The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Richard Henry Lee Elementary
Richard Henry Lee Elementary serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade in Glen Burnie, a sprawling unincorporated suburb of Baltimore. The school is part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system, one of Maryland’s larger districts. The district recently opened Severn Run High School in the growing western part of the county, a change that redrew some attendance boundaries, though that shift is most relevant for families with older students and does not directly affect this elementary attendance zone.
The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving six grade levels. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with no single group forming a majority. A substantial share of students come from lower-income households, as indicated by the free and reduced-price meal program participation rate. This economic context shapes the school’s support needs, though specific data on special education or English learner populations were not available in the provided records.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Richard Henry Lee Elementary’s results show that across all tested grades, proficiency rates in math were low, declining from third through fifth grade. English language arts proficiency rates were somewhat higher than math but still below what many families would consider strong, particularly in fourth grade. In fifth-grade science, the proficiency rate was very low. These figures represent a single year of data, so no trend is available to indicate whether performance is improving or declining. Parents considering this school may want to ask about the school’s academic support strategies and how the school addresses the needs of students who are not yet reaching proficiency.
The school is located in a community that is car-dependent and built around major commercial corridors like Ritchie Highway and Crain Highway. Glen Burnie has several shopping centers, light rail access to Baltimore via the Cromwell Branch, and the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail for biking and walking. The area has seen steady population growth over recent decades, with development spread across residential subdivisions and strip commercial zones. The housing market in the zip code reflects typical costs for the region, with home values and rents that are moderate relative to the broader Baltimore suburbs.
No information was provided about extracurricular programming, after-school activities, or specific academic offerings beyond the core curriculum. As a regular elementary school, it follows the Anne Arundel County elementary program, but details on specialized programs, class sizes, or staffing ratios were not included. The comparison data that would place this school’s performance relative to other elementary schools across Anne Arundel County was insufficient to generate a meaningful ranking, so the only available benchmark is the state proficiency standard itself.
For families evaluating this school, the key picture is an economically diverse elementary school in a suburban setting where academic proficiency numbers are well below the state average. A parent may want to speak directly with the school about interventions, enrichment, and how the school works to move students toward grade-level mastery. The community offers a standard suburban package of services and transit connections, but the school’s test results warrant a thorough conversation with the principal or a visit to see the learning environment firsthand.
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