The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mars Estates Elementary
Mars Estates Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the southeastern section of Baltimore, within the Baltimore County Public Schools district. It is one of the district’s many elementary schools and does not operate as a charter or magnet school. The school enrolls a modest-sized student body for its grade band, serving families in the surrounding residential neighborhoods of the city.
The student population is diverse. A majority of students are Black, a substantial share are Hispanic, and smaller proportions are white, multiracial, or Asian. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need. Data on the share of students with individualized education programs or English learner status was not available in the source materials, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the specific support structures in place for these groups.
On state assessments, the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program for grades three through five, student proficiency rates are markedly low across all tested subjects. In English language arts, proficiency rates vary by grade, with a modest share of students meeting the standard in third grade, a smaller share in fourth grade, and a roughly similar share in fifth grade. In mathematics, the pattern is similar, with a very small portion of students scoring proficient across all three grades. Science results for fifth graders show an even smaller share reaching proficiency on the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment. Across the school as a whole, the combined proficiency rate for English language arts and math is very low.
These results place the school well below district and state averages. Because the comparison data set only had a single district in the county cohort, a direct comparative ranking among neighboring systems was not possible. The data is from a single school year, so no year-over-year trend is available to assess whether performance is improving or declining. A parent considering this school will want to have a frank conversation with the administration about academic interventions and the specific strategies being used to raise achievement.
The district, Baltimore County Public Schools, has made several recent changes that affect Mars Estates. A new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading was adopted starting in the 2023-2024 school year, emphasizing phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. This is a foundational shift in how reading is taught across all the district's elementary schools, including Mars Estates. The district also implemented a new policy restricting cell phone use during instructional time across all grade levels, which reshapes the daily classroom environment. Additionally, as part of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, the district is expanding pre-kindergarten, raising teacher salaries, and receiving increased state funding. A voter-approved bond issue for school safety improvements is funding upgrades such as secure entrance vestibules and security cameras across the district, which would apply to Mars Estates as well.
The school is located in Baltimore, an independent city with a service-oriented economy anchored by Johns Hopkins Hospital and University as top employers. The city has numerous historic districts and a walkable urban fabric in areas like Fell's Point and Federal Hill, though the school sits in a more residential part of town. Baltimore’s population has seen a slight decline in recent years, and a major infrastructure project to replace the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is underway, expected to complete in the fall of 2028. Housing costs in the area around the school are moderate, below the state benchmark, though affordability relative to local income remains a consideration for families.
This is an elementary school facing serious academic challenges, serving a student body with high economic need. The district is implementing new literacy curricula and increased safety funding, but academic proficiency rates remain very low. A parent looking at Mars Estates should investigate what specific academic support programs, tutoring, or intervention structures are in place, and how the school’s approach to instruction is evolving under the district’s recent changes.
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