Summary:
This analysis examines eight elementary schools in zip code 21221, serving grades PK-5 within the Baltimore County Public Schools district, an area characterized by high economic need and academic challenges.
Orems Elementary stands out as the top performer, earning a 3-star rating and ranking 423rd in Maryland, with the highest math proficiency (36.4%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (16.1%) in the area. Middleborough Elementary is a consistent 2-star school with the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (48.26%) and is the only school in the zip code to exceed the state average in 5th-grade science (34.9% proficient). Sandalwood Elementary shows a positive trajectory, with the second-highest ELA proficiency (41.4%). In contrast, Mars Estates Elementary and Deep Creek Elementary are the lowest-ranked, both earning 0-star ratings with very low proficiency rates and high chronic absenteeism (over 31%).
Key metrics reveal significant challenges: average math proficiency is 19.2% and ELA proficiency is 32.3%, both well below state averages. The average free/reduced lunch rate is 72.9%, and chronic absenteeism averages 26.3%. Notably, spending does not correlate with success—Mars Estates has the highest per-student spending ($23,567) but the lowest performance, while Middleborough has the lowest spending ($18,218) and performs well. Chronic absenteeism is a powerful predictor of academic outcomes, with the top schools having the lowest rates. Additionally, 3rd graders across the zip code outperform 4th and 5th graders, a local anomaly not seen statewide, suggesting a potential challenge in upper elementary grades.
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