Schools in Zip Code 21074

The four public schools in the 21074 zip code (Hampstead, MD) are part of the top-ranked Carroll County Public Schools district and serve students from elementary through middle school, with no high schools in the immediate area.

Shiloh Middle stands out as the academic powerhouse, ranking 51st among Maryland middle schools with exceptional Algebra I proficiency (62.5%)—nearly triple the state average—and the highest overall English Language Arts (ELA) rate (68.1%) among middle schools. Spring Garden Elementary is the top elementary performer, ranking 123rd statewide with a 58.8% math proficiency rate that far exceeds state and district averages, plus the lowest chronic absenteeism (14.7%). In contrast, Hampstead Elementary spends the most per student ($21,187) and has the best student-teacher ratio (11.4:1), yet ranks lowest among the four schools, while North Carroll Middle presents a stark split—leading the zip code in ELA proficiency (73.6%) but struggling with the lowest math scores (26.8%).

A key takeaway is the dramatic "math divide" between elementary and middle schools: both elementary schools score well above state averages in math, but both middle schools fall at or below them, suggesting a systemic challenge in the transition. Additionally, the spending-versus-performance paradox at Hampstead Elementary shows that higher funding doesn't guarantee better outcomes, while North Carroll Middle's extreme subject variance (8th-grade math at 8% vs. ELA at 80.1%) warrants a closer look at instructional strategies. All four schools benefit from low chronic absenteeism rates (14.7%–18.8%), well below the district average of 19.5%, reflecting strong community engagement.