Summary:
Zip code 21837, serving the Mardela Springs area, is home to a single elementary school, Northwestern Elementary, which serves grades PK through 5 with an enrollment of 340 students.
Northwestern Elementary stands out as a high-performing school within the Wicomico County Public Schools district, which ranks in the bottom half of Maryland. The school itself has shown consistent improvement, rising from the 64th percentile to the 68th percentile in state rankings over the past three years, earning a 3-star rating. Its greatest academic strength is mathematics, where 43% of all students are proficient—a rate 73% higher than the district average and 59% higher than the state average. English Language Arts performance is also strong, with 57% of students proficient compared to 41.5% in the district and 51.7% statewide. Additionally, the school’s chronic absenteeism rate of 16.8% is notably lower than the district’s 22.4%, likely contributing to its academic success.
Despite these strengths, there are areas for attention. Math proficiency declines as students progress through grades, dropping from 61.3% in 3rd grade to 33.3% in 5th grade, suggesting a need for targeted support in upper-elementary math. Science scores, while above the district average, are only slightly above the state average, indicating a potential growth area. Overall, Northwestern Elementary is a clear academic outlier in its district, offering strong instruction and a supportive environment for its students.
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