Summary:
This analysis examines six elementary schools in zip code 21060 (Glen Burnie, MD), serving approximately 3,433 students from Pre-K through 5th grade (with one school extending to 8th grade), all part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district.
Monarch Academy is the clear standout in this area, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 52nd percentile statewide—the only school in the zip code to exceed district and state averages in English Language Arts (57.6% proficiency). It also boasts an astonishing 63.6% Algebra I proficiency rate, far above the district average of 26.3%, and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 12.9%. In contrast, the other five schools—Solley Elementary, Marley Elementary, Freetown Elementary, Point Pleasant Elementary, and Glendale Elementary—all rank in the bottom half of Maryland elementary schools (percentiles 31 to 44) and share common struggles: high poverty rates, high chronic absenteeism, and test scores consistently below district and state averages.
A key finding is the "money paradox": the three schools with the highest spending per student—Glendale ($22,694), Point Pleasant ($21,955), and Freetown ($21,387)—are the lowest-performing, while Monarch Academy achieves top results with the lowest spending ($18,958). Mathematics is a universal weakness, with every school falling below the state average of 27.1% in overall math proficiency. However, Marley Elementary shows a positive upward trend, improving its state ranking from the 29th percentile to the 39th percentile over three years, suggesting interventions may be taking effect. For parents, Monarch Academy stands out as the strongest academic choice, while the other schools face significant challenges that require targeted support.
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