Sparks Elementary

Public K-5

 601 Belfast Rd
       Sparks, MD  21152-9129


(410) 887-7900

District: Baltimore County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
21st of 855 Maryland Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,295 Help


Students who attend Sparks Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Hereford Middle
High:    Hereford High

Student/teacher ratio:  14.6 Help
Number of students:  472

Racial breakdown:

White:
83.3%
Asian:
6.8%
Hispanic:
4.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  12.5% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Sparks Elementary ranks better than 97.5% of elementary schools in Maryland. It also ranks 6th among 108 ranked elementary schools in the Baltimore County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.73. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (83.3%), Asian (6.8%), Hispanic (4.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 12.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sparks Elementary is 14.6, which is the 42nd best among 108 elementary schools in the Baltimore County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Sparks Elementary employs 32.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sparks Elementary is $15,295. 55 elementary schools in the Baltimore County Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Sparks Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Baltimore County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Baltimore County Public Schools 18th of 24 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Sparks Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Sparks Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 1.96 785th 803 2.2%
2005 3.13 776th 805 3.6%
2006 5.20 768th 804 4.5%
2007 5.31 775th 818 5.3%
2008 80.99 117th 838 86.0%
2009 76.39 187th 850 78.0%
2010 83.53 76th 855 91.1%
2011 80.63 108th 853 87.3%
2012 82.11 78th 857 90.9%
2013 85.97 34th 847 96.0%
2014 85.56 65th 867 92.5%
2015 92.43 54th 859 93.7%
2016 96.05 16th 845 98.1%
2017 95.73 26th 847 96.9%
2018 97.92 10th 857 98.8%
2019 96.26 25th 853 97.1%
2021 94.57 43rd 802 94.6%
2022 95.80 29th 862 96.6%
2023 96.73 21st 855 97.5%
See the entire list of Maryland Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at Sparks Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 89.41 57th 796 92.8%
See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Sparks Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 95.06 31st 788 96.1%
See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Sparks Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 85.59 48th 528 90.9%
See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Sparks Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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District Scores:
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Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Sparks Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 372 12 4 0 0 n/a n/a -1 387
1990 380 17 6 0 0 n/a n/a 0 403
1991 440 12 11 0 0 n/a n/a 0 463
1992 421 11 11 0 0 n/a n/a 0 443
1993 428 10 12 0 0 n/a n/a 0 450
1994 417 10 14 0 0 n/a n/a 0 441
1995 259 7 6 0 0 n/a n/a 0 272
1996 259 7 6 0 0 n/a n/a 0 272
1997 251 14 7 0 0 n/a n/a 0 272
1998 261 16 5 0 0 n/a n/a 0 282
1999 283 14 5 0 0 n/a n/a 0 302
2000 394 13 16 5 0 n/a n/a 0 428
2001 410 13 18 12 0 n/a n/a 0 453
2002 456 11 16 13 0 n/a n/a 0 496
2003 456 11 16 13 0 n/a n/a 0 496
2004 452 8 20 11 0 n/a n/a 0 491
2005 470 12 21 8 1 n/a n/a 0 512
2006 460 17 18 6 0 n/a n/a 0 501
2007 455 23 11 9 0 n/a n/a 0 498
2008 476 21 13 8 0 n/a n/a 0 518
2009 455 33 10 14 0 n/a n/a 0 512
2010 482 36 24 11 1 n/a n/a 0 554
2011 467 28 27 20 0 0 14 0 556
2012 483 20 34 22 0 0 15 0 574
2013 485 20 32 17 0 0 12 0 566
2014 478 16 36 14 0 0 16 0 560
2015 453 13 32 13 0 0 15 0 526
2016 455 13 30 7 0 0 13 0 518
2017 437 13 32 9 2 0 16 0 509
2018 440 13 33 9 2 0 19 0 516
2019 413 11 33 12 2 0 15 0 486
2020 424 16 37 14 2 1 15 0 509
2021 399 21 34 14 2 1 14 0 485
2022 394 18 31 18 2 0 14 0 477
2023 393 11 32 23 0 0 13 0 472

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Sparks Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 387 18.7 20.6 n/a
1990 403 19.8 20.3 2.7
1991 463 21.5 21.5 1.7
1992 443 22.7 19.5 2.3
1993 450 22.3 20.2 2.2
1994 441 22.5 19.6 2
1995 272 16.7 16.3 2.9
1996 272 16.7 16.3 2.9
1997 272 15.4 17.7 4.8
1998 282 15.9 17.7 5.3
1999 302 16.0 18.9 4
2000 428 22.7 18.9 1.4
2001 453 23.7 19.1 2.2
2002 496 24.0 20.7 1.2
2003 496 24.0 20.7 1.2
2004 491 28.6 17.2 0.8
2005 512 30.0 17.1 4.1
2006 501 28.0 17.9 2.6
2007 498 28.0 17.8 2.8
2008 518 32.0 16.2 4.6
2009 512 31.2 16.4 8
2010 554 33.0 16.7 7.9
2011 556 33.3 16.6 5.8
2012 574 33.2 17.2 5.7
2013 566 34.9 16.2 5.8
2014 560 31.3 17.8 4.8
2015 526 32.0 16.4 4
2016 518 29.0 17.8 3.9
2017 509 29.3 17.3 4.7
2018 516 30.6 16.8 5.4
2019 486 31.0 15.6 4.7
2020 509 33.7 15.1 6.9
2021 485 34.3 14.1 8.2
2022 477 34.3 13.8 4.8
2023 472 32.3 14.6 12.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Sparks Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 387 18.7 20.6 n/a
1990 403 19.8 20.3 2.7
1991 463 21.5 21.5 1.7
1992 443 22.7 19.5 2.3
1993 450 22.3 20.2 2.2
1994 441 22.5 19.6 2
1995 272 16.7 16.3 2.9
1996 272 16.7 16.3 2.9
1997 272 15.4 17.7 4.8
1998 282 15.9 17.7 5.3
1999 302 16.0 18.9 4
2000 428 22.7 18.9 1.4
2001 453 23.7 19.1 2.2
2002 496 24.0 20.7 1.2
2003 496 24.0 20.7 1.2
2004 491 28.6 17.2 0.8
2005 512 30.0 17.1 4.1
2006 501 28.0 17.9 2.6
2007 498 28.0 17.8 2.8
2008 518 32.0 16.2 4.6
2009 512 31.2 16.4 8
2010 554 33.0 16.7 7.9
2011 556 33.3 16.6 5.8
2012 574 33.2 17.2 5.7
2013 566 34.9 16.2 5.8
2014 560 31.3 17.8 4.8
2015 526 32.0 16.4 4
2016 518 29.0 17.8 3.9
2017 509 29.3 17.3 4.7
2018 516 30.6 16.8 5.4
2019 486 31.0 15.6 4.7
2020 509 33.7 15.1 6.9
2021 485 34.3 14.1 8.2
2022 477 34.3 13.8 4.8
2023 472 32.3 14.6 12.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Sparks Elementary

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $400 (3.2%) $11,946 (96.8%) $12,347
2020 $448 (3.1%) $14,105 (96.9%) $14,552
2021 $668 (4.4%) $14,627 (95.6%) $15,295

Data source: Maryland Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Sparks Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 25th of 853 Elementary schoolsRanks 21st of 855 Elementary schools
 0.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students486472
 2.9%
African American1111
American Indian20
 100%
Asian3332
 3%
Hispanic1223
 91.7%
Pacific Islander00
White413393
 4.8%
Two or More Races1513
 13.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients4.7%12.5%
 7.8%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Sparks Elementary

Students who attend Sparks Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hereford Middle
High : Hereford High

Students at Sparks Elementary are 83% White, 7% Asian, 5% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American.

In the 2022-23 school year, 472 students attended Sparks Elementary.

Yes! Sparks Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 21st of 855 Maryland elementary schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education. School Attendance Areas provided by ATTOM.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that school and district boundary data are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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