| Index | Shady Side | Maryland | National |
| Average Test Scores | 43% | 40% | 48% |
| Student/Teacher ratio | 18:1 | 16:1 | 16:1 |
| Total public schools | 1 | 1,163 | 79,221 |
| Total private schools | n/a | 674 | 24,874 |
| Total post-secondary schools | n/a | 112 | 7,963 |

| Index | Shady Side | Maryland | National |
| Completed 8th grade | 87.6% | 87.5% | 84.3% |
| Completed high school | 86.3% | 86.5% | 83.0% |
| Completed some college | 61.8% | 64.2% | 59.4% |
| Completed associate degree | 34.8% | 44.8% | 38.5% |
| Completed bachelors | 29.1% | 38.4% | 30.3% |
| Completed masters | 13.4% | 17.7% | 11.5% |
| Completed professional degree | 5.4% | 5.5% | 3.3% |
| Completed doctorate | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1.3% |
There are a total of 1 public schools, n/a private schools and n/a post-secondary schools in Shady Side. Using the proficiency score averages, the average test scores for Shady Side, MD schools is 43%. The average student to teacher ratio is 18:1. In Shady Side, MD, an average of 87.6% of students have completed 8th grade and an average of 86.3% have completed high school.
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Owings, MD | 2,536 | 69% | 43.8% |
| Tilghman Island, MD | 850 | 65% | 35.4% |
| Crofton, MD | 30,100 | 65% | 34.9% |
| Crownsville, MD | 1,506 | 65% | 34.4% |
| Huntingtown, MD | 3,130 | 64% | 33.6% |
| Shady Side, MD | 5,052 | 43% | 11.5% |
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Michigan Center, MI | 5,052 | 37% | 22.9% |
| Winona Lake, IN | 5,053 | 50% | 4.2% |
| Circle Pines, MN | 5,053 | 61% | 26.8% |
| Crossett, AR | 5,054 | 33% | 30.9% |
| Cochran, GA | 5,050 | 44% | 7.6% |
| Shady Side, MD | 5,052 | 43% | 11.5% |