Summary:
Zip code 21719, located in Cascade, Maryland, is home to a single school, Cascade Elementary, a small public school serving 137 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade as part of the Washington County Public Schools district.
Cascade Elementary is a very small school with a high per-student spending of $19,965, which is likely driven by fixed costs spread across a low enrollment. The school has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 24.6%, though this is lower than the district average of 29.0%. A majority of students (60.58%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating economic challenges. The school's state ranking has been declining, dropping from the 59th percentile (3 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 43rd percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. Test scores show a mixed picture: in Mathematics, overall proficiency (27.3%) is close to the state average (27.1%), but in English Language Arts (ELA), proficiency (37.9%) is significantly below both the district (55.0%) and state (51.7%) averages. Math proficiency also declines sharply from 38.1% in 3rd grade to just 20.0% in 5th grade.
Key takeaways for parents include a notable gap between Math and ELA performance, with ELA being a critical area needing improvement. The high spending per student does not appear to be translating into above-average academic outcomes, as the school's ranking and test scores are generally at or below district and state averages. The declining performance trajectory over the past three years is a concern, as is the drop in math proficiency in upper elementary grades. On a positive note, the school's chronic absenteeism rate is better than the district average, suggesting some success in student attendance despite economic hurdles.
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