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Benfield Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

23^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 97% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Benfield Elementary in Severna Park, MD, is a consistently elite school serving about 500 students from Pre-K through 5th grade, and it has never ranked lower than the 92nd percentile in Maryland over the past decade. Part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district, Benfield stands out for its exceptional English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency, with 83.4% of students meeting standards—far above the district average of 55.9%. This strength is especially clear in 3rd grade, where 88.7% of students are proficient in ELA, the highest rate among nearby top-performing schools like Severna Park Elementary (82.9%) and Folger Mckinsey Elementary (79.4%).

Benfield also boasts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of just 5.7%, tied with Folger Mckinsey for the lowest among its peers and dramatically better than the district average of 19.9%. This reflects strong family engagement and a positive school climate that supports academic success. With a student-teacher ratio of 15.2:1, Benfield achieves its elite results with a more favorable staffing structure than some competitors, such as Folger Mckinsey (18:1) and Oak Hill Elementary (16.9:1). Notably, the school's success isn't driven by higher spending—it spends $17,247 per student, less than several lower-performing schools in the district, like Pasadena Elementary ($23,007) and Freetown Elementary ($21,387).

While Benfield excels overall, there has been a notable decline in math proficiency, dropping from 77.1% in 2023-2024 to 68.9% in 2025-2026, particularly in 5th grade where scores fell from 86.6% to 61.3%. This trend warrants attention, especially compared to more stable math scores at Shipley's Choice Elementary (67.7%) and Severna Park Elementary (66.9%). The school is part of a cluster of elite schools in the Severna Park area, including Folger Mckinsey, Severna Park Elementary, Shipley's Choice, and Jones Elementary, all ranking in the top 92nd percentile or higher—a stark contrast to schools like Freetown Elementary (44th percentile) and Southgate Elementary (33rd percentile) just a few miles away.

500

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,247

Per pupil spending ?

8.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

365 Lynwood Dr
Severna Park, MD 21146-1535

(410) 222-6555

District: Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Students who attend Benfield Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Severna Park Middle
High:	Severna Park High

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.6%

Hispanic:

5.2%

Two or more races:

5.0%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 100th percentile in 2016 → 97th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (75% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of Maryland elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school75%

District avg43%

Maryland avg39%

23^rd of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 3%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 81Elementary Schools in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools

13^th of 25Anne Arundel County Public Schools among Maryland districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	96.2	23 of 864	97.3%	★★★★★
2025	96.3	23 of 865	97.3%	★★★★★
2024	98.3	5 of 859	99.4%	★★★★★
2023	98.4	6 of 855	99.3%	★★★★★
2022	98.6	2 of 862	99.8%	★★★★★
2021	91.3	63 of 802	92.1%	★★★★★
2019	97.4	13 of 853	98.5%	★★★★★
2018	98.6	5 of 857	99.4%	★★★★★
2017	98.3	6 of 847	99.3%	★★★★★
2016	98.1	4 of 845	99.5%	★★★★★
2015	98.5	3 of 859	99.7%	★★★★★
2014	90.4	3 of 867	99.7%	★★★★★
2013	87.4	22 of 847	97.4%	★★★★★
2012	85.7	27 of 857	96.8%	★★★★★
2011	89.4	4 of 853	99.5%	★★★★★
2010	89.9	3 of 855	99.6%	★★★★★
2009	90.0	2 of 850	99.8%	★★★★★
2008	89.4	4 of 838	99.5%	★★★★★
2007	1.6	808 of 818	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	1.9	793 of 804	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	2.6	783 of 805	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2004	1.9	786 of 803	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	89.8	56 of 796	93.0%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	89.5	65 of 788	91.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	80.6	78 of 528	85.2%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2021)93rd percentile~ school

Male (2021)92nd percentile~ school

White (2021)85th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts83%+32 vs state

Mathematics69%+42 vs state

Science68%+36 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, September 15, 2011

The one and only comment made above is obviously NOT from a Benfield parent. Two of my children went to Benfield and both have excelled! Poor leadership? All of the teachers that my boys had were always very involved and if there was ever a problem, they did not hesitate to contact me. If MANY Benfield parents had the problems that the above person stated, then where are their comments? I have never heard any complaints by any parents. The parents always were and to my knowledge still are very involved in their children's academics. My boys never felt pressured when taking the MSA tests. Again, obviously the above comment is from a disgruntled parent who doesn't have their children in one of the most upstanding schools in Maryland. Every child has opportunity and it starts at home first....and the schools second. If you don't like your school....then join the PTA and do something about it. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, November 12, 2010

(2010) This school openly teaches towards nothing more than the MSA test. We and several other parents are very frustrated with the focus and lack of core skills development that our 1st - 3rd graders are experiencing that a lot of us are seriously considering private schooling or relocating to another area. I personally have tried to engage my childrens' teachers along with the principal, but received empty promises. No follow-up. No support other than what can be done during normal school hours. Nothing. What's more these MSA tests are a joke; schools are able to choreograph which students take the test. So if any child has special needs, perceived or otherwise, they'll get classified in such a way and can't participate in taking the MSA test. Yet in their classification of special need students they then treat those students as "deficient" and low priority, receiving nothing more then a labeling. The school's precious MSA rating is a facade. Poor teaching. Poor leadership. Little caring, though even that's suspicious. Close Quote

Schools Near Benfield Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAP Mathematics (2026)				MCAP English Language Arts (2026)				MCAP Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Benfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	365 Lynwood Dr	Severna Park	21146	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6555	500	33	15.2	8.2%	433 (86.6%)	6 (1.2%)	26 (5.2%)	7 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	25 (5.0%)	96.2	23^rd of 864 public elementary schools	97.3%		96.3	23^rd of 865 public elementary schools	97.3%		74.6	70.8	61.3	68.9	88.7	80.9	81.3	83.4	68.0	$17,247	$1,257	$15,990
Oak Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	34 Truckhouse Rd	Severna Park	21146	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6568	628	37	16.9	9.7%	468 (74.5%)	26 (4.1%)	63 (10.0%)	32 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (6.1%)	87.1	119^th of 864 public elementary schools	86.2%		92.7	63^rd of 865 public elementary schools	92.7%	56	67.5	55.3	47.9	57.0	75.2	68.0	63.2	68.8	56.8	$15,855	$1,093	$14,762
Shipley's Choice Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	310 Governor Stone Pky	Millersville	21108	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-3851	344	23	14.7	5.5%	283 (82.3%)	4 (1.2%)	11 (3.2%)	15 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (9.0%)	93.7	49^th of 864 public elementary schools	94.3%		95	37^th of 865 public elementary schools	95.7%	12	71.7	62.5	69.8	67.7	78.3	73.4	79.1	76.6	65.1	$16,857	$1,339	$15,518
Pasadena Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	401 East Pasadena Rd	Pasadena	21122	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6573	450	35	12.7	36.0%	312 (69.3%)	42 (9.3%)	65 (14.4%)	9 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.9%)	57.7	346^th of 864 public elementary schools	60.0%		71.4	246^th of 865 public elementary schools	71.6%	100	47.9	29.9	23.4	33.8	77.5	54.0	40.6	57.7	32.8	$23,007	$2,244	$20,763
Severna Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6 Riggs Ave	Severna Park	21146	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6577	372	27	13.9	8.3%	291 (78.2%)	13 (3.5%)	23 (6.2%)	24 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.6%)	94.9	33^rd of 864 public elementary schools	96.2%		96.8	18^th of 865 public elementary schools	97.9%	15	69.2	80.0	52.5	66.9	81.5	89.1	78.7	82.9	70.5	$16,798	$1,235	$15,562
Folger Mckinsey Elementary	Public	K-5	175 Arundel Beach Road	Severna Park	21146	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6560	644	36	18.0	7.6%	526 (81.7%)	20 (3.1%)	42 (6.5%)	17 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (6.1%)	94.1	43^rd of 864 public elementary schools	95.0%		96.6	21^st of 865 public elementary schools	97.6%	22	63.2	75.4	59.6	66.2	77.8	84.7	75.4	79.4	70.2	$14,487	$1,051	$13,436
Southgate Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	290 Shetlands Ln	Glen Burnie	21061	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 582-4900	573	44	12.9	69.1%	135 (23.6%)	234 (40.8%)	135 (23.6%)	20 (3.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (8.4%)	30.5	575^th of 864 public elementary schools	33.4%		29.5	559^th of 865 public elementary schools	35.4%	16	23.9	19.6	13.4	19.2	40.7	44.6	33.3	39.8	22.0	$18,277	$1,659	$16,618
Millersville Elementary	Public	K-5	1601 Millersville Rd	Millersville	21108	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-3800	386	30	13.0	20.7%	265 (68.7%)	29 (7.5%)	51 (13.2%)	9 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (8.0%)	78.9	190^th of 864 public elementary schools	78.0%		83.4	149^th of 865 public elementary schools	82.8%	41	74.5	41.2	38.3	49.7	74.5	55.9	63.3	63.7	55.0	$19,174	$1,341	$17,832
Jones Elementary	Public	K-5	122 Hoyle Ln	Severna Park	21146	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6565	334	24	13.9	15.9%	236 (70.7%)	23 (6.9%)	26 (7.8%)	16 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.9%)	91.9	68^th of 864 public elementary schools	92.1%		93	60^th of 865 public elementary schools	93.1%	8	78.7	62.3	50.8	63.9	77.0	68.9	78.7	74.9	60.0	$17,481	$1,375	$16,105
South Shore Elementary	Public	K-5	1376 Fairfield Loop Rd	Crownsville	21032	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-3865	268	21	13.0	31.0%	162 (60.4%)	7 (2.6%)	74 (27.6%)	4 (1.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.5%)	93.7	50^th of 864 public elementary schools	94.2%		88.3	97^th of 865 public elementary schools	88.8%	47	71.8	63.9	60.4	65.0	74.4	83.3	75.5	77.4	61.2	$19,636	$1,655	$17,981

Frequently Asked Questions about Benfield Elementary

Is Benfield Elementary a good school?

Yes! Benfield Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 23^rd of 864 Maryland elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Benfield Elementary?

Students at Benfield Elementary are 87% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian, 1% African American.

What district is Benfield Elementary in?

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

How many students attend Benfield Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 500 students attended Benfield Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Benfield Elementary attend?

Students who attend Benfield Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Severna Park Middle
High : Severna Park High

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresJul 28, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCAP test scoresAug 26, 2025

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.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries 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.