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Magnolia Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

752^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 13% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Magnolia Elementary in Joppa, MD, is a mid-sized PK-5 school within the Harford County Public Schools district, serving 545 students in a community with a very high level of economic disadvantage, where over 88% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch.

This school faces significant challenges that set it apart from nearby schools. The most critical issue is a severe chronic absenteeism crisis, with a rate of 23.0% for the 2024-2025 school year—far higher than the district average of 18.5% and dramatically above high-performing neighbors like Emmorton Elementary (7.0%) and William S. James Elementary (8.4%). This absenteeism is a primary driver of low academic performance: only 14.6% of students are proficient in Math and 25.4% in English Language Arts, roughly half the proficiency of the nearest comparable school, Joppatowne Elementary. Despite spending significantly more per student ($20,682) than the district average and maintaining a low student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1, these resources have not yet translated into academic outcomes at the same rate as in other schools, likely due to the overwhelming need for wraparound services related to poverty and absenteeism.

There are some interesting patterns worth noting. A "4th grade math cliff" appears, with proficiency dropping from 20.9% in 3rd grade to just 7.2% in 4th grade before recovering to 15.3% in 5th grade, suggesting a potential curriculum or instruction issue. However, there is a glimmer of hope in 5th-grade English Language Arts, where proficiency (25%) is closer to the state average (46.8%) than in earlier grades. Nearby, Oliver Beach Elementary in Baltimore County Public Schools offers an interesting contrast: a small school (150 students) with a moderate poverty rate (40%) that achieves top-tier results (70.7% ELA, 55.9% Math), suggesting that small school size and focused community efforts can overcome district-level challenges—a potential model for Magnolia.

545

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,682

Per pupil spending ?

88.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

901 Trimble Rd
Joppa, MD 21085-4898

(410) 612-1553

District: Harford County Public Schools

Students who attend Magnolia Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Magnolia Middle
High:	Joppatowne High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

62.8%

Hispanic:

13.0%

Two or more races:

12.7%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 4th percentile in 2023 → 13th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 13th (2026) from a 4th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (18% vs 39% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (13th percentile)

!English Language Arts scores 26 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school18%

District avg44%

Maryland avg39%

752^nd of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 24% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

33^rd of 33Elementary Schools in the Harford County Public Schools

11^th of 25Harford 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	15.4	752 of 864	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.3	710 of 865	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.0	709 of 859	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	9.3	820 of 855	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	15.8	759 of 862	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	11.5	774 of 853	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.9	777 of 857	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	17.9	690 of 847	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	22.8	639 of 845	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	26.0	616 of 859	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	38.5	608 of 867	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	18.2	741 of 847	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	24.3	710 of 857	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	25.8	693 of 853	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	13.5	806 of 855	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	15.2	795 of 850	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	35.6	614 of 838	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	76.1	168 of 818	79.5%	★★★★☆
2006	75.6	186 of 804	76.9%	★★★★☆
2005	76.0	182 of 805	77.4%	★★★★☆
2004	70.6	245 of 803	69.5%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	19.4	456 of 504	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	11.0	774 of 796	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	13.7	738 of 788	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2021)10th percentile

Male (2021)6th percentile

Female (2021)3rd percentile

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts25%-26 vs state

Mathematics15%-12 vs state

Science7%-26 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Lack of leadership and training for teachers. Lack of caring for students and their families. Close Quote

Schools Near Magnolia 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
Magnolia Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	901 Trimble Rd	Joppa	21085	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 612-1553	545	45	12.2	88.1%	58 (10.6%)	342 (62.8%)	71 (13.0%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	69 (12.7%)	15.4	752^nd of 864 public elementary schools	13.0%		18.3	710^th of 865 public elementary schools	17.9%	42	20.9	7.2	15.3	14.6	27.2	23.8	25.0	25.4	6.8	$20,682	$2,979	$17,703
Riverside Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	211 Stillmeadow Dr	Joppa	21085	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 612-1560	481	38	12.5	67.2%	157 (32.6%)	189 (39.3%)	73 (15.2%)	10 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	50 (10.4%)	36.2	512^th of 864 public elementary schools	40.7%		31.5	549^th of 865 public elementary schools	36.5%	37	32.6	14.3	14.3	21.0	46.5	31.4	53.2	44.2	24.1	$20,701	$3,456	$17,245
Joppatowne Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	407 Trimble Rd	Joppa	21085	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 612-1546	495	39	12.5	65.3%	220 (44.4%)	171 (34.5%)	46 (9.3%)	7 (1.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (9.7%)	21.5	663^rd of 864 public elementary schools	23.3%		22	663^rd of 865 public elementary schools	23.4%		26.7	18.1	7.5	17.8	29.2	37.5	28.4	31.8	10.4	$20,213	$2,100	$18,113
Edgewood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2100 Cedar Dr	Edgewood	21040	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 612-1540	428	37	11.6	72.7%	96 (22.4%)	232 (54.2%)	60 (14.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	37 (8.6%)	29.7	578^th of 864 public elementary schools	33.1%		27.7	577^th of 865 public elementary schools	33.3%	1	40.6	11.9	15.9	19.5	56.3	36.7	28.1	37.2	17.7	$22,106	$3,605	$18,502
Deerfield Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2307 Willoughby Beach Rd	Edgewood	21040	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 612-1535	708	56	12.7	74.9%	137 (19.4%)	349 (49.3%)	130 (18.4%)	8 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (11.9%)	23.1	646^th of 864 public elementary schools	25.2%		24.3	623^rd of 865 public elementary schools	28.0%	23	24.8	12.9	5.6	14.2	39.0	44.0	21.3	34.9	14.8	$18,567	$1,978	$16,589
Oliver Beach Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12912 Cunninghill Cove Rd	Baltimore	21220	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-5943	150	12	12.7	40.0%	116 (77.3%)	4 (2.7%)	14 (9.3%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (10.0%)	83.8	141^st of 864 public elementary schools	83.7%		81.6	164^th of 865 public elementary schools	81.0%	23	54.5	57.9	55.6	55.9	66.7	63.2	83.3	70.7	44.4	$28,220	$1,731	$26,489
Abingdon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3001 S. Tollgate Road	Abingdon	21009	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-3910	641	48	13.4	46.5%	290 (45.2%)	177 (27.6%)	53 (8.3%)	35 (5.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	83 (12.9%)	63	296^th of 864 public elementary schools	65.7%		61.4	323^rd of 865 public elementary schools	62.7%	27	53.8	30.8	29.7	38.5	60.2	54.9	56.4	57.3	34.0	$17,424	$878	$16,546
William S. James Elementary	Public	K-5	1 Laurentum Pkw	Abingdon	21009	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-3900	463	31	15.1	29.2%	308 (66.5%)	52 (11.2%)	35 (7.6%)	24 (5.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.1%)	71.9	252^nd of 864 public elementary schools	70.8%		69.7	258^th of 865 public elementary schools	70.2%	6	50.6	41.7	35.8	42.9	70.6	60.7	56.8	63.0	39.5	$16,840	$876	$15,964
Vincent Farm Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6019 Ebenezer Rd	White Marsh	21162	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-2983	776	47	16.4	46.9%	199 (25.6%)	372 (47.9%)	79 (10.2%)	75 (9.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (6.2%)	39.7	478^th of 864 public elementary schools	44.7%		47	429^th of 865 public elementary schools	50.4%	49	31.0	28.8	23.6	28.0	40.5	44.7	38.7	41.5	26.7	$18,340	$1,744	$16,596
Emmorton Elementary	Public	K-5	2502 Tollgate Rd	Bel Air	21014	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-3920	584	36	16.4	22.6%	332 (56.8%)	72 (12.3%)	48 (8.2%)	73 (12.5%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (9.6%)	81.5	167^th of 864 public elementary schools	80.7%		86.1	123^rd of 865 public elementary schools	85.8%	44	68.0	48.2	34.0	50.5	80.6	70.6	58.8	70.2	48.0	$15,999	$962	$15,037

Frequently Asked Questions about Magnolia Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Magnolia Elementary?

Students at Magnolia Elementary are 63% African American, 13% Hispanic, 13% Two or more races, 11% White.

How many students attend Magnolia Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 545 students attended Magnolia Elementary.

Is Magnolia Elementary a good school?

Magnolia Elementary ranks in the bottom 13.0% of Maryland elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Magnolia Elementary attend?

Students who attend Magnolia Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Magnolia Middle
High : Joppatowne High

What district is Magnolia Elementary in?

Harford County Public Schools

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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.