The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dundalk Elementary
Dundalk Elementary is a regular public school serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Baltimore County. The school is located in the Dundalk area of Baltimore County, a community within the broader Baltimore region that has historically been a working-class industrial hub and is now part of a large, diverse metropolitan area. The school is part of Baltimore County Public Schools, one of the largest districts in Maryland.
The student body is sizable for an elementary school, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, a marker of household economic need. The student population is racially and ethnically diverse: Hispanic students make up the largest group, followed by Black students, White students, and a smaller proportion of students who identify as two or more races. There are also small numbers of Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. The school did not report data on students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent seeking information about special education support or English language programming may want to ask the school directly.
On state assessments administered in the most recent school year, Dundalk Elementary's academic results are well below the levels typically considered proficient. In mathematics, the share of students scoring proficient fell across the grades tested, with the lowest performance in fifth grade. In English language arts, proficiency rates were higher than in math but still low, with fourth graders performing somewhat better than third and fifth graders. In science, only a small fraction of fifth graders reached the proficiency threshold. These are single-year results, and there is not yet enough data to show a trend. The school's performance places it in a context where most students are not yet meeting state academic benchmarks, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what supports are in place.
Because Dundalk Elementary serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The comparison analysis that would position this school against other schools in the county could not be computed because of insufficient data from neighboring entities, so a countywide academic ranking is not available.
The housing market in the zip code area that includes the school is moderately priced relative to the state as a whole. Home values in this part of Baltimore County are well below the statewide median, and rents are also moderate. The national economic context shows a 30-year fixed mortgage rate near recent highs and a national unemployment rate that has been steady. For a family considering a move to the area, the cost of housing here is lower than in many parts of Maryland, and the neighborhood offers the mix of older homes and a working-class character typical of the Dundalk community.
The community itself is part of a large city with historic neighborhoods, a major port economy, and top employers in health care and higher education. Publicly reported information describes a slight population decline in recent years and a major infrastructure project underway to replace a collapsed bridge, with completion expected in the coming years. The area has walkable historic districts and a dense urban fabric in parts of the city.
The district has recently made several changes that affect all its schools, including Dundalk Elementary. A new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading was adopted starting in the 2023-2024 school year, representing a district-wide shift in reading instruction. A new district-wide cell phone policy restricts phone use during instructional time. The district is also implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a multi-year state plan that expands pre-K access, raises teacher salaries, and increases college and career readiness standards. Voters approved a bond issue for school safety and security improvements, including secure entrances and cameras. Boundary changes approved for some high school feeder systems may not directly affect this elementary school, but district families should be aware that attendance zones have shifted elsewhere in the county.
For a parent, this school offers a diverse, economically mixed student body in a neighborhood with moderate housing costs. The academic results raise important questions about student progress, and the district's recent literacy and policy changes may influence the school's approach going forward.
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