Summary:
In zip code 21788 (Thurmont, MD), there are three elementary schools serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade, all part of the highly-rated Frederick County Public Schools district, which ranks 5th out of 25 districts in Maryland.
Thurmont Elementary (serving grades 3-5) is the standout for academic performance, earning a 3-star rating and outperforming its local peers in English Language Arts (54.2% proficient) and math (38.8% proficient), both above state averages. Its 3rd graders are particularly strong, with 55% proficient in math and 59.5% in ELA. In contrast, Lewistown Elementary (serving PK-5) has the lowest academic performance with a 2-star rating, despite spending nearly double per student ($37,522) compared to the other schools and having the smallest class sizes (10.5:1 student-teacher ratio). This spending paradox is largely explained by Lewistown's severe chronic absenteeism rate of 27.9%, nearly double the district average of 16.7%, which strongly correlates with its lower test scores. Thurmont Primary (serving PK-2) has no test scores available but shows a moderate chronic absenteeism rate of 17.4%.
A key takeaway is the academic trajectory within the Thurmont feeder system: while Thurmont Primary's 3rd graders at Thurmont Elementary start strong in math (55% proficient), proficiency drops significantly in 4th grade (33.3%) and 5th grade (31.1%), suggesting a need for targeted math intervention in upper elementary grades. Overall, math proficiency across both tested schools is close to the district average (38.5%), indicating a strong local curriculum, but ELA performance varies widely, with Thurmont Elementary exceeding state averages while Lewistown Elementary lags behind. For parents, Thurmont Elementary offers the strongest academics, while Lewistown Elementary, despite generous resources, faces significant challenges tied to attendance and socioeconomic factors.
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