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Northwestern Elementary

Q: Is Northwestern Elementary a good school?

Northwestern Elementary ranks 273 rd of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

273^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 68% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Northwestern Elementary in Mardela Springs, MD, is a mid-sized school serving 340 students from Pre-K through 5th grade in a rural setting, and it stands out as a top academic performer within the Wicomico County Public Schools district. The school achieves exceptional results despite having larger class sizes (a student-teacher ratio of 15.4:1) and spending less per student ($16,197) than many nearby schools. For example, Pemberton Elementary spends $20,305 per student with a ratio of 11.5:1, yet Northwestern outperforms the district average dramatically—with 43% proficiency in Math and 57% in English Language Arts compared to the district's 24.9% and 41.5%, respectively.

One of the school's most notable strengths is its effectiveness with students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, where it earned a 4-star rating (79th percentile) in subgroup performance, a stark contrast to its overall 3-star rating. This suggests the school is particularly skilled at closing achievement gaps for its economically disadvantaged students, who make up about 48% of the student body. While North Salisbury Elementary holds a higher overall rank (75th percentile), Northwestern excels in specific areas like 4th Grade ELA (61.9% vs. 53.2%), showing it can compete strongly with top peers. Additionally, compared to nearby Westside Intermediate, which has a similar free/reduced lunch rate, Northwestern outperforms in nearly every subject, especially 5th Grade Science (35.4% vs. 17.4%) and 5th Grade ELA (54.2% vs. 25.3%).

Chronic absenteeism, while higher than some competitors at 16.8%, has improved dramatically from a peak of 34.6% in 2021-2022 and is well below the district average of 22.4%. The school's history shows a decline from a 4-star peak in 2016-2017 to its current 3-star rating, and science scores have been volatile, but the overall picture is one of a highly efficient school that delivers strong results with fewer resources. For parents seeking a school that maximizes academic outcomes, especially for students facing economic challenges, Northwestern Elementary is a standout choice in the region.

340

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,197

Per pupil spending ?

48.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9975 Sharptown Rd
Mardela Springs, MD 21837

(410) 677-5808

District: Wicomico County Public Schools

Students who attend Northwestern Elementary usually attend:

High:

Mardela Middle & High

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.1%

African American:

9.7%

Two or more races:

6.5%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 71st percentile in 2016 → 68th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (48% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Wicomico County Public Schools

✓Above the Maryland median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg32%

Maryland avg39%

273^rd of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 32%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 10Elementary Schools in the Wicomico County Public Schools

16^th of 25Wicomico 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	67.3	273 of 864	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.5	303 of 865	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.6	308 of 859	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.6	275 of 855	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.2	372 of 862	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.6	355 of 802	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.1	231 of 853	72.9%	★★★★☆
2018	76.0	202 of 857	76.4%	★★★★☆
2017	80.7	168 of 847	80.2%	★★★★☆
2016	70.2	247 of 845	70.8%	★★★★☆
2015	50.1	388 of 859	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	66.1	330 of 867	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	81.8	108 of 847	87.2%	★★★★☆
2012	67.7	290 of 857	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	70.7	237 of 853	72.2%	★★★★☆
2010	69.9	272 of 855	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	66.1	314 of 850	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	66.1	303 of 838	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	66.3	300 of 818	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	72.5	222 of 804	72.4%	★★★★☆
2005	75.7	188 of 805	76.6%	★★★★☆
2004	71.2	236 of 803	70.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	41.2	370 of 796	53.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	59.6	117 of 546	78.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	37.5	384 of 788	51.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	23.8	393 of 528	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

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)79th percentile+23 vs school

Female (2021)54th percentile~ school

Male (2021)51st percentile-4 vs school

White (2021)26th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts57%+5 vs state

Mathematics43%+16 vs state

Science35%+3 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, September 1, 2017

great school Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, December 6, 2010

All three of my children have attended Northwestern. The teachers have always been great, and the current principal (Mr. Bryson) is phenominal. Close Quote

Schools Near Northwestern 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
Northwestern Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	9975 Sharptown Rd	Mardela Springs	21837	Wicomico County	Wicomico County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 677-5808	340	22	15.4	48.2%	269 (79.1%)	33 (9.7%)	12 (3.5%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.5%)	67.3	273^rd of 864 public elementary schools	68.4%		63.5	303^rd of 865 public elementary schools	65.0%	30	61.3	40.5	33.3	43.0	54.8	61.9	54.2	57.0	35.4	$16,197	$1,625	$14,572
Vienna Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4905 Ocean Gateway	Vienna	21869	Dorchester County	Dorchester County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 943-3775	183	16	11.8	56.3%	127 (69.4%)	20 (10.9%)	17 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (9.8%)	52.2	395^th of 864 public elementary schools	54.3%		64	299^th of 865 public elementary schools	65.4%	96	30.8	58.6	16.7	38.4	34.6	65.5	44.4	49.3	26.3	$22,610	$2,756	$19,854
Westside Intermediate	Public	2-5	8000 Quantico Rd	Hebron	21830	Wicomico County	Wicomico County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 677-5118	342	25	13.6	49.7%	211 (61.7%)	41 (12.0%)	47 (13.7%)	3 (0.9%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	37 (10.8%)	49.6	411^th of 864 public elementary schools	52.4%		61.1	324^th of 865 public elementary schools	62.5%	87	48.8	51.1	25.3	41.5	54.9	49.5	25.3	42.9	17.4	$19,978	$2,255	$17,723
Westside Primary	Public	PK, KG-1	6046 Quantico Rd	Quantico	21856	Wicomico County	Wicomico County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 677-5117	201	13	15.4	61.2%	122 (60.7%)	27 (13.4%)	25 (12.4%)	4 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	22 (10.9%)								(n/a)										$23,813	$2,774	$21,039
West Salisbury	Public	PK, KG-2	1321 West Road	Salisbury	21801	Wicomico County	Wicomico County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 677-5816	409	31	13.1	68.0%	45 (11.0%)	220 (53.8%)	95 (23.2%)	10 (2.4%)	7 (1.7%)	4 (1.0%)	28 (6.8%)								(n/a)										$19,028	$2,631	$16,397
Delmar Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	811 S Second Street	Delmar	21875	Wicomico County	Wicomico County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 677-5178	914	53	17.2	30.3%	496 (54.3%)	180 (19.7%)	111 (12.1%)	21 (2.3%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	104 (11.4%)	57.7	347^th of 864 public elementary schools	59.8%		54.5	368^th of 865 public elementary schools	57.5%	21	53.0	40.4		45.8	44.4	48.0		46.4		$14,817	$1,908	$12,909
Pemberton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 Pemberton Dr	Salisbury	21801	Wicomico County	Wicomico County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 677-5809	506	44	11.5	65.6%	124 (24.5%)	287 (56.7%)	35 (6.9%)	17 (3.4%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	38 (7.5%)	26.5	612^th of 864 public elementary schools	29.2%		22.5	650^th of 865 public elementary schools	24.9%	38	31.2	18.9	20.3	23.5	44.3	32.4	21.3	32.6	11.1	$20,305	$2,932	$17,373
Charles H. Chipman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-1	711 Lake St	Salisbury	21801	Wicomico County	Wicomico County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 677-5814	303	25	12.3	70.6%	39 (12.9%)	207 (68.3%)	32 (10.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (7.6%)								(n/a)										$21,985	$4,087	$17,898
North Salisbury Elementary	Public, Magnet	3-5	1213 Emerson Ave	Salisbury	21801	Wicomico County	Wicomico County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 677-5807	526	41	12.8	49.0%	171 (32.5%)	200 (38.0%)	78 (14.8%)	27 (5.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (8.9%)	75.8	219^th of 864 public elementary schools	74.7%		77.7	200^th of 865 public elementary schools	76.9%	19	58.0	47.4	47.2	50.6	62.0	53.2	58.3	57.6	47.2	$17,552	$1,530	$16,022
Pinehurst Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	520 S Pinehurst Ave	Salisbury	21801	Wicomico County	Wicomico County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 677-5810	564	45	12.5	68.8%	108 (19.1%)	329 (58.3%)	82 (14.5%)	10 (1.8%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	31 (5.5%)	23.1	647^th of 864 public elementary schools	25.1%		23.9	629^th of 865 public elementary schools	27.3%	18	28.8	20.8	15.7	21.6	32.4	33.3	19.4	28.4	15.1	$20,002	$3,010	$16,992

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern Elementary

What schools do graduates of Northwestern Elementary attend?

Students who attend Northwestern Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Mardela Middle & High

Is Northwestern Elementary a good school?

Northwestern Elementary ranks 273^rd of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Northwestern Elementary in?

Wicomico County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Northwestern Elementary?

Students at Northwestern Elementary are 79% White, 10% African American, 6% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Northwestern Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 340 students attended Northwestern Elementary.

Rate Northwestern 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.