Summary:
Zip code 21755, serving the Jefferson, MD area, is home to a single school, Valley Elementary, which educates students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade as part of the Frederick County Public Schools district.
Valley Elementary stands out for its strong performance in mathematics and science, consistently exceeding both district and state averages. In the 2025-2026 school year, 41.2% of students were proficient in math, compared to 38.5% for the district and 27.1% for the state, while 43.2% of 5th graders achieved proficiency in science, outpacing the district's 40.6% and the state's 32.4%. However, the school shows a notable gap in English Language Arts (ELA), where only 54.8% of students are proficient—significantly below the district average of 64.0%, though still above the state average. A particular concern is a sharp drop in 4th grade math proficiency to just 30%, which is well below the district's 45.9% and the state's 34.8%, suggesting a potential curriculum or instructional challenge at that grade level.
With a per-student spending of $15,468, the school is well-funded, yet its state ranking sits at the 67th percentile (281st out of 864 Maryland elementary schools), indicating that resources may not be fully optimized for ELA improvement. Positively, the school benefits from a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.9% (compared to the district's 16.7%) and a moderate free/reduced lunch rate of 30.86%, reflecting a stable and engaged student body. Overall, Valley Elementary offers a strong foundation in STEM subjects but has room for growth in reading and writing, making it a solid choice for families prioritizing math and science education.
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