The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Orems Elementary
Orems Elementary is a regular public school in Baltimore serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Baltimore County Public Schools system, which has a stated mailing address in Baltimore but is one of the district’s elementary schools located within the county itself. The school has a student body that reflects a mix of racial and economic backgrounds. White students make up the largest share, with sizable populations of Black students, Hispanic students, and smaller groups of Asian students, students of two or more races, and very small numbers of Native American and Pacific Islander students. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a sign that the school serves a community where a substantial portion of families face economic challenges. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available from the sources reviewed.
Academically, Orems has measurable but mixed results on Maryland’s state assessments. On the MCAP, the state’s standardized test, math proficiency was below half of tested students at every grade level. Results were higher in English language arts, where just under half of third and fourth graders scored proficient or above, and fifth graders were a step below. Science performance on the MISA test was notably lower than either math or reading. Because the comparison data for Baltimore County elementary schools could not produce a reliable benchmark, it is not possible to say precisely how Orems stacks up against other county elementary schools, but the proficiency figures themselves suggest that a significant portion of students are not yet meeting state expectations. Parents who want a fuller picture of how the school is addressing these results may want to follow up with the school directly about its academic supports.
The school’s setting is the broader Baltimore area, a large city that has shifted from an industrial base to a service-oriented economy, with Johns Hopkins Hospital and University as leading employers. Baltimore’s population has been stable to slightly declining in recent years, and a major bridge replacement project is underway. These macro conditions affect the city overall; the immediate neighborhood around Orems is not separately characterized in the data.
The district, Baltimore County Public Schools, has made several changes that touch elementary schools like Orems. A new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading was introduced starting in the 2023-2024 school year, emphasizing phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension. This shift may eventually show up in future reading scores, but it is too early to detect an effect in the one year of test data available. The district also adopted a cell phone policy that restricts phone use during the school day for elementary students, and voters approved a safety bond for security upgrades across schools. Most boundary changes approved by the board are targeted at specific high school feeder systems not directly affecting Orems, but families moving into the area should confirm the school’s current attendance zone.
Housing in the area carries a cost that is below the national median for homes, and rents are slightly more affordable relative to local incomes than owning would be, though the monthly mortgage estimate is higher than typical rent. For a family considering the neighborhood, this means homeownership is a stretch but renting is more accessible.
Nothing in the available data points to special program offerings like magnets or accelerated tracks at Orems. The school describes itself as a regular public school, and no Title I designation was reported. For families weighing whether this school fits their child, the core picture is a modest-sized, diverse, Title I-eligible elementary with average-to-below state test scores and a district that is actively changing its literacy instruction and security infrastructure. The school likely looks familiar to anyone accustomed to urban public elementary schools: a neighborhood-anchored building serving a broad mix of students, with academic performance that leaves room for growth.
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