Summary:
Halethorpe, Maryland, is home to one elementary school, Halethorpe Elementary, which serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade within the Baltimore County Public Schools district.
As the only school in the city, Halethorpe Elementary presents a mixed picture for parents. The school has a very favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.7 to 1 and spends a high amount per student ($26,659), which often suggests smaller classes and more resources. A standout positive is its remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of just 12.0%, which is less than half the district's rate of 25.6%, indicating strong daily attendance. However, academic performance is uneven. The school's strongest area is Mathematics, where 26.7% of students are proficient, outperforming the district average of 21.9%. In contrast, English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency is a concern at 40.6%, which falls below both the district (46.1%) and state (51.7%) averages. Science scores for 5th graders are also below district and state levels. Overall, the school ranks in the 42nd percentile among Maryland elementary schools, a drop from the previous year's 52nd percentile.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Halethorpe Elementary offers a stable, well-attended environment with strong math instruction relative to its district, but it struggles to achieve the same success in reading and science. The high per-pupil spending and low absenteeism are positive signs, yet the below-average ELA scores suggest that the school's resources may not be fully translating into literacy gains. This makes it a school of contrasts, where a child who excels in math may thrive, but one needing strong reading support might face challenges. The school serves a majority low-income student body (64.84% eligible for free or reduced lunch), which can influence overall performance metrics.
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