Summary
North Frederick Elementary is a mid-sized school in Frederick, MD, serving 660 students in grades PK-5 within the Frederick County Public Schools district, and it consistently ranks as a solid, average-performing school in the state. One of its standout strengths is its exceptional performance with Hispanic students, who earned a 4-star rating, suggesting that the school’s instructional strategies are particularly effective for this group. However, the school faces a significant challenge with its low socioeconomic status (SES) students, who rank in the 23rd percentile—a critical achievement gap that needs attention. Additionally, chronic absenteeism is a persistent issue, with a rate of 17.4% in 2024-2025, which is higher than the district average and much higher than nearby schools like Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter (6.2%) and Frederick Classical Charter (8.9%).
Academically, North Frederick shows a clear split between subjects. English Language Arts (ELA) is a strong point, with overall proficiency at 61.1%, close to the district average, and 5th graders particularly excelling at 67%—well above the state average of 46.8%. In contrast, math is a notable weakness, especially in 5th grade, where only 29% of students are proficient compared to the district’s 41.7%. This “fifth-grade slump” is not seen in nearby schools like Orchard Grove Elementary (36%) or Frederick Classical Charter (52.3%), suggesting a potential gap in the math curriculum for upper grades. The school’s per-student spending of $18,234 is higher than the district average, but outcomes are mixed, indicating that resources may not be optimally allocated to address the needs of its low-SES population.
When compared to its neighbors, North Frederick stands out as a middle-of-the-pack option in a diverse neighborhood. For instance, Parkway Elementary, just 1.08 miles away, consistently outperforms North Frederick in nearly every metric, including higher test scores in math (47.2% vs. 33.2%) and ELA (65% vs. 61.1%), despite similar enrollment and student-teacher ratios. This performance gap highlights how school culture and leadership can lead to different outcomes. Overall, North Frederick is a school with clear strengths in literacy and serving Hispanic students, but it must address its math challenges, chronic absenteeism, and achievement gap for low-SES students to reach its full potential.
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