The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Van Bokkelen Elementary
Van Bokkelen Elementary sits in Severn, an unincorporated suburban community in Anne Arundel County that has grown rapidly over the past several decades, driven by its proximity to Fort Meade, BWI Airport, and the Baltimore-Washington corridor. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The surrounding neighborhood is car-dependent and lacks a traditional downtown, with commercial activity scattered along major highways. Its enrollment is moderate for an elementary school, and a very high share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic circumstances of the community.
The student body is majority Black, with a substantial Hispanic population and smaller numbers of white and Asian students. This is a school where nearly all families face economic need, and the composition points to a peer environment shaped by that reality. Data on English learner and special education enrollment were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how these populations are supported.
Van Bokkelen’s state assessment results from the 2024-25 school year show significant academic challenges. On Maryland’s MCAP tests, proficiency rates in mathematics were low across all tested grades, with single-digit percentages at some grade levels and roughly one in five students meeting the standard at the highest point. In English language arts, about one in five third and fourth graders scored proficient, while fifth grade results were lower. Science proficiency on the state’s MISA assessment was also low. Only one year of state test data is available, so it is not possible to see whether performance is improving or declining. These numbers are well below the typical ranges seen across the county, and families considering the school should speak with staff about what academic interventions and supports are in place.
No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing was provided, so the full picture of school climate and daily operations is incomplete from this dataset. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
Severn itself has experienced sustained population growth, with new residential development continuing as the area attracts federal workers and commuters to Baltimore and Washington. Housing values and rents in the ZIP code are above the national median, and the area remains primarily residential. Anne Arundel County Public Schools recently opened Severn Run High School, a new comprehensive high school that expanded capacity and redrew attendance boundaries for the growing western part of the county, which may affect feeder patterns for Van Bokkelen families in the longer term.
For a parent, Van Bokkelen Elementary is a neighborhood school serving a high-poverty community in a fast-growing suburban region. Its academic results indicate substantial need, and a family considering this school would want to learn about early literacy programs, math intervention, and how the school addresses the challenges that come with concentrated poverty. The lack of trend data and missing student-support metrics means that direct communication with the school is essential to get a full sense of what a child’s experience would be like there.
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