Wicomico County Public Schools | EFMP FY2026 Within Wicomico County and more specifically the City of Salisbury there appears to be a trend within Metro Core neighborhoods where the existing detached homes are becoming rental dwellings instead of single-family owned. The Salisbury Municipal Code has a dedicated Chapter 15.26, Rental of Residential Premises to address the increased number of rental properties and created a department to address the need to register, license and oversee these rental properties. The increase of rental properties appears to be related to a few things, including in-migration, the expansion of Salisbury University, the inflated real estate market and the need for affordable housing. We continue to see student populations shift within our inner city school boundaries and there may be a correlation to this and the increase in rental homes. COMMUNITY PLANNING The State is actively encouraging Smart Growth through community planning and public school construction. Smaller schools, walking or biking to school, co-use of schools and land banking procedures are a few of the priorities of the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) related to Smart Growth. WCPS continues to coordinate and communicate with our local municipalities regarding our school planning efforts. WCPS has already incorporated many Smart Growth strategies into our planning initiatives. As many municipalities are in the process of updating their comprehensive plans, we look forward to having additional information to assist us with our school facility planning. WCPS has coordinated multiple Safe Routes to School projects to help facilitate the safety of those students who walk to that school. Most recently, the Town of Delmar received grant funding from the Maryland State Highway Administration to construct ADA-compliant pedestrian facilities from the Maryland-Delaware state line leading to Delmar Elementary School. The WCPS Facility Services Planning Group has been working in conjunction with the Wicomico County Planning & Zoning Department regarding long-term growth within the County to assist with our school construction planning efforts and sharing information as it becomes available. 112
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