Summary:
The five public schools in zip code 21550 (Oakland, MD) are all part of the Garrett County Public Schools district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in a rural, economically diverse area with a total enrollment of 1,976 students.
Crellin Elementary is the standout academic performer, earning a 4-star rating and leading the area in both math (54.9% proficient) and English Language Arts (54.9% proficient) while maintaining the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at just 6.5%. This is particularly impressive given that 65.79% of its students are economically disadvantaged and it has the lowest per-student spending among elementary schools ($17,893). In contrast, Southern Garrett High School is facing significant challenges, with its state ranking dropping to the 20th percentile, a 32.4% chronic absenteeism rate, and a 4.8% dropout rate. Its math proficiency (26.6%) and Algebra I proficiency (2.4%) are critically low. Yough Glades Elementary has the highest rate of economic disadvantage (73.58%) and the second-highest per-student spending ($21,936), but its academic results are mixed, with notable struggles in 4th grade. Swan Meadow School, a micro-school with only 54 students, has the highest per-student spending ($23,078) but has seen a long-term decline from a 5-star school in 2009-2010 to a 2-star school today.
Overall, the data reveals a clear link between attendance and achievement across the district. Broad Ford Elementary sits in the middle, with math proficiency (27.6%) near the state average and a moderate chronic absenteeism rate (18.5%). The district's low student-teacher ratios (ranging from 10.5 to 15.4) are a positive factor, but the high school's struggles and the varying performance among elementary schools suggest that targeted interventions—particularly around attendance and instructional consistency—could significantly improve outcomes for all students in this area.
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