Ewell Elementary School Reopens on Smith Island

Image Courtesy of Somerset County Public Schools

SMITH ISLAND, Md. – Somerset County Public Schools has announced that Ewell Elementary School on Smith Island is reopening its doors to welcome students for the 2026-2027 school year.

The school, first opened in 1961, ceased operating in Jun. 2023 due to low enrollment after serving generations of Smith Island students. WMDT previously reported that only one student had tentatively enrolled in the 2023-2024 school year prior to the building’s closure.

School leaders say its reopening represents an important moment for the island community and provides students with the opportunity to learn and grow on their own island. Elementary students on Smith Island previously had the option to take the County-funded boat with older students on Smith Island that attend middle and high school in Somerset County’s mainland. Alternative options included homeschooling or being enrolled in an online academy.

“Somerset County Public Schools looks forward to continuing to celebrate the history, traditions, and unique character of Smith Island while providing students with a strong educational experience close to home,” SCPS said in a statement.