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Fort Smallwood Elementary

Q: Is Fort Smallwood Elementary a good school?

Fort Smallwood Elementary ranks 319 th of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

319^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 63% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Fort Smallwood Elementary in Pasadena, MD, is a mid-sized school serving 397 students in grades PK-5 within the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district, and it stands out as a solid, above-average choice with a strong focus on math and a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

One of the school's biggest strengths is its exceptional mathematics performance. In the most recent school year, 38.8% of students were proficient in math, significantly outpacing both the district (29.3%) and state (27.1%) averages. This is especially true in 3rd grade, where 60% of students are proficient—a full 17 percentage points above the district average. However, the school faces a clear challenge in English Language Arts (ELA), where 53.6% of students are proficient, which is below the district average of 55.9%. This creates a distinct academic profile: Fort Smallwood is a "math school" that is working to boost its reading and writing instruction. Another positive is the school's low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.5%, which is well below the district average of 19.9% and notably lower than nearby schools like Solley Elementary (22.9%) and High Point Elementary (25.0%), indicating strong student engagement and family support.

An interesting pattern emerges when looking at grade-level performance. The school is exceptionally effective in the early grades, with 3rd graders outperforming the district in both math and ELA. However, by 5th grade, performance drops to be roughly in line with or slightly below the district average, suggesting a need to sustain that early momentum as the curriculum becomes more complex. While Fort Smallwood is not a top-tier school like nearby Folger Mckinsey Elementary (95th percentile), it is also not a struggling school. It occupies a stable, above-average position, with a performance profile very similar to Lake Shore Elementary (2.06 miles away). Its state ranking has seen a gradual decline from a peak in 2016-2017, but it remains a solid choice for families, particularly those who value strong math instruction and a supportive school community.

397

Students ?

13.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,125

Per pupil spending ?

23.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1720 Poplar Ridge Rd
Pasadena, MD 21122-3718

(410) 222-6450

District: Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Students who attend Fort Smallwood Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Chesapeake Bay Middle
High:	Chesapeake High

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.6%

Hispanic:

8.8%

African American:

4.5%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Fort Smallwood Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 79th percentile in 2016 → 63rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (45% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Above the Maryland median (63rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg43%

Maryland avg39%

319^th of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 21% (2016) to top 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

32^nd 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	60.8	319 of 864	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.9	301 of 865	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.6	303 of 859	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.1	239 of 855	72.0%	★★★★☆
2022	68.4	272 of 862	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.2	328 of 802	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.9	253 of 853	70.3%	★★★★☆
2018	79.3	178 of 857	79.2%	★★★★☆
2017	85.3	131 of 847	84.5%	★★★★☆
2016	79.6	178 of 845	78.9%	★★★★☆
2015	75.4	202 of 859	76.5%	★★★★☆
2014	74.4	229 of 867	73.6%	★★★★☆
2013	65.9	293 of 847	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	61.0	386 of 857	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	68.4	267 of 853	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	67.3	310 of 855	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	60.4	385 of 850	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	66.0	308 of 838	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	47.0	483 of 818	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	30.0	609 of 804	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	36.0	572 of 805	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	41.8	541 of 803	32.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	36.9	413 of 796	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	49.6	283 of 788	64.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	27.2	372 of 528	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2021)64th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2021)48th percentile-11 vs school

White (2021)30th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts54%~ state avg

Mathematics39%+12 vs state

Science35%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Fort Smallwood 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	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
Fort Smallwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1720 Poplar Ridge Rd	Pasadena	21122	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6450	397	30	13.4	23.2%	320 (80.6%)	18 (4.5%)	35 (8.8%)	7 (1.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (3.8%)	60.8	319^th of 864 public elementary schools	63.1%		63.9	301^st of 865 public elementary schools	65.2%	18	60.0	31.5	30.0	38.8	64.0	50.7	48.3	53.6	35.0	$18,125	$1,337	$16,788
Bodkin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8320 Ventnor Rd	Pasadena	21122	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 437-0464	504	32	15.6	16.9%	435 (86.3%)	5 (1.0%)	38 (7.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (4.6%)	72.2	251^st of 864 public elementary schools	70.9%		77.7	201^st of 865 public elementary schools	76.8%	50	44.0	38.4	43.0	41.6	60.7	62.6	60.5	61.3	48.8	$17,036	$1,154	$15,881
Lake Shore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4531 Mountain Rd	Pasadena	21122	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6465	280	22	12.7	25.0%	236 (84.3%)	2 (0.7%)	24 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.4%)	65.6	284^th of 864 public elementary schools	67.1%		66.6	282^nd of 865 public elementary schools	67.4%	2	63.6	29.2	26.4	38.6	61.4	54.2	50.9	55.2	50.9	$18,644	$1,364	$17,281
Riviera Beach Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8515 Jenkins Rd	Pasadena	21122	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6469	270	21	13.1	48.9%	200 (74.1%)	17 (6.3%)	30 (11.1%)	12 (4.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.7%)	54.3	374^th of 864 public elementary schools	56.7%		67	278^th of 865 public elementary schools	67.9%	96	37.2	38.6	17.4	30.8	55.8	56.8	43.5	51.9	38.3	$21,687	$1,655	$20,032
Jacobsville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3801 Mountain Rd	Pasadena	21122	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6460	474	36	13.1	38.0%	355 (74.9%)	32 (6.8%)	45 (9.5%)	12 (2.5%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	26 (5.5%)	41.9	468^th of 864 public elementary schools	45.8%		46.6	435^th of 865 public elementary schools	49.7%	33	36.6	25.6	17.9	26.2	59.2	46.2	34.5	45.9	25.0	$18,477	$1,694	$16,784
Sunset Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8572 Fort Smallwood Rd	Pasadena	21122	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6478	520	34	15.1	41.3%	368 (70.8%)	29 (5.6%)	66 (12.7%)	15 (2.9%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	37 (7.1%)	47.7	429^th of 864 public elementary schools	50.3%		50.6	401^st of 865 public elementary schools	53.6%	28	33.3	31.9	19.4	28.5	48.8	52.8	43.1	48.2	34.7	$17,403	$1,265	$16,138
High Point Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7789 Edgewood Avenue	Pasadena	21122	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6454	665	43	15.3	58.0%	390 (58.6%)	56 (8.4%)	145 (21.8%)	17 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (8.4%)	32.1	555^th of 864 public elementary schools	35.8%		30	556^th of 865 public elementary schools	35.7%	1	29.3	29.3	15.0	23.8	41.4	32.5	31.6	35.1	26.3	$16,503	$1,158	$15,346
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
Solley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7608 Solley Rd	Glen Burnie	21060	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-6473	674	46	14.7	39.9%	263 (39.0%)	217 (32.2%)	81 (12.0%)	36 (5.3%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.4%)	72 (10.7%)	37	504^th of 864 public elementary schools	41.7%		43.3	464^th of 865 public elementary schools	46.4%	40	25.0	23.1	21.5	23.1	37.5	35.5	43.8	39.2	32.8	$16,027	$1,254	$14,772
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Fort Smallwood Elementary

How many students attend Fort Smallwood Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 397 students attended Fort Smallwood Elementary.

Is Fort Smallwood Elementary a good school?

Fort Smallwood Elementary ranks 319^th of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Fort Smallwood Elementary in?

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Fort Smallwood Elementary attend?

Students who attend Fort Smallwood Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Chesapeake Bay Middle
High : Chesapeake High

What is the racial makeup of Fort Smallwood Elementary?

Students at Fort Smallwood Elementary are 81% White, 9% Hispanic, 5% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

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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.