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Pleasant Plains Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

664^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 23% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Pleasant Plains Elementary is a public school in Towson, MD, serving 575 students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade within the Baltimore County Public Schools district, where it faces significant challenges related to high rates of economic disadvantage and chronic absenteeism.

While the school has shown a slight upward trend in test scores over the past four years, it remains well below district and state averages in all core subjects. For example, math proficiency is at 18.5% and English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency is at 27.7%, compared to district averages of 21.9% and 46.1%, respectively. The most striking contrast is with nearby schools like Stoneleigh Elementary and Cromwell Valley Elementary Regional Magnet, which are less than 1.5 miles away but serve a much more affluent population. At Stoneleigh, math proficiency is 59.3% and ELA proficiency is 75.2%, while at Cromwell Valley, those figures are 58.7% and 75.0%, respectively. This performance gap is closely tied to a chronic absenteeism crisis at Pleasant Plains, where 36.3% of students are chronically absent—nearly four times the rate at Stoneleigh (10.7%) and Cromwell Valley (9.5%).

Despite spending $20,133 per student—higher than Stoneleigh's $15,947—the school's outcomes highlight that funding alone cannot overcome the deep-rooted challenges of poverty and attendance. The school's state ranking has improved from the 6th percentile in 2022-2023 to the 23rd percentile in 2025-2026, but it still lags behind peers like Halstead Academy, which has a similar demographic profile and comparable outcomes. For parents, the key takeaway is that Pleasant Plains is a school in transition, where aggressive efforts to improve attendance and provide targeted support for its student body are critical to closing the achievement gap with its higher-performing neighbors.

575

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,133

Per pupil spending ?

70.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8300 Pleasant Plains Rd
Towson, MD 21286-8239

(443) 809-3549

District: Baltimore County Public Schools

Students who attend Pleasant Plains Elementary usually attend:

Middle:

Loch Raven Technical Academy

Racial breakdown:

African American:

48.7%

Hispanic:

30.1%

White:

12.2%

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Compare Pleasant Plains Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 6th percentile in 2023 → 23rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 23rd (2026) from a 6th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (22% vs 39% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (23rd percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school22%

District avg34%

Maryland avg39%

664^th of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Bottom 23%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 36% (2016) to bottom 23% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

85^th of 108Elementary Schools in the Baltimore County Public Schools

18^th of 25Baltimore 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	21.4	664 of 864	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.2	696 of 865	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.6	733 of 859	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.6	802 of 855	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.4	689 of 862	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.1	639 of 802	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.5	753 of 853	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.1	663 of 857	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	30.7	553 of 847	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	33.0	544 of 845	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	30.5	574 of 859	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	56.2	449 of 867	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	48.1	485 of 847	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.7	526 of 857	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	37.3	591 of 853	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	32.7	653 of 855	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	34.6	629 of 850	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	27.5	689 of 838	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	68.2	272 of 818	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	65.0	310 of 804	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2005	69.1	259 of 805	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	57.5	408 of 803	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	19.3	114 of 115	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	26.0	545 of 796	31.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	26.4	280 of 347	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	16.0	542 of 546	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	12.9	747 of 788	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)32nd percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2021)19th percentile~ school

Male (2021)5th percentile-15 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)1st percentile-19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)1st percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts28%-24 vs state

Mathematics18%-9 vs state

Science17%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pleasant Plains 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
Pleasant Plains Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8300 Pleasant Plains Rd	Towson	21286	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 809-3549	575	35	16.6	70.1%	70 (12.2%)	280 (48.7%)	173 (30.1%)	8 (1.4%)	7 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.4%)	21.4	664^th of 864 public elementary schools	23.1%		19.2	696^th of 865 public elementary schools	19.5%	32	29.2	14.9	11.3	18.5	34.8	17.6	28.9	27.7	17.3	$20,133	$2,461	$17,672
Cromwell Valley Elementary Regional Magnet	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	825 Providence Rd	Baltimore	21286	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 887-4888	395	25	16.1	31.4%	131 (33.2%)	172 (43.5%)	35 (8.9%)	31 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.6%)	88.6	100^th of 864 public elementary schools	88.4%		89.9	91^st of 865 public elementary schools	89.5%	9	58.9	65.5	51.7	58.7	62.5	82.8	79.3	75.0	54.4	$19,463	$1,377	$18,085
Halstead Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1111 Halstead Rd	Baltimore	21234	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-3210	489	30	16.1	78.5%	14 (2.9%)	372 (76.1%)	84 (17.2%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.7%)	13.9	764^th of 864 public elementary schools	11.6%		11.9	810^th of 865 public elementary schools	6.4%	46	25.4	13.8	7.0	14.9	27.1	15.4	11.3	17.4	12.7	$20,164	$2,703	$17,461
Oakleigh Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1900 White Oak Ave	Baltimore	21234	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-5238	452	34	13.1	73.5%	47 (10.4%)	244 (54.0%)	110 (24.3%)	22 (4.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.2%)	26.6	611^th of 864 public elementary schools	29.3%		23.5	633^rd of 865 public elementary schools	26.8%	22	24.6	15.9	19.4	19.8	34.5	29.0	38.2	33.8	19.7	$20,697	$2,670	$18,027
White Oak School	Public	PK, KG-5	8401 Leefield Rd	Parkville	21234	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-5378	60	37	1.6	71.7%	22 (36.7%)	26 (43.3%)	4 (6.7%)	3 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (8.3%)								(n/a)	18.2			8.3	9.1			4.4
Stoneleigh Elementary	Public	K-5	900 Pemberton Rd	Baltimore	21212	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 809-3600	645	39	16.4	18.4%	427 (66.2%)	93 (14.4%)	65 (10.1%)	30 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (4.5%)	91.1	80^th of 864 public elementary schools	90.7%		90.6	86^th of 865 public elementary schools	90.1%	6	65.3	55.9	56.5	59.3	71.8	73.0	80.9	75.2	67.2	$15,947	$1,109	$14,838
Villa Cresta Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2600 Rader Ave	Baltimore	21234	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-5275	609	42	14.6	52.9%	212 (34.8%)	200 (32.8%)	118 (19.4%)	18 (3.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	58 (9.5%)	49.6	414^th of 864 public elementary schools	52.1%		42.7	467^th of 865 public elementary schools	46.0%	53	40.4	27.5	29.1	32.4	46.5	41.1	48.5	45.5	35.6	$18,867	$1,392	$17,476
Home Assignments-Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	105 W. Chesapeake Avenue	Towson	21204	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-3222	1				0 (0.0%)	1 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										$5,875	$439	$5,436
Yorkwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5931 Yorkwood Road	Baltimore	21239	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-6364	294	21	14.3	82.0%	1 (0.3%)	274 (93.2%)	7 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.1%)	18.8	699^th of 864 public elementary schools	19.1%		23.1	640^th of 865 public elementary schools	26.0%	59	23.1	5.5	15.4	13.5	33.3	16.4	38.5	27.8	12.8	$25,164	$4,735	$20,429
Harford Hills Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8902 Old Harford Rd	Baltimore	21234	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-5236	373	23	15.9	59.0%	128 (34.3%)	133 (35.7%)	60 (16.1%)	25 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.2%)	39.6	480^th of 864 public elementary schools	44.4%		32.8	535^th of 865 public elementary schools	38.2%	55	43.8	24.5	10.2	25.0	47.9	41.2	41.0	43.1	26.2	$18,175	$1,437	$16,738

Frequently Asked Questions about Pleasant Plains Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Pleasant Plains Elementary?

Students at Pleasant Plains Elementary are 49% African American, 30% Hispanic, 12% White, 6% Two or more races, 1% Asian, 1% American Indian.

Is Pleasant Plains Elementary a good school?

Pleasant Plains Elementary ranks in the bottom 23.1% of Maryland elementary schools.

How many students attend Pleasant Plains Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 575 students attended Pleasant Plains Elementary.

What district is Pleasant Plains Elementary in?

Baltimore County Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Pleasant Plains Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pleasant Plains Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Loch Raven Technical Academy

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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.