The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Carney Elementary
Carney Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, part of the Baltimore County Public Schools system. The school sits in a residential area of Baltimore County, within the broader Baltimore metropolitan region. The city itself has shifted from an industrial past to a service-oriented economy, anchored by major employers such as Johns Hopkins Hospital and University, and features a mix of historic neighborhoods and walkable districts. Housing in the surrounding zip code is moderately priced relative to the state and nation, and the area has seen a modest population decline in recent years.
The school enrolls a moderate number of students for an elementary school. The student body is diverse, with a majority identifying as Black, a substantial share as white, and smaller groups identifying as Asian, Hispanic, or two or more races. About two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating that many families face economic challenges. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not available in the provided records.
State testing results come from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program for English language arts and math, and the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment for fifth-grade science. In English language arts, about two in five third graders met the proficiency benchmark, with slightly lower rates in fourth and fifth grades. Math proficiency was lower: roughly one in five third and fourth graders scored proficient, and only about one in ten fifth graders did. In fifth-grade science, about one in seven students reached the proficient level. These results show a pattern where reading performance is stronger than math, and math and science proficiency rates are notably low, especially by fifth grade. Only a single year of assessment data was available, so there is no basis for discussing trends.
The school does not serve high school grades, so it has no graduation rate. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing were all absent from the records provided. A parent may want to ask the school directly about attendance patterns and support services.
Carney operates within Baltimore County Public Schools, a large district that has recently made several changes affecting all its elementary schools. The district adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum starting in the 2023-2024 school year, rooted in the science of reading and emphasizing phonics and comprehension. That shift is still being implemented and may influence future test results. The district has also enacted a new cell phone policy restricting use during instructional time, approved boundary changes for some feeder systems that take effect in the 2025-2026 school year, and is carrying out the multi-year Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which expands pre-K access, raises teacher salaries, and boosts funding. Voters approved a bond issue for school safety improvements, including secure entrances and cameras. These district-level efforts shape the environment at Carney but the school’s own academic outcomes remain an area for families to weigh.
The comparison data that would place Carney relative to other districts in Baltimore County was insufficient because only one district was in the cohort, so no meaningful benchmark is available. In short, Carney Elementary offers a diverse, economically mixed setting in a stable suburban part of the Baltimore area. Its academic proficiency, particularly in math and science, is an area where families may want to seek more detail on what supports are in place.
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