The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Malcolm Elementary School
Malcolm Elementary School is a regular public school in Waldorf, Maryland, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of Charles County Public Schools, the district that covers this growing Southern Maryland suburb. Because this is an elementary school that does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the state testing data that is available covers grades three through five.
On the state assessments in the most recent year, Malcolm Elementary’s results show a mixed picture. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above ranged from roughly half of third graders to just over a third of fourth graders, with fifth graders falling in between. In mathematics, the pattern was more uneven: third graders and fifth graders each had about a third of students reaching proficiency, but fourth graders showed a notably lower figure, with only a small share meeting the bar. On the fifth-grade state science test, about a quarter of students scored proficient or above. A single year of data is the only point available, so there is no trend to examine. A parent may want to discuss these results directly with the school to understand the instructional approaches and any supports in place.
The school enrolls a modest-sized student body for an elementary school. The student population is diverse, with a substantial share of students identifying as Black, a smaller share as White, a notable share as Hispanic, and a meaningful portion as two or more races. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a common indicator of economic need in public schools. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available, so a family seeking those details would want to ask the school directly.
Waldorf itself is an unincorporated, auto-oriented community that has grown rapidly over the past several decades, transforming from a small rural crossroads into the largest commercial and residential area in Southern Maryland. It functions primarily as a bedroom community for the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, with many residents commuting to federal, professional services, and healthcare jobs. The built environment is shaped by highway corridors, suburban subdivisions, and a large shopping mall, with no traditional downtown core. The school is located on Poplar Hill Road, on the eastern side of Waldorf, in a residential area.
In the housing market, home values in Waldorf are roughly on par with the statewide Maryland benchmark and a bit above the national figure, though they have seen a very slight year-over-year decline. Rental costs are rising more noticeably. The estimated monthly mortgage payment, assuming a typical down payment and the prevailing interest rate, is higher than the average rent, which means renting is currently more affordable on a month-to-month basis than buying, though that equation depends on individual circumstances and local inventory.
The district itself recently had no specific changes that met the bar for lasting parent relevance, based on publicly available information. The Charles County Public Schools system overall is a significant public-sector employer in the area, and the elementary school feeds into a set of middle and high schools that are located across Waldorf.
For a family considering this school, the key takeaway is straightforward: Malcolm Elementary offers a regular public school pathway in a rapidly growing suburban community, with academic proficiency that varies notably by grade and subject. The fourth-grade math results in particular stand out as a point a parent would want to explore further with the school’s administration or teaching staff. The school’s diversity and the share of students receiving meal assistance are characteristics that describe the peer environment, not judgments of quality. The community context is one of commuter-oriented suburban living, with a housing market that remains expensive relative to national averages despite a recent dip in values.
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