Summary:
Zip code 21795 in Williamsport, MD, is home to two elementary schools—Williamsport Elementary and Hickory Elementary—both part of the Washington County Public Schools district, serving grades K-5 in a suburban community.
The standout school in this area is Williamsport Elementary, which earns a 4-star rating and ranks in the top 15% of Maryland elementary schools. It dramatically outperforms Hickory Elementary across all subjects: 62.4% of Williamsport students are proficient in math versus 28.9% at Hickory, and 67.4% are proficient in English Language Arts compared to 32.4% at Hickory. Science scores for 5th graders tell a similar story, with 59.3% proficiency at Williamsport versus just 24.0% at Hickory. Williamsport also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (19.1% vs. 31.0%) and a lower percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch (60.98% vs. 77.3%). Interestingly, Hickory Elementary actually spends more per student ($18,567 vs. $15,778) and has a slightly better student-teacher ratio (13.7 vs. 14.6), yet its academic outcomes are far lower, suggesting that challenges like poverty and attendance are key factors driving its 2-star rating and ranking in the bottom 36% of Maryland schools.
For parents, the key takeaway is that these two schools offer vastly different educational experiences despite being in the same zip code and district. Williamsport Elementary is a high-performing school that consistently exceeds district and state averages, making it a strong choice for families. Hickory Elementary, on the other hand, is struggling and would benefit from targeted support to address chronic absenteeism and socioeconomic barriers. The data clearly shows that higher spending alone does not guarantee better results, and that factors like attendance and economic stability play a critical role in student success.
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