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Shady Side Elementary

Q: Is Shady Side Elementary a good school?

Shady Side Elementary ranks 292 nd of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

292^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 66% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Shady Side Elementary is a mid-sized school in a waterfront community in Shady Side, MD, serving 391 students from Pre-K through 5th grade within Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

This school stands out for its exceptional math performance, which far exceeds expectations given its moderate poverty rate of 27.6%. In the 2025-2026 school year, Shady Side’s math proficiency rate of 38.6% was over nine percentage points higher than the district average and more than eleven points above the state average. This is a remarkable achievement when compared to nearby schools like Davidsonville Elementary, which has a much lower poverty rate (8.3%) and a higher math score (60.1%), but also to schools like Georgetown East Elementary and Tyler Heights Elementary, which have very high poverty rates and math scores below 11%. In English Language Arts, Shady Side performs at an expected level, with a proficiency rate (56.8%) nearly identical to the district average. The school has also shown consistent improvement in its state ranking, climbing from the 55th percentile to the 66th percentile over the last five years, a positive trend not seen in all nearby schools like Lothian Elementary or Traceys Elementary.

Despite these academic strengths, chronic absenteeism is a persistent challenge, with a rate of 19.7% that is much higher than top-performing nearby schools like Central Elementary (12.0%) and Deale Elementary (12.6%). The school spends a significant $19,097 per student and has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1, but these resources do not directly translate to top-tier results, as seen when comparing to Davidsonville Elementary, which spends less and has larger classes but achieves higher scores. This suggests that the effectiveness of instruction and school culture, particularly in math, is a key driver of success. Additionally, while the school serves male and female students effectively, it received a lower rating for its White students, indicating an area for further focus to ensure all student groups achieve at high levels.

391

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,097

Per pupil spending ?

27.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4859 Atwell Rd
Shady Side, MD 20764-9737

(410) 222-1621

District: Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Students who attend Shady Side Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Southern Middle
High:	Southern High

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.0%

Hispanic:

7.9%

African American:

6.4%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 70th percentile in 2016 → 66th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (46% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Above the Maryland median (66th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school46%

District avg43%

Maryland avg39%

292^nd of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 34%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 30% (2016) to top 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

31^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	63.8	292 of 864	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	60.7	327 of 865	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.1	306 of 859	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.1	351 of 855	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.0	386 of 862	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.9	365 of 802	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.2	346 of 853	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.3	373 of 857	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.3	261 of 847	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	69.6	250 of 845	70.4%	★★★★☆
2015	72.4	228 of 859	73.5%	★★★★☆
2014	80.6	140 of 867	83.9%	★★★★☆
2013	76.6	172 of 847	79.7%	★★★★☆
2012	71.5	241 of 857	71.9%	★★★★☆
2011	72.2	218 of 853	74.4%	★★★★☆
2010	73.2	228 of 855	73.3%	★★★★☆
2009	74.3	217 of 850	74.5%	★★★★☆
2008	76.4	195 of 838	76.7%	★★★★☆
2007	34.8	580 of 818	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	33.3	586 of 804	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	43.8	496 of 805	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2004	46.8	493 of 803	38.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	37.8	396 of 796	50.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	39.5	363 of 788	53.9%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	20.5	416 of 528	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Male (2021)54th percentile~ school

Female (2021)50th percentile-4 vs school

White (2021)21st percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts57%+5 vs state

Mathematics39%+11 vs state

Science36%+3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Shady Side 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
Shady Side Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4859 Atwell Rd	Shady Side	20764	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-1621	391	27	14.3	27.6%	309 (79.0%)	25 (6.4%)	31 (7.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.4%)	63.8	292^nd of 864 public elementary schools	66.2%		60.7	327^th of 865 public elementary schools	62.2%	35	45.5	43.5	28.4	38.6	63.0	59.7	49.3	56.8	35.8	$19,097	$1,311	$17,785
Mayo Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1260 Mayo Ridge Rd	Edgewater	21037	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 798-9830	351	23	15.2	17.4%	295 (84.0%)	6 (1.7%)	33 (9.4%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.0%)	68	268^th of 864 public elementary schools	69.0%		73.9	221^st of 865 public elementary schools	74.5%	47	48.0	26.9	37.1	37.2	66.0	50.0	62.9	59.8	48.4	$17,703	$1,203	$16,500
Deale Elementary	Public	K-5	759 Masons Beach Rd	Deale	20751	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-1695	203	18	11.0	19.7%	169 (83.3%)	6 (3.0%)	14 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (6.9%)	83.8	142^nd of 864 public elementary schools	83.6%		68.6	268^th of 865 public elementary schools	69.0%	126	63.3	54.1	39.3	52.6	70.0	75.7	60.7	69.5	50.0	$22,933	$1,669	$21,264
Lothian Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5175 Solomons Island Rd	Lothian	20711	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 222-1697	457	38	12.1	61.7%	203 (44.4%)	36 (7.9%)	185 (40.5%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.1%)	44.3	446^th of 864 public elementary schools	48.4%		49.3	411^th of 865 public elementary schools	52.5%	35	48.7	32.5	14.6	31.5	47.4	45.0	36.6	42.9	27.7	$19,413	$1,699	$17,714
Traceys Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	20 Deale Rd	Tracys Landing	20779	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 867-8305	448	31	14.4	60.5%	215 (48.0%)	36 (8.0%)	172 (38.4%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.7%)	42.7	461^st of 864 public elementary schools	46.6%		51.8	391^st of 865 public elementary schools	54.8%	70	36.1	24.3	20.0	26.1	37.7	41.4	45.0	41.7	37.5	$17,763	$1,178	$16,585
Central Elementary	Public	K-5	130 Stepney Ln	Edgewater	21037	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-1075	566	41	13.7	17.1%	449 (79.3%)	13 (2.3%)	72 (12.7%)	8 (1.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.9%)	82.4	159^th of 864 public elementary schools	81.6%		90.9	82^nd of 865 public elementary schools	90.5%	77	54.8	61.1	40.7	52.1	60.2	72.2	63.9	65.7	56.0	$18,437	$1,307	$17,130
Hillsmere Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3052 Arundel On The Bay Rd	Annapolis	21403	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 222-1622	402	32	12.4	40.0%	227 (56.5%)	82 (20.4%)	72 (17.9%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.7%)	84.6	134^th of 864 public elementary schools	84.5%		87.3	109^th of 865 public elementary schools	87.4%	25	54.4	56.3	54.1	54.9	73.7	68.8	62.3	68.1	49.2	$19,635	$1,676	$17,959
Edgewater Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	121 Washington Rd	Edgewater	21037	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 956-0830	577	38	15.0	38.5%	353 (61.2%)	19 (3.3%)	169 (29.3%)	9 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.7%)	69.4	261^st of 864 public elementary schools	69.8%		68.9	266^th of 865 public elementary schools	69.2%	5	59.8	55.3	33.9	48.9	62.0	60.2	48.2	56.4	33.0	$16,211	$1,117	$15,094
Georgetown East Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 Dogwood Rd	Annapolis	21403	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 222-1610	330	32	10.2	90.0%	31 (9.4%)	142 (43.0%)	139 (42.1%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.5%)	10.5	816^th of 864 public elementary schools	5.6%		12.6	802^nd of 865 public elementary schools	7.3%	14	8.1	5.3	5.0	6.1	23.7	15.8	15.0	18.1	15.0	$27,181	$2,973	$24,208
Tyler Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Janwall St	Annapolis	21403	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 482-9610	416	44	9.4	96.9%	12 (2.9%)	14 (3.4%)	388 (93.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	13.9	767^th of 864 public elementary schools	11.2%		16.4	739^th of 865 public elementary schools	14.6%	28	12.9	14.3	5.2	10.9	26.2	25.4	20.7	24.2	11.9	$26,430	$2,938	$23,493

Frequently Asked Questions about Shady Side Elementary

What schools do graduates of Shady Side Elementary attend?

Students who attend Shady Side Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Southern Middle
High : Southern High

What is the racial makeup of Shady Side Elementary?

Students at Shady Side Elementary are 79% White, 8% Hispanic, 6% African American, 6% Two or more races.

How many students attend Shady Side Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 391 students attended Shady Side Elementary.

What district is Shady Side Elementary in?

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Is Shady Side Elementary a good school?

Shady Side Elementary ranks 292^nd of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Shady Side Elementary!

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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.