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Ballenger Creek Elementary

Q: Is Ballenger Creek Elementary a good school?

Ballenger Creek Elementary ranks 444 th of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

444^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 49% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Ballenger Creek Elementary is a mid-sized school in Frederick, MD, serving 715 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the Frederick County Public Schools district, a high-performing district ranked 5th in Maryland.

This school stands out for its exceptional work with students from low socio-economic backgrounds, ranking in the top 10% of all Maryland schools for serving this group effectively. However, the school has seen a concerning recent decline, dropping to the 49th percentile in state rankings after years of stronger performance. Math is a clear area of concern, with only 25.8% of students proficient—well below the district average of 38.5% and a weakness seen across all grade levels. On a positive note, the school has made impressive strides in reducing chronic absenteeism, cutting it from 29.6% to 16.5%, now matching the district average. Compared to nearby schools, Ballenger Creek sits in the middle of the pack—it doesn't reach the heights of Spring Ridge Elementary (76th percentile) or Parkway Elementary (78th percentile), but it outperforms Waverley Elementary (19th percentile) and Hillcrest Elementary (27th percentile). Interestingly, Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter, just 0.86 miles away, outperforms Ballenger Creek in most subjects with a much lower rate of low-income students, while Tuscarora Elementary (0.89 miles away) has stronger math scores despite a similar demographic profile.

At a critical juncture, Ballenger Creek Elementary has proven it can effectively support students facing economic challenges, but must now reverse its declining academic trends—especially in math—to build on its strengths. The school's spending of $16,481 per student is relatively efficient compared to lower-performing neighbors like Hillcrest Elementary ($24,563), suggesting that targeted investments in math instruction could yield significant improvements.

715

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,481

Per pupil spending ?

57.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5250 Kingsbrook Dr
Frederick, MD 21703-2813

(227) 203-1880

District: Frederick County Public Schools

Students who attend Ballenger Creek Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Ballenger Creek Middle
High:	Tuscarora High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

28.7%

African American:

26.2%

White:

22.2%

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Compare Ballenger Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 67th percentile in 2016 → 49th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2016

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

!Near the bottom of Frederick County Public Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg50%

Maryland avg39%

444^th of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Bottom 49%▼ down 18 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to bottom 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

35^th of 39Elementary Schools in the Frederick County Public Schools

5^th of 25Frederick 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	44.8	444 of 864	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.1	352 of 865	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.0	359 of 859	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.1	341 of 855	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.4	284 of 862	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.6	284 of 802	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.0	317 of 853	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.3	314 of 857	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	70.4	258 of 847	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.8	279 of 845	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	62.3	297 of 859	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	59.2	406 of 867	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	55.4	412 of 847	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	72.5	222 of 857	74.1%	★★★★☆
2011	67.6	281 of 853	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	73.1	232 of 855	72.9%	★★★★☆
2009	65.2	324 of 850	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	60.9	369 of 838	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	40.5	531 of 818	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	44.6	492 of 804	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	55.2	398 of 805	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2004	46.4	497 of 803	38.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	41.8	256 of 504	49.2%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	17.6	112 of 128	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	38.1	67 of 115	41.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	48.5	294 of 796	63.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	47.4	112 of 347	67.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	71.7	52 of 546	90.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	46.6	310 of 788	60.7%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	54.2	19 of 52	63.5%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	45.9	259 of 528	50.9%	★★★☆☆

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)90th percentile+26 vs school

Hispanic (2021)68th percentile+3 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)63rd percentile~ school

Female (2021)63rd percentile~ school

Male (2021)61st percentile-4 vs school

White (2021)51st percentile-14 vs school

African American (2021)49th percentile-15 vs school

English Language Learner (2021)42nd percentile-23 vs school

Asian (2021)12th percentile-52 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts48%-3 vs state

Science29%-3 vs state

Mathematics26%~ state avg

1.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Avoid at all costs!!!!! This school deserves a negative rating - the principal, vice principal and many teachers are worse than the absolute pits!!!!! Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Sunday, April 26, 2015

This school is terrible. The principal is incompetent and mean. If your child has any special needs you are better off transferring to school that knows what they are doing. Close Quote

Schools Near Ballenger Creek 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 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th 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 6th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Science 5th Grade	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ballenger Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5250 Kingsbrook Dr	Frederick	21703	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-1880	715	52	13.7	57.5%	159 (22.2%)	187 (26.2%)	205 (28.7%)	59 (8.3%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	100 (14.0%)	44.8	444^th of 864 public elementary schools	48.6%		58.1	352^nd of 865 public elementary schools	59.3%	92	28.4	27.4	21.4				25.8	51.5	49.3	44.6				48.4	29.1		$16,481	$1,055	$15,426
Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	7215 Corporate Court	Frederick	21703	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(227) 203-3820	317	18	17.5	27.4%	172 (54.3%)	49 (15.5%)	49 (15.5%)	25 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.9%)	60.9	317^th of 864 public elementary schools	63.3%		54.6	367^th of 865 public elementary schools	57.6%	50	34.5	35.7	40.0	16.1	25.0	40.0	36.2	51.7	53.6	66.7	58.1	69.2	78.6	62.8	36.7	50.0	$14,857	$977	$13,880
Tuscarora Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6321 Lambert Dr	Frederick	21703	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-1260	793	52	15.1	46.9%	184 (23.2%)	220 (27.7%)	228 (28.8%)	67 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	93 (11.7%)	62	303^rd of 864 public elementary schools	64.9%		61.5	321^st of 865 public elementary schools	62.9%	18	51.9	41.4	29.8				40.3	57.9	54.5	48.8				53.6	33.3		$16,361	$889	$15,472
Orchard Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5898 Hannover Dr	Frederick	21703	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-1400	613	39	15.7	53.7%	128 (20.9%)	170 (27.7%)	200 (32.6%)	53 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (10.1%)	71.7	253^rd of 864 public elementary schools	70.7%		59.8	338^th of 865 public elementary schools	60.9%	85	54.8	29.5	36.0				40.2	61.9	55.1	70.8				62.9	49.4		$17,665	$909	$16,756
Lincoln Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Madison St	Frederick	21701	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(227) 203-1580	615	50	12.4	81.0%	90 (14.6%)	204 (33.2%)	235 (38.2%)	20 (3.3%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (10.1%)	43.8	451^st of 864 public elementary schools	47.8%		52	389^th of 865 public elementary schools	55.0%	62	44.6	28.8	20.5				30.5	55.4	44.2	39.8				45.9	19.5		$21,708	$2,408	$19,300
Butterfly Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	601 Contender Way	Frederick	21703	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(227) 203-1840	607	48	12.6	67.4%	109 (18.0%)	117 (19.3%)	286 (47.1%)	43 (7.1%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (7.9%)	52.4	394^th of 864 public elementary schools	54.4%		50.2	406^th of 865 public elementary schools	53.1%	12	46.5	36.7	22.3				33.6	60.6	48.1	48.5				51.8	24.3		$22,353	$2,591	$19,762
Hillcrest Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1285 Hillcrest Drive	Frederick	21703	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(227) 203-1660	581	57	10.2	91.0%	32 (5.5%)	46 (7.9%)	470 (80.9%)	13 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.3%)	25	629^th of 864 public elementary schools	27.2%		17.3	728^th of 865 public elementary schools	15.8%	99	35.6	13.0	10.5				19.1	35.6	41.3	28.9				35.7	7.6		$24,563	$3,086	$21,477
Parkway Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	300 Carroll Pky	Frederick	21701	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-1380	263	18	14.6	44.9%	131 (49.8%)	36 (13.7%)	60 (22.8%)	9 (3.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (9.5%)	78.7	192^nd of 864 public elementary schools	77.8%		76.1	216^th of 865 public elementary schools	75.0%	24	63.4	42.1	36.4				47.2	65.9	68.4	61.4				65.0	51.2		$18,720	$774	$17,946
North Frederick Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1010 Fairview Ave	Frederick	21701	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(227) 203-1480	660	46	14.5	57.4%	230 (34.8%)	130 (19.7%)	197 (29.8%)	23 (3.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	76 (11.5%)	60.6	322^nd of 864 public elementary schools	62.7%		64.8	293^rd of 865 public elementary schools	66.1%	29	35.8	34.8	29.0				33.2	55.3	60.7	67.0				61.1	31.0		$18,234	$1,808	$16,426
Waverley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	201 Waverley Dr	Frederick	21702	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(227) 203-1160	965	78	12.3	87.4%	78 (8.1%)	204 (21.1%)	582 (60.3%)	44 (4.6%)	7 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	48 (5.0%)	18.7	702^nd of 864 public elementary schools	18.8%		22.3	655^th of 865 public elementary schools	24.3%	47	23.1	22.7	9.7				18.8	27.5	36.6	14.2				26.1	6.1		$18,531	$2,444	$16,088

Frequently Asked Questions about Ballenger Creek Elementary

What schools do graduates of Ballenger Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ballenger Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ballenger Creek Middle
High : Tuscarora High

What is the racial makeup of Ballenger Creek Elementary?

Students at Ballenger Creek Elementary are 29% Hispanic, 26% African American, 22% White, 14% Two or more races, 8% Asian.

How many students attend Ballenger Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 715 students attended Ballenger Creek Elementary.

What district is Ballenger Creek Elementary in?

Frederick County Public Schools

Is Ballenger Creek Elementary a good school?

Ballenger Creek Elementary ranks 444^th of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Ballenger Creek 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.