Education

The economic development office’s strategic partnership with educational leaders in the County ensures the quality of the County and region’s future workforce. The department is represented on the Superintendent of School’s Advisory Committee, and on the Business Partnership’s Adopt-a-School Subcommittee. The subcommittee initiated Dorchester’s “Future Is Now”, event as an outreach mechanism to garner support from County businesses that could potentially employ graduating students.

Dorchester County Public School Overview

Mission Statement

The mission of the Dorchester County Board of Education, in partnership with the community, is to provide leadership for excellence in teaching and learning for all students by:

  • consistently advocating for resources
  • continuously developing sound policies
  • carefully monitoring student progress

Dorchester County Public School System

  • Over 5000 students in the district
  • Twelve Schools
    • Two high schools
      • High schools offer a full College preparatory curriculum as well as options in occupational skills.
      • IBM-compatible computers are used in individual and computer labs.
      • Dual enrollment program with Chesapeake College for high school students desiring early college credits

Dorchester Career and Technology Center (DCTC)

The new 98,000-square-foot Dorchester Career and Technology Center (DCTC) located next to Cambridge-South Dorchester High School building will not only offer 11 traditional career training programs, but has also has expanded its curriculum to offer technology training programs that will prepare students for “new economy jobs” in technology and professional careers. The facility will accommodate 340 students per year. Through Economic Development Offices partnership with education the Dorchester Career and Technology Center could be a potential employee feeder to businesses locating in the new Dorchester County Regional Technology Park.

The Dorchester School of Technology and Career Center
Programs

  • Computer Repair and Networking – (Cisco)
  • Computer Assisted Drafting and Design – (CADD)
  • Simulation and Gaming
  • Interactive Media Production
  • IT Essentials I: PC Hardware and Software
  • IT Essentials II: Network Operating Systems
  • PAI option in the IT Essentials Academy
  • Cisco Network Academy I – Networking Basics Competencies
  • Cisco Network Academy II – Routers and Routing Basics Competencies
  • Cisco Network Professional I – Advanced Networking
  • Food Service
  • Masonry, Carpentry
  • Electrical Operations
  • HVAC
  • Automotive Body
  • Welding
  • Horticulture
  • Medical Services
  • The Multi-Service Community Center

Regional Colleges and Universities

  • Salisbury University – Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD which is 30 miles east of Dorchester County. The college is a regionally accredited, four-year comprehensive university offering 54 distinct undergraduate and graduate, and post-graduate degree programs.
  • University of Maryland (Eastern Shore) – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is part of the University of Maryland University System, and is located 45 miles from Dorchester County. The “Historically Black College” is a land-grant college founded in 1886.
  • The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) – Located on the Choptank River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in Dorchester County, UMCES is Maryland’s premier research institution aimed at advancing scientific knowledge of the environment. UMCES, also known as Horn Point Lab, has faculty that conduct research on the biology, chemistry, physics, and ecology of organisms and ecosystems from wetlands and estuarine waters of the Bay, to the continental shelf and open waters of the world’s oceans. UMCES is one of twelve institutions within the University System of Maryland.
  • Sojourner Douglass College – Sojourner-Douglass College became an independent institution under Maryland law in 1980, and was also accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education in 1980. Located in Cambridge, Maryland, Sojourner-Douglass College, a private institution, serves the education needs of the mid-shore region.
  • Chesapeake College – Chesapeake College’s main campus is located at Wye Mills. The Dorchester County satellite campus is located in the City of Cambridge. The College was founded in 1965 as Maryland’s first regional community college, and was developed to serve the educational needs of upper and middle Eastern Shore residents.
  • Washington College – Washington College, located 60 miles from west of Dorchester COunty in Chestertown, MD, has the distinction of being the first college of the new nation, founded in 1782 under the patronage of our nation’s first president. The legacy of college lives on today in its commitment to educate confident citizens and leaders capable of advancing the democratic and civic traditions of our Founding Fathers.
  • Worchester Wicomico Community College (WorWic) WorWic Community College is a 2-year institution located in Salisbury, Maryland, offering both credit and continuing education classes for Delmarva residents. The college’s name is blend of Maryland’s Worcester and Wicomico counties, and was founded in 1975. The College is popular with students planning to transfer to Salisbury University because of its proximity, inexpensive tuition, and the similarity of its general education courses to those of Salisbury University.