The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Fullerton Elementary
Fullerton Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Baltimore County Public Schools system. The school sits on Fullerton Avenue in Baltimore, in a part of the city that blends residential streets with easy access to the broader region.
The student body is diverse. The largest groups are students who identify as Black or African American and students who identify as White, each making up a substantial share of enrollment. Hispanic or Latino students form a meaningful presence as well. Smaller groups include students who identify with two or more races, Asian students, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a marker of the economic mix families bring to the school.
On state assessments, the picture varies by subject and grade level. In English language arts, third graders posted a proficiency rate in a range that suggests a solid portion of students meeting the bar. Fourth graders reached a proficiency rate that is a clear strength, with half of tested students scoring proficient or above. Fifth graders posted a similar rate, also a clear positive for the school. In math, the results are softer. Third grade proficiency was well under half, fourth grade was lower still, and fifth grade dipped into a noticeably weaker range. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, the proficiency rate was in the low range, a soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school to understand the instructional support in that subject. Because this is a single-year snapshot, there is no trend data to show whether these numbers are improving or declining.
The school is part of a district undergoing several changes that may affect what happens inside Fullerton’s classrooms. Baltimore County Public Schools adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum starting in the 2023-2024 school year, one that is aligned with the science of reading and emphasizes phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. That shift is already in place and directly shapes how reading is taught across all grade levels at Fullerton. The district also implemented a new cell phone policy starting in the 2024-2025 school year, restricting phone use during instructional time for all students, a change that influences the daily classroom environment.
The broader district context includes major funding and policy changes through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a multi-year state plan that is expanding pre-K access, raising teacher salaries, and pushing college and career readiness. For a school like Fullerton that starts at prekindergarten, the expansion of pre-K slots may be a direct factor in who can attend and what resources are available in those early grades. Voters in Baltimore County also approved a bond issue for school safety and security improvements, which funds upgrades such as secure entrance vestibules and access control systems.
In terms of local housing market context, homes in the area carry a value that trends above the national typical level, though still a step below the state benchmark. Rents are similarly elevated relative to the national picture. For families considering a move to this attendance zone, these figures matter for affordability calculations, but the school sits within a larger district that covers a wide range of housing costs across Baltimore County.
No state testing data is missing here; the school reports results for the grades it serves. Because Fullerton ends at fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, which is expected for an elementary school. The school does not have charter or magnet status, and Title I status was not available in the data reviewed. Information on programs such as gifted offerings, arts, or extracurriculars was not provided, so this narrative cannot speak to what is available outside the core academic schedule.
For a parent trying to get a feel for what this school offers, the academic profile is strongest in reading, particularly at the fourth and fifth grade levels, while math and science show room for growth. The student body is economically and racially diverse, and the school sits within a district that is actively reshaping its literacy instruction and classroom policies. The neighborhood is suburban in character within the city limits, with home values and rents that reflect the broader Baltimore County market.
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