Somerset County Schools provide a safe, serious learning environment for students. Classes are small. With only 20-25 students, teachers are able to provide individual attention and establish a rapport with each student. Small classes allow teachers to use a team approach to learning, which fosters adaptability, creativity and cooperation. Small classes also give students ample hands-on opportunities to work with the technologies available to them. Somerset County Public Schools are committed to developing the full potential of graduates, so they will succeed in our global society.

There are computer labs in all schools, and most have Internet access. The high schools have high-technology labs that emphasize classwork in avionics, electronics, computer applications, and computer networking. The applied technology high school also has a Computer-Aided Design Lab.

A county-wide distance education network, soon to be in place, will expand the curriculum for students and faculty. Teachers will receive staff development training via the network. Currently, students take classes at colleges and universities, including three University of Maryland campuses, where they study business, economics, and mathematics at the college level. Soon they will recieve those courses in their own schools.

Somerset County Schools encourage students to surpass their own expectations. Gifted and Talented programs and honors classes promote academic curiosity, discipline, and high achievement. Advanced placement in courses like calculus and environmental science give students a headstart on their academic career. Foreign language classes also help to prepare our students to participate fully in a global economy.

Strong business and community partnerships broaden career opportunities for students. The Career Connection Initiative places students in a variety of internships throughout the region. Seniors Work-Study gives seniors practical work experience in trades like masonry, carpentry, and HVAC. On-the-job Shadowing pairs students with business and industry leaders, who they follow to learn about a typical work day.

Strong academic partnerships with local colleges and universities prepare students for a variety of academic pursuits. Somerset County students interested in nursing can take anatomy and physiology courses at Wor-Wic Community College, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore allows students to complete coursework in Construction Management Technology, which they can apply toward a degree.

Somerset County has made its livelihood from the bountiful waters of the Chesapeake and the fields that border it. This hardworking community is as committed to its schools as it has been to the traditions that have sustained it. Understanding the emerging global economy and the need for lifelong learning that such an economy brings, Somerset County schools enjoy enormous parental and community support. Parents and business people volunteer in the classroom: assisting teachers, mentoring students, conducting workshops, and leading extra-curricular activities. It is a partnership that Somerset County Schools work hard to nurture, by creating community-friendly schools, because we understand that together we will make a difference.

The Mission of Somerset County Public Schools is to provide all students with an equitable opportunity to develop their abilities to their full potential, and to obtain the knowledge, skills, and values needed to succeed in a global society. Somerset County Public Schools is committed to unite the best efforts of school system employees, students, parents, and community members to achieve this goal.