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Sussex Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

751^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 13% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Sussex Elementary is a PK-5 school in the Essex area of Baltimore, MD, serving 475 students as part of the Baltimore County Public Schools district, where nearly 79% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating high economic need.

Sussex faces significant challenges, with academic proficiency rates well below district and state averages—only 13.7% of students were proficient in Math and 23.4% in English Language Arts (ELA) in the 2025-2026 school year. This is roughly half the district average and starkly contrasts with nearby higher-performing schools like Orems Elementary (36.4% Math, 45.2% ELA) and Charlesmont Elementary (39% Math, 48.4% ELA), both less than 2.5 miles away. The most critical differentiator is chronic absenteeism: 36.1% of Sussex students were chronically absent in 2024-2025, more than double the rates at Orems (16.1%) and Charlesmont (16.3%). This absenteeism rate is also higher than at other struggling area schools like Deep Creek Elementary (31.7%) and Mars Estates Elementary (32.6%).

Despite high per-student spending of $19,256, academic outcomes remain low, suggesting that addressing chronic absenteeism is the most impactful lever for improvement. There is a glimmer of hope: 35.5% of 4th graders were proficient in ELA in 2025-2026, significantly higher than 3rd grade (20.3%) and 5th grade (15.2%), indicating a specific cohort or instructional strategy worth replicating. The school also struggles to serve its most economically disadvantaged students, who make up the vast majority of the population. Nearby Essex Elementary, just 0.67 miles away, has a lower absenteeism rate (21.3%) and outperforms Sussex in both Math (22.1%) and ELA (35.5%), suggesting that Sussex’s challenges are tied to specific school-level factors rather than neighborhood demographics alone.

475

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,256

Per pupil spending ?

78.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

515 S Woodward Dr
Baltimore, MD 21221-6863

(410) 887-0182

District: Baltimore County Public Schools

Students who attend Sussex Elementary usually attend:

Middle:

Deep Creek Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

28.6%

Hispanic:

28.6%

African American:

27.6%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 5th percentile in 2023 → 13th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 13th (2026) from a 5th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (17% vs 39% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!English Language Arts scores 28 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school17%

District avg34%

Maryland avg39%

751^st of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From bottom 25% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

98^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	15.5	751 of 864	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.6	746 of 865	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.6	751 of 859	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	9.7	815 of 855	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	18.7	714 of 862	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	18.1	661 of 802	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.9	728 of 853	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.1	647 of 857	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	28.5	581 of 847	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	23.6	631 of 845	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	28.5	591 of 859	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	57.8	429 of 867	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	56.6	395 of 847	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	63.3	355 of 857	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	53.8	447 of 853	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	68.6	294 of 855	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	28.3	679 of 850	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	32.2	640 of 838	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	76.8	159 of 818	80.6%	★★★★☆
2006	75.1	191 of 804	76.2%	★★★★☆
2005	78.9	160 of 805	80.1%	★★★★☆
2004	75.0	197 of 803	75.5%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	28.4	390 of 504	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	21.6	612 of 796	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	25.4	475 of 546	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	16.0	702 of 788	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	14.9	474 of 528	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆

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)23rd percentile+6 vs school

African American (2021)23rd percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)13th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2021)11th percentile-7 vs school

White (2021)10th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts23%-28 vs state

Mathematics14%-13 vs state

Science10%-22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Sussex 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
Sussex Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	515 S Woodward Dr	Baltimore	21221	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-0182	475	32	14.8	78.9%	136 (28.6%)	131 (27.6%)	136 (28.6%)	10 (2.1%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (11.8%)	15.5	751^st of 864 public elementary schools	13.1%		15.6	746^th of 865 public elementary schools	13.8%	5	13.0	16.1	12.1	13.7	20.3	35.5	15.2	23.4	10.1	$19,256	$2,469	$16,787
Essex Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Mace Ave	Baltimore	21221	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-0117	481	29	16.4	70.5%	206 (42.8%)	81 (16.8%)	129 (26.8%)	9 (1.9%)	5 (1.0%)	3 (0.6%)	48 (10.0%)	30.8	569^th of 864 public elementary schools	34.1%		28.4	570^th of 865 public elementary schools	34.1%	1	42.2	12.9	13.9	22.1	51.6	24.6	32.1	35.5	21.0	$19,225	$2,696	$16,528
Deep Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	1101 E Homberg Ave	Baltimore	21221	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-0110	385	28	13.7	80.3%	35 (9.1%)	251 (65.2%)	62 (16.1%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (8.1%)	11.5	802^nd of 864 public elementary schools	7.2%		12.6	801^st of 865 public elementary schools	7.4%	1	4.7	8.9	9.2	7.6	20.0	26.8	21.5	22.6	6.1	$20,623	$2,941	$17,682
Sandalwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	900 S Marlyn Ave	Baltimore	21221	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-0174	440	30	14.7	83.0%	16 (3.6%)	315 (71.6%)	73 (16.6%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (7.0%)	31.3	562^nd of 864 public elementary schools	35.0%		42.3	472^nd of 865 public elementary schools	45.4%	90	33.3	17.6	7.2	20.0	40.5	41.2	42.6	41.4	17.6	$21,644	$3,404	$18,240
Mars Estates Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1500 E Homberg Ave	Baltimore	21221	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-0154	400	27	14.6	75.8%	43 (10.8%)	218 (54.5%)	94 (23.5%)	9 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.0%)	10.8	814^th of 864 public elementary schools	5.8%		17.3	727^th of 865 public elementary schools	16.0%	87	8.6	4.7	10.4	8.1	22.8	24.4	12.2	19.7	10.0	$23,567	$2,999	$20,568
Middlesex Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	142 Bennett Rd	Baltimore	21221	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-0170	448	36	12.5	80.4%	128 (28.6%)	146 (32.6%)	122 (27.2%)	9 (2.0%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (8.5%)	17.7	715^th of 864 public elementary schools	17.2%		10.2	832^nd of 865 public elementary schools	3.8%	117	16.7	15.9	6.8	13.5	25.7	29.0	30.0	28.1	15.4	$22,136	$2,851	$19,285
Middleborough Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	313 West Rd	Baltimore	21221	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-0160	288	21	13.8	48.3%	159 (55.2%)	64 (22.2%)	27 (9.4%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (11.8%)	46.6	438^th of 864 public elementary schools	49.3%		42.6	469^th of 865 public elementary schools	45.8%	31	28.9	38.0	28.6	32.1	45.5	42.0	40.5	42.6	34.9	$18,218	$1,363	$16,855
Orems Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	711 Highvilla Rd	Baltimore	21221	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-0172	402	25	16.3	66.4%	139 (34.6%)	94 (23.4%)	119 (29.6%)	25 (6.2%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (5.2%)	48.6	423^rd of 864 public elementary schools	51.0%		50.3	405^th of 865 public elementary schools	53.2%	18	43.3	31.0	34.2	36.4	51.5	46.6	38.4	45.2	23.0	$20,697	$2,814	$17,883
Charlesmont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7800 W Collingham Dr	Baltimore	21222	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-7004	373	25	14.9	69.4%	163 (43.7%)	61 (16.4%)	108 (29.0%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (9.4%)	54.1	375^th of 864 public elementary schools	56.6%		46.9	430^th of 865 public elementary schools	50.3%	55	50.0	42.0	27.1	39.0	46.0	50.0	49.2	48.4	25.4	$21,255	$3,699	$17,556
Hawthorne Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	125 Kingston Rd	Baltimore	21220	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-0138	499	37	13.6	83.2%	92 (18.4%)	259 (51.9%)	105 (21.0%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (7.6%)	13.3	778^th of 864 public elementary schools	10.0%		13.4	785^th of 865 public elementary schools	9.2%	7	13.3	14.3	8.0	12.2	12.1	31.4	12.0	19.7	9.8	$22,100	$3,289	$18,811

Frequently Asked Questions about Sussex Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Sussex Elementary?

Students at Sussex Elementary are 29% White, 29% Hispanic, 28% African American, 12% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian.

How many students attend Sussex Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 475 students attended Sussex Elementary.

What district is Sussex Elementary in?

Baltimore County Public Schools

Is Sussex Elementary a good school?

Sussex Elementary ranks in the bottom 13.1% of Maryland elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Sussex Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sussex Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Deep Creek Middle

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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.