Summary:
Zip code 21017 is home to a single school, Church Creek Elementary, a public PK-5 school serving 732 students within the Harford County Public Schools district. This school stands out for its high level of economic need, with nearly 60% of students receiving free or reduced lunch, yet it maintains a chronic absenteeism rate of 15.3% that is notably lower than the district average of 18.5%.
Academically, Church Creek Elementary shows a clear split between subjects. In English Language Arts (ELA), 45.5% of students are proficient, which is below the district average of 61.1% but closer to the state average of 51.7%. Mathematics is a greater challenge, with only 26.7% of students proficient, essentially matching the state average of 27.1% but trailing the district's 28.4%. A bright spot is 4th grade ELA, where the school outperforms the state average (55.9% vs. 48.6%). The school spends $16,931 per student, a significant amount that may reflect the costs of supporting its high-needs population, though this spending has not yet translated into top-tier test scores.
The most concerning trend is the school's declining state ranking, which has dropped from the 61st percentile (3-star rating) in 2023-2024 to the 48th percentile (2-star rating) in 2025-2026. This 13-percentile-point decline over two years suggests the school is losing ground relative to peers across Maryland. For parents, Church Creek Elementary offers a supportive environment with lower absenteeism than the district, but the downward academic trajectory and significant gap between ELA and math performance are key factors to consider when evaluating the school's current and future direction.
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