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Sunset Elementary

Q: Is Sunset Elementary a good school?

Sunset Elementary ranks 429 th of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

429^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Sunset Elementary in Pasadena, MD, is a mid-sized school serving 520 students from Pre-K through 5th grade, and it is part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district. Over the past decade, Sunset has been a consistently average performer, but it has seen a gradual decline from a high point in the 2018-2019 school year (70th percentile) to its current 50th percentile ranking. This places it as a solid, middle-of-the-pack option in a neighborhood where school quality varies significantly—it is not a top performer like Lake Shore Elementary (67th percentile) or Fort Smallwood Elementary (63rd percentile), but it also outperforms struggling nearby schools like Point Pleasant Elementary (31st percentile) and High Point Elementary (36th percentile).

A key differentiator for Sunset is its exceptional performance with students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, ranking in the 88th percentile statewide for this group in 2020-2021, which is a stark contrast to its overall performance. However, the school faces a core challenge: a significant gap between English Language Arts (ELA) and Math proficiency. In the 2025-2026 school year, 48.2% of students were proficient in ELA, close to the state average, but only 28.5% were proficient in Math, a gap that is most pronounced in 5th grade where just 19.4% of students are proficient. This suggests a systemic issue with math instruction that needs attention. Additionally, chronic absenteeism has become a growing problem, rising sharply to 21.7% in 2024-2025, which is above the district average and likely a key driver of the school's recent decline.

Interestingly, Sunset spends a relatively modest $17,403 per student, achieving average results with an efficient budget compared to lower-performing schools like Point Pleasant Elementary ($21,955) and Freetown Elementary ($21,387). However, it is losing ground to nearby peers like Pasadena Elementary, which has improved to the 72nd percentile, and Riviera Beach Elementary, which remains stable in the 57th-68th percentile range. Despite serving similar student populations, Riviera Beach outperforms Sunset in math (30.8% vs. 28.5% proficient), suggesting that more effective school-wide strategies could help reverse Sunset's declining trend.

520

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,403

Per pupil spending ?

41.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8572 Fort Smallwood Rd
Pasadena, MD 21122-2600

(410) 222-6478

District: Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Students who attend Sunset Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Northeast Middle
High:	Northeast High

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.8%

Hispanic:

12.7%

Two or more races:

7.1%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 71st percentile in 2016 → 50th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Maryland median (50th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 21 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg43%

Maryland avg39%

429^th of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From top 29% (2016) to top 50% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

43^rd 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	47.7	429 of 864	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.6	401 of 865	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.2	447 of 859	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.5	346 of 855	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.8	301 of 862	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.5	266 of 802	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.2	258 of 853	69.8%	★★★★☆
2018	62.4	304 of 857	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	59.8	305 of 847	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	69.6	249 of 845	70.5%	★★★★☆
2015	75.0	207 of 859	75.9%	★★★★☆
2014	81.5	134 of 867	84.5%	★★★★☆
2013	83.7	68 of 847	92.0%	★★★★★
2012	83.5	60 of 857	93.0%	★★★★★
2011	78.2	140 of 853	83.6%	★★★★☆
2010	82.4	89 of 855	89.6%	★★★★☆
2009	74.5	215 of 850	74.7%	★★★★☆
2008	68.9	275 of 838	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	36.5	565 of 818	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	31.7	598 of 804	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	46.9	467 of 805	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	38.3	555 of 803	30.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	52.8	264 of 796	66.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	69.5	64 of 546	88.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	46.5	313 of 788	60.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	30.5	345 of 528	34.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)88th percentile+21 vs school

Female (2021)67th percentile~ school

Male (2021)60th percentile-7 vs school

White (2021)35th percentile-32 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts48%-4 vs state

Science35%~ state avg

Mathematics28%~ state avg

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, December 22, 2016

My rating was average (higher than I would've liked) because of the teaching staff. Many families are looking at pulling their children out of the school because of the Principal. Parents are angered that they are not welcome in the building, children are being bullied, and the Principal is raising her own funds- which isn't transparent. Some parents have begun contacting the Board of Education but more are worried about retaliation toward their children so they are afraid to speak up. Even though the PTA Board Members are constantly giving of their own time, every attempt they make at trying to conduct fundraisers, hold family events, etc... is being stopped and in some way controlled by the Principal. It's so very sad. Hopes were high when a new AP was appointed this year but it seems like she's afraid of the Principal so she doesn't speak up either. Scuttlebutt is that families are hanging on to the fact that the Principal has been here a long time hopefully she'll be (re)moved. Close Quote

Schools Near Sunset 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Freetown Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7904 Freetown Rd	Glen Burnie	21060	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 787-5610	530	51	10.4	72.1%	110 (20.8%)	196 (37.0%)	151 (28.5%)	24 (4.5%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	44 (8.3%)	39.3	485^th of 864 public elementary schools	43.9%		32.9	532^nd of 865 public elementary schools	38.5%	47	35.2	31.0	15.2	27.6	45.1	47.6	33.3	42.5	22.4	$21,387	$2,413	$18,974
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
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
Point Pleasant Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1035 Dumbarton Rd	Glen Burnie	21060	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 787-5630	486	47	10.3	71.2%	190 (39.1%)	93 (19.1%)	159 (32.7%)	13 (2.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.2%)	27.6	600^th of 864 public elementary schools	30.6%		34.3	518^th of 865 public elementary schools	40.1%	82	19.2	14.0	17.9	16.8	32.9	36.5	40.0	36.3	25.4	$21,955	$2,456	$19,499

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunset Elementary

What district is Sunset Elementary in?

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Sunset Elementary?

Students at Sunset Elementary are 71% White, 13% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 6% African American, 3% Asian.

How many students attend Sunset Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 520 students attended Sunset Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Sunset Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sunset Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Northeast Middle
High : Northeast High

Is Sunset Elementary a good school?

Sunset Elementary ranks 429^th of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Sunset Elementary!

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresNewJul 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.