The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Glade Elementary
Glade Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Walkersville, a primarily residential small town in Frederick County, Maryland. It is part of Frederick County Public Schools, the district that operates all public schools in the county, and no specific parent-relevant changes for the district were confirmed in available public information.
Enrollment at Glade is a typical size for an elementary school serving this grade range. The student body is majority white, with a notably smaller share of Hispanic students, a modest number of Black students, a small Asian population, and a meaningful share of students who identify as two or more races. About three in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a marker of economic need that is moderate. Data for students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the provided information, so families for whom those categories are relevant may want to follow up directly with the school.
Glade Elementary’s academic results on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, or MCAP, show a mixed picture. In English language arts, achievement is strong. In third grade, a solid majority of students met proficiency standards. Fourth grade performance was higher, with most students scoring proficient. Fifth grade English results were reported as a range that also falls in the upper half, indicating that a substantial share of students met the bar. In math, the trajectory is less consistent. Third and fourth grade students scored near or just above the halfway mark for proficiency, which is a solid result, but fifth grade math dipped notably. In fifth grade science, assessed through the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment, proficiency was at a level that is lower than the math and English scores. A family may want to ask the school how it supports students as they move into the upper elementary grades, particularly in math and science, where the results soften.
As an elementary school, Glade does not report a graduation rate, offer advanced coursework, or track postsecondary outcomes; those measures apply to secondary schools only. No chronic absenteeism data or discipline data were available in the source material, so a parent concerned with attendance patterns or school climate may wish to ask for that information directly.
Walkersville is a community that its own comprehensive plan describes as intentionally limiting growth to preserve its small-town feel and agricultural buffer. The town has grown modestly since the last census and remains largely residential, with most residents likely commuting to Frederick city or other employment centers. Housing values in the area are elevated, well above both the state and national benchmarks, reflecting the broader Frederick County market. Civic life centers on parks, a fire hall that hosts community events, and a heritage railroad. The town lacks a stand-alone public library; residents likely use branches in nearby Frederick. Schools sit on separate campuses within the town rather than in a dense downtown core.
For a family considering Glade Elementary, the picture is one of a standard elementary school in a stable, intentionally slow-growth town with strong English language arts results and a math and science record that merits a closer look. The housing market is expensive, which means affordability could be a factor. The school appears to serve its community without major programmatic fanfare; it is a regular public school in a suburban-rural setting. The lack of a district-level brief about recent changes or initiatives means that any active curriculum shifts or capital plans are not accounted for here. A parent would be well served to visit, ask about math and science support in the upper grades, and inquire about special education and English learner services if those apply to their child.
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