The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bel Air Elementary
Bel Air Elementary is a regular public school in Cumberland, Maryland, serving children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It operates within the Allegany County Public Schools district. The school's enrollment is relatively small for its grade band, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic context of the surrounding community.
Academically, Bel Air Elementary’s performance on the Maryland state assessments shows a mixed picture. In English language arts, third graders reached proficiency at a rate that stands out as a clear strength. Fourth graders were closer to the halfway mark, and fifth graders also scored above half. In math, the pattern is less consistent. Third-grade math proficiency was around the midpoint, fourth grade slightly below, and fifth grade fell to a level that families may want to explore further with the school. Science results, available only for fifth graders, were notably lower than the other subjects, another area worth investigating.
The student body is overwhelmingly white, with small numbers of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students enrolled. Information on the share of students with disabilities or English learners was not available in the data provided. Because Bel Air Elementary does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
Cumberland, the city where the school is located, has a deep history as a manufacturing and transportation hub in western Maryland, but its industrial base contracted sharply after World War II, and the population has declined substantially over the decades. The contemporary economy is mixed, with tourism tied to the C&O Canal and Great Allegheny Passage trail system, some small technology firms, and government functions. The housing market reflects this context; home values and rents are well below state and national averages, which can make homeownership more accessible compared to many other parts of Maryland. The city itself recently launched a relocation program aimed at attracting new residents, an effort that signals an interest in reversing long-term population loss.
Within the district, Allegany County Public Schools offers a Chinese Partial Immersion Program that runs through elementary grades, with a proposal to extend it into high school. Whether Bel Air Elementary participates in that program is not specified in the available data. The district has also begun an Elementary Schools Facility Utilization Study, which could lead to changes in attendance boundaries or school configurations that families should be aware of when choosing a school.
The data provided does not allow for a direct comparison with other schools in the county, because the available metrics could not be placed against a relevant peer group. This means the narrative rests on the school’s own results and context rather than a ranking. Trends are also limited: only a single year of state testing data was reported, so there is no basis to assess direction over time.
Bel Air Elementary presents as a neighborhood school in a city that has seen significant economic change, with academic results that vary by subject and grade level. Families considering it may want to ask about the specific programs available at the school, especially in math and science, and to monitor the district’s facility study for any implications that may arise.
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