Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 21701

This analysis examines six elementary schools in zip code 21701 (Frederick, MD), serving grades PK-5 (with one K-8 school), all part of the highly-rated Frederick County Public Schools district, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 80th percentile among Maryland districts.

The standout academic performer is Frederick Classical Charter, which ranks 94th out of 864 Maryland schools and leads in both Math (53.1%) and English Language Arts (77.9%) proficiency, while also having the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (8.9%). Spring Ridge Elementary is a consistent high performer with a 4-star rating and strong Math scores (46.2%), well above the district average of 38.5%. Liberty Elementary also earns a 4-star rating with excellent 5th-grade ELA (76.5%) and Science (50%) scores, but faces a challenge with an 18.0% chronic absenteeism rate. In contrast, Lincoln Elementary is the lowest-ranked school (48th percentile) with the highest percentage of students on free or reduced-price lunch (80.98%) and the lowest proficiency rates in Math (30.5%) and ELA (45.9%), despite having the smallest class sizes and second-highest spending per student.

A key takeaway is that socioeconomic status is a strong predictor of performance, with top schools like Frederick Classical Charter and Spring Ridge having the lowest FARMS rates, while lower-performing schools like Lincoln and North Frederick Elementary have the highest. Notably, higher spending does not guarantee better results—Lincoln spends more per student than Frederick Classical Charter but scores lower. Chronic absenteeism is a widespread issue, with three schools exceeding the district average of 16.7%, including Parkway Elementary (19.4%) and Liberty Elementary (18.0%). This data reveals a diverse educational landscape within a single zip code, where different schools face distinct challenges and excel in different areas.