from former Chestertown school to be opened Aug. 9. My Eastern Shore, Maryland. Adams Publishing Group. 2015-07-27. 2021-06-10.
14. Web site: Welcome. Chestertown Middle School. 2006-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20061002031032/http://www.kent.k12.md.us/kent/cms/index.htm. 2021-06-10. 2006-10-02.
15. Web site: Profile. Galena Middle School. 2004-09-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20040919170437/http://www.kent.k12.md.us/kent/gms/profile.htm. 2021-06-10. 2004-09-19.
16. Web site: Home. Galena Elementary School. 2021-06-10. 114 South Main Street Galena, MD 21635.
17. Web site: Profile. Rock Hall Middle School. 2004-09-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20040919174044/http://www.kent.k12.md.us:80/kent/rhms/profile.htm. 2021-06-10. 2004-09-19. Rock Hall Middle School 21203 Sharp Street Rock Hall, MD 21661.
18. Web site: Home. Rock Hall Elementary School. 2021-06-10. Rock Hall Elementary 21203 Sharp Street Rock Hall, MD 21661.
19. Web site: Schools. Kent County Public Schools. 2000-03-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20000309041644/http://www.kent.k12.md.us/kcps/schools.html. 2021-06-10. 2000-03-09.
20. Web site: Home. Millington Elementary School. 2016-10-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20161031174325/https://www.kent.k12.md.us//millingtonelementaryschool_home.aspx. 2021-06-10. 2016-10-31.
21. Web site: Profile. Millington Elementary School. 2006-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20061002032038/http://www.kent.k12.md.us/kent/mes/profile.htm. 2021-06-10. 2006-10-02.
22. Web site: Home. Worton Elementary School. 2016-10-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20161031175138/http://www.kent.k12.md.us/wortonelementaryschool_home.aspx. 2021-06-10. 2016-10-31. 11085 Worton Road, Worton, MD 21678.
23. Web site: Welcome to our school!. Worton Elementary School. 2006-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20061002031131/http://www.kent.k12.md.us/kent/wes/index.htm. 2021-06-10. 2006-10-02.
24. Web site: Divilio. Daniel. 4-1 vote closes Millington and Worton schools. My Eastern Shore, Maryland. Adams Publishing Group. 2016-02-19. 2021-06-10.
25. Web site: Divilio. Daniel. Millington, Worton elementary schools closing. Kent County News. 2017-03-21. 2021-06-10.
26. Web site: Board of Education Action and Written Decision to Close Millington Elementary School and Worton Elementary School. Kent County Public Schools. 2017-03-22. 2021-06-10.
27. Web site: Divilio. Daniel. Fithian seeks conversation about Millington school. Kent County News. 2019-05-16. 2021-06-10. - Alternate title at Pressreader: "County seeks talks about Millington school"
28. Web site: RHES Elementary School School Profile. Rock Hall Elementary School. https://web.archive.org/web/20040919174429/http://www.kent.k12.md.us/kent/rhes/profile.htm. 2021-06-10. 2004-09-19. 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.