The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Deer Park Elementary
Deer Park Elementary is a regular public school in Owings Mills, Maryland, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of Baltimore County Public Schools, the large district that covers the county and surrounding areas.
State testing data from the 2024-2025 school year, drawn from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program for math and English language arts and the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment for science, shows a mixed academic picture. In third grade, a little over half of students met proficiency in ELA, a stronger result than in later grades. By fourth grade, proficiency in ELA is reported within a range below that level, and by fifth grade it drops further to roughly a third of students meeting the mark. Math proficiency follows a steeper decline: third grade is below half, fourth grade is lower still, and fifth grade falls to a small share of students. Science proficiency in fifth grade is also low. This pattern of declining scores in upper elementary grades is worth noting; a parent may wish to ask the school about how it supports students as the curriculum becomes more demanding and whether any targeted programs address these trends.
The school enrolls about four hundred students. The student body is predominantly Black, with small numbers of students identifying as Asian, Hispanic, white, or two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, an indicator of economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the provided records.
Owings Mills is a growing suburb northwest of Baltimore. It has seen extensive commercial redevelopment, including the transformation of the former Owings Mills Mall into Mill Station and the conversion of a Solo Cup factory into Foundry Row, both large retail centers anchored by major stores. The area is largely car-dependent, though a Metro station and public bus routes provide some transit options. Major employers based in Owings Mills include CareFirst, T. Rowe Price, and the Baltimore Ravens headquarters. Housing values in the area sit at a moderate level relative to national benchmarks, and rents have been rising.
The district adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, which will shape reading instruction at Deer Park. Baltimore County Public Schools also implemented a district-wide cell phone restriction policy during instructional time and approved boundary changes for several high school feeder systems effective the 2025-2026 school year. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a multi-year state plan expanding pre-K access, raising teacher salaries, and increasing career-readiness funding, is being phased in. Voters approved a bond issue for school safety and security improvements, including upgrades to entrance vestibules and access control systems.
No comparison data against other elementary schools in Baltimore County was available because the comparison set included too few districts to produce a meaningful benchmark. Information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access was not provided in the available records.
For families considering Deer Park, it offers a neighborhood elementary experience within a large district that is actively investing in literacy reform and school security. The student population is diverse in racial and socioeconomic terms. The academic trends in upper grades, particularly in math and science, suggest families should engage with the school about how it prepares students for middle school expectations. The surrounding community is growing and has seen significant reinvestment, though it remains primarily car-oriented.
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