The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in English language arts. The lowest is 49% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Prettyboy Elementary
Prettyboy Elementary sits in the northern reaches of Baltimore County in the small, unincorporated rural community of Freeland, a place that remains the last of the small rural villages that once thrived along the Northern Central Railroad. The area has no downtown, no commercial corridor, and no public transit, just scattered single-family homes on large lots. Residents lean on automobiles for everything. The former hotel and general store are now private homes. Life in Freeland centers on the Gunpowder Falls State Park and the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail, which follows the old railroad right-of-way. This is a low-density, preservation-minded setting, not a growth corridor.
Prettyboy Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The enrollment is small for its grade band. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with small numbers of Hispanic students and those identifying as two or more races, and very small numbers of Asian, Black, and American Indian students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting a community with relatively low economic diversity compared to many schools in the county. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported.
State test results from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program show a pattern that shifts by grade and subject. In third grade, English language arts proficiency was strong on the MCAP. Fourth grade ELA was also solid. Fifth grade ELA was reported within a range that placed it around the midpoint. Math results show more variation. Third grade math proficiency was solid. Fourth grade math was reported in a range that was roughly mid-level. Fifth grade math was reported in a weaker range, suggesting that as students progress, math achievement becomes a softer spot a parent may want to ask the school about directly. Science results on the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment for fifth graders were around the midpoint, with roughly half of students meeting the proficiency threshold. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the neighbor comparison tool could not place this school relative to other Baltimore County districts because the cohort was too small to make that calculation.
The school is part of Baltimore County Public Schools, which has made several recent district-wide changes that affect Prettyboy. A new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading was introduced starting in the 2023-2024 school year, shifting how reading is taught across all elementary schools. A district-wide cell phone policy now requires phones to be stored and silenced during the school day for elementary students. The district is also implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a multi-year state plan that expands pre-K, raises teacher salaries, and increases college and career readiness funding, bringing additional state resources to the district. Voters approved a bond issue for school safety improvements such as secure entrances and access control systems. Boundary changes affecting the Hereford, Dulaney, and Loch Raven feeder systems were approved and took effect in the 2025-2026 school year, which could change which elementary schools feed into which middle and high schools for families in this area.
This is a small, rural elementary school in a stable, automobile-dependent community where the housing market reflects the broader Baltimore County context. The student body is not economically diverse. Academically, the picture is mixed: early-grade reading is a clear strength, while math and science in the upper elementary grades are more uneven. Parents considering this school should expect a setting that feels intentionally small and rural, with the trade-offs in limited nearby services and amenities that go with that, and should look into the math support available for students in fourth and fifth grades.
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