The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in English language arts. The lowest is 34% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dr. James Craik Elementary School
Dr. James Craik Elementary School is a regular public school in Pomfret, Maryland, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of Charles County Public Schools. The school sits in an unincorporated census-designated place in central Charles County, a rural and low-density community with no traditional downtown or commercial core. Pomfret’s character is residential and historic, with several properties on the National Register and a population that skews older. The built environment is car-dependent, and local schools are spread along roadways rather than clustered. Housing values in the area are high relative to the state median, and the community has seen little new construction or population growth in recent years.
Academically, the school’s strongest performance comes in English language arts. Across the three tested grades, proficiency rates are solid, with fourth grade reaching a point notably above the other grades. Third and fifth grades also show a majority of students meeting or exceeding expectations, though the fourth-grade figure stands out as the school’s high mark on state assessments. Math proficiency is softer: fewer than half of students score at proficient or above in any tested grade, with fourth grade the lowest and fifth grade the highest of the three. Science, tested only in fifth grade, shows a proficiency rate well below half. A parent may want to discuss these results with the school to understand how math and science instruction are delivered and what supports are available. Because test data is available only for the most recent year, it is not possible to assess year-over-year trends. State testing for third through fifth graders is conducted under the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program and the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment; the school’s participation rates were not reported.
Enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving this grade span. Over a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that places the school near the middle range of economic need. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with the largest groups identifying as Black or African American and as White, followed by Hispanic, two or more races, and Asian. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available from state reporting, a gap that families with children in those populations may wish to fill directly with the school.
The school’s locale offers a quiet, low-density setting with historic farm properties and limited commercial activity. Pomfret has no public library or transit hub, and most employment for residents lies outside the CDP, with many commuting to nearby La Plata or Waldorf. The presence of the College of Southern Maryland a mile east provides some educational and employment anchor, and a historic Catholic church and a county dive rescue station are among the few civic landmarks inside the CDP. Charles County Public Schools reported no recent parent-relevant changes in the district’s operations or priorities that were publicly available, so the district landscape appears stable.
For families considering this school, the academic picture shows a solid language arts foundation and a math and science side that warrants a closer look. The community is rural and car-dependent, with high home prices and little population flux. The school itself serves a diverse, moderately mixed-income student body, and its elementary-only span means no graduation rate or secondary program data apply. Parents who value a small-town, low-density environment and are comfortable driving for services and amenities may find this a suitable fit, particularly if they seek a school where language arts proficiency is a clear strength and are willing to engage actively on math and science supports.
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