Summary:
In zip code 21791, which covers the Union Bridge area, there is one elementary school, Elmer A. Wolfe Elementary, serving 502 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade as part of the high-performing Carroll County Public Schools district, ranked 2nd out of 25 districts in Maryland.
Elmer A. Wolfe Elementary shows a steady upward trend in its state ranking, moving from the 58th percentile three years ago to the 64th percentile for the current school year, earning a consistent 3-star rating. The school has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.1 and spends a substantial $18,965 per student. Academically, the school is a mixed bag: it significantly outperforms the state average in Mathematics (41.1% proficient vs. 27.1% statewide) and Science (41.9% vs. 32.4%), but it trails its own district in English Language Arts by a notable 18 percentage points (49.4% vs. 67.5%). A deeper look reveals a sharp decline in 5th Grade Math proficiency, which drops to 26.7%, far below the district average of 44.5% and even below the state average of 30.2%, despite strong performance in 3rd and 4th grade math. Chronic absenteeism is 18.9%, slightly better than the district average, and 43.82% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The most critical finding is the significant gap in English Language Arts performance compared to the district, which is an ELA powerhouse. While the school has the resources—high spending and low class sizes—to address this, the academic return, particularly in ELA, does not match the investment. The positive trend in state ranking suggests the school is improving relative to the rest of Maryland, but it is not keeping pace with its high-performing district peers. The 5th Grade math drop is a puzzling issue that warrants attention, though 5th graders show strength in Science. Overall, Elmer A. Wolfe Elementary is a solid, improving school with clear areas for growth, especially in closing the ELA gap and addressing the upper elementary math decline.
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