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Talbot County Public Schools
Address
12 Magnolia Street Easton, Talbot, Maryland, 21601 United States
Coordinates	38°46′54″N 76°04′07″W / 38.781643435158166°N 76.0686948202214°W / 38.781643435158166; -76.0686948202214 (Talbot County Public Schools)
District information
Type	Public
Grades	Pre-K through 12 (including Head Start)
Established	October 1723; 301 years ago (1723-10)
Superintendent	Dr. Sharon M. Pepukayi
School board	Talbot County Board of Education
Chair of the board	President: Emily Jackson Vice President: Candace Henry
Governing agency	Maryland State Department of Education
Schools	8
Budget	$1.72 million (FY 2025)
NCES District ID	2400630
Students and staff
Students	4,523 (2022-23)
Teachers	334 (2022-23)
Staff	347 (2022-23)
Student–teacher ratio	13.5:1 (2022-23)
Other information
Schedule	M-F except for county holidays
Website	tcps.k12.md.us

Talbot County Public Schools (TCPS) is a public school district that serves Talbot County, Maryland. With 8 schools, it is one of the smallest school districts in the state of Maryland. TCPS receives nearly a third of the county's budget—35.2% in 2024.

As of July 2022, the superintendent of the district is Sharon M. Pepukayi, Ed.D. The board of education includes two student members, appointed by high school administrators, who hold a non-voting role; in 2024–25, the student board members are Brynn Lizewski and Gabriella Streaker.

History

21st century

In 2005, Talbot County became the first Maryland school system to implement a district-wide one-to-one laptop initiative, when it assigned a new laptop computer to each incoming 9th grader. Over the next four years, the system continued providing 9th graders with laptop computers until all high school students had school-issued devices.

In 2014, Talbot County Public Schools made national headlines due to a lawsuit challenging disciplinary procedures after an unconstitutional search of two students' bags. In 2012, the Maryland State Board of Education unanimously reversed the school board's decision to punish the students, expuging their disciplinary records.

In July 2017, Superintendent Kelly Griffith recommended consolidating Tilghman Elementary School with St. Michaels Elementary School for the 2018-2019 school year due to declining enrollment and underuse of teachers and resources. The school did not close and has become one of the district's highest-performing elementary schools.

In 2018, Talbot County Public Schools made national headlines due to a lawsuit challenging district policies that refused to allow a male transgender student to use the boys locker room and bathrooms at St. Michaels Middle/High School. A U.S. District Court judge ruled that barring transgender students from sex segregated school restrooms or locker rooms that align with their gender identity is a violation Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause. The case settlement gave transgender students attending Talbot County schools the permanent right to use the bathrom or locker room consistent with their gender identity.

Governance and budget

The board of education has seven elected members, plus one student representative appointed by each of the county's high schools.

The board's current members are:

Schools

TCPS consists of 8 schools: 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, one middle-high school, and one high school.

TCPS publishes school data anually. Its "TCPS at a Glance" document provides information about enrollment, staffing, facilities, services and programs, university acceptances, strategic priorities, new district initiatives, and expenditures.

The district has 1 LEED Gold school, a designation that recognizes buildings that are efficient, cost-effective, and better for occupants and the environment.

Elementary schools

Secondary schools

Notable alumni

Prominent graduates or former attendees of the school system include:

• Casey Cep — author, journalist
• Chris Moore — film producer
• Cynthia C. Morton — geneticist
• Frank Robinson, Jr. — athlete
• Harold Baines, former Major League Baseball player
• James Rouse — developer, philanthropist
• Jawann Kelley-Gibson — athlete, coach
• Jean Louisa Kelly — actress
• Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio - former member of the Maryland House of Delegates
• John "Home Run" Baker — former Major League Baseball player
• Richard F. Colburn — former member of the Maryland State Senate

References

1. "About Us". Talbot County Public Schools. Talbot County Public Schools. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
2. "Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, October 1720-1723". Archives of Maryland Online. Maryland State Archives. there shall (for the Ends before mentioned) be erected One School in each County within this Province, at the most convenient Place, as near the Center of the County as may be, and as may be most convenient for the Boarding of Chil- dren, at the Discretion of the Visitors, or the major Part of them, that are hereafter nominated, appointed and impowered by this Act, in each County.
3. Cite error: The named reference About Us 24-25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
4. Pepukayi, Sharon. "FY25 Budget" (PDF). 6-30-24 Budget. Talbot County Public Schools. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
5. ^ "District Directory Information (2023-2024 School Year)". NCES. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
6. "2025 Largest School Districts in Maryland". Niche. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
7. "Talbot County FY2025 Approved Budget" (PDF). FY25 APPROVED Workbook. Talbot County Government. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
8. "Superintendent". Talbot County Public Schools. Talbot County Public Schools. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
9. ^ "Board of Education". Talbot County Public Schools. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
10. Tamara Otto; Natalie Hannon; Lynne Mainzer & Annette Bautz (October 2010). "Talbot County Public Schools One to One Laptop Initiative" (PDF). Johns Hopkins University School of Education. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
11. George, Donna (January 20, 2014). "Discipline case of Md. lacrosse players moves to federal court". Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
12. George, Donna (May 2, 2012). "In Maryland, a rare reversal of suspensions for two lacrosse players". Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
13. "Talk of Tilghman Elementary School Closing Raises Concerns". WBOC-TV. September 28, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
14. "Tilghman Elementary 2017 - 2018 School Report Card". MSDE Report Cards. Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Retrieved November 18, 2024.
15. "'Closer to Equality': Md. Transgender Teen Wins Landmark Settlement". CBS News. June 19, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
16. "Transgender teen gets 'permanent' access to boys' locker room in legal settlement". Washington Post. June 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
17. "Victory for Maryland Transgender Students". ACLU Maryland. March 13, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
18. "TCPS Schools". Talbot County Public Schools. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
19. "Publications". Talbot County Public Schools. Talbot County Public Schools.
20. "Easton Elementary Receives LEED Gold Certification and Outstanding Design Designation". Talbot County Public Schools. December 7, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2024.

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