Summary:
Zip code 21074 in Hampstead, Maryland, is home to two elementary schools—Spring Garden Elementary and Hampstead Elementary—both serving grades PK-5 within the highly-rated Carroll County Public Schools district, which ranks 2nd in Maryland.
Spring Garden Elementary stands out as the top performer in the area, ranking 123rd out of 864 schools statewide (86th percentile) for the 2025-2026 school year, a notable improvement from the 76th percentile three years prior. It excels in math, with 58.8% of students proficient—well above the district average of 41.9% and the state average of 27.1%—and in 5th-grade science, where 56.5% are proficient compared to 43.9% at Hampstead Elementary. Despite spending $3,459 less per student ($17,728 vs. $21,187), Spring Garden achieves stronger academic outcomes, suggesting efficient resource use. Hampstead Elementary, while still a solid school ranking 172nd (80th percentile), has seen a slight decline from its 84th percentile rank in 2023-2024. It has a lower free/reduced lunch rate (26.25% vs. 32.8%) and a smaller student-teacher ratio (11.4:1 vs. 13.8:1), yet trails in math and science proficiency.
Both schools share strengths and challenges. English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency is high—67.0% at Spring Garden and 63.5% at Hampstead—but both fall just below the district average of 67.5%, indicating room for growth. Chronic absenteeism is a shared concern, with rates of 14.7% and 15.2%, though these are lower than the district average of 19.5%. Overall, families in this area have access to two high-performing schools, with Spring Garden Elementary leading in academic metrics and upward momentum, while Hampstead Elementary offers a strong, well-funded alternative with a slightly smaller class size.
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