Summary:
In zip code 21017, there is one elementary school, Church Creek Elementary, which serves grades PK through 5 in Belcamp, MD, as part of the Harford County Public Schools district.
Church Creek Elementary has seen a notable decline in its state ranking over the past three years, dropping from the 61st percentile to the 48th percentile. The school serves a population with significant economic challenges, with nearly 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Academically, the school's performance is mixed. In English Language Arts, the school consistently scores below both district and state averages, with only 45.5% of all students proficient. However, a bright spot exists in 4th grade, where 55.9% of students are proficient in ELA, outperforming the state average. In Mathematics, the school experienced a dramatic one-year reversal, dropping from a standout 32.1% proficiency in 2024-2025 to 26.7% in 2025-2026, now below district and state averages. Science scores for 5th graders are also below average at 30.8% proficiency.
Despite its high poverty rate, Church Creek Elementary has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (15.3%) than the district average (18.5%), suggesting strong family engagement. The school spends $16,931 per student, but this investment has not yet translated into above-average academic results. The student-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. Overall, while the school faces challenges in core subjects, the strong 4th grade ELA performance and lower absenteeism are positive signs that specific strategies are working and could be expanded to other grades.
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