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Best Public Schools in Zip Code 21161


At a glance
1
School
213
Students
Top rankedNorrisville Elementary130th of 864 Maryland elementary schools
Summary:

Zip code 21161 is home to a single school, Norrisville Elementary, a public school serving grades Kindergarten through 5th grade with 213 students in the Harford County Public Schools district. This small school is a standout performer, consistently ranking among the top elementary schools in Maryland, earning a 5-star rating in the 2023-2024 school year and placing in the top 9% of the state. Its academic excellence is particularly notable in Mathematics, where its proficiency rate of 59.3% is more than double both the district average of 28.4% and the state average of 27.1%, making it a true "math powerhouse."

Key metrics highlight the school's strengths. In English Language Arts, 68.6% of students are proficient, compared to 61.1% for the district and 51.7% for the state. Science proficiency for 5th graders stands at 52.6%, well above the district's 39.8% and the state's 32.4%. The school also boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of just 9.7%, significantly better than the district's 18.5%, which is a strong indicator of a positive school culture and engaged families. With a student-teacher ratio of 12.8:1 and per-student spending of $21,617, the school provides a supportive environment with small class sizes and high investment in each child's education.

While the school's state ranking has seen a slight dip from the 91st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 85th percentile in 2025-2026, it remains a top-tier institution. This minor decline is likely due to normal year-to-year variation in a small student body. The school serves a community with moderate economic diversity, as indicated by a 30.52% free/reduced lunch rate, yet it achieves results that rival those of more affluent schools. For parents, Norrisville Elementary offers a compelling combination of elite academic performance, low absenteeism, and strong resource allocation, making it an excellent choice for elementary education in the area.

Ranking:
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Cities Near Zip Code 21161

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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