The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Friendsville Elementary
Friendsville Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small town of Friendsville, Maryland. The school is part of Garrett County Public Schools and is the only school in the town itself. Its enrollment is on the smaller side, and the student body is overwhelmingly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and a handful of students identifying as two or more races. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a significant level of economic need in the community. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material.
Maryland's state assessments, the MCAP for math and English language arts and the MISA for science, provide a picture of academic performance across grades three through five. In reading, proficiency rates varied by grade. In grade three, a majority of students scored at or above the proficient level. Grade four saw an even higher share of students reaching proficiency. Grade five was a softer spot, with a smaller share of students meeting the bar. In math, the pattern was different. Grade three posted a modest proficiency rate, grade four reached a point where half of students were proficient, and grade five's result fell into a range that suggests about a third of students were proficient. In science, which is tested in grade five, the proficiency rate was notably lower than in reading and math for that grade, which is an area a parent may want to look into further. Only one year of assessment data was available, so there is no trend to assess.
Because Friendsville Elementary serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and metrics like chronic absenteeism were not available in the data provided. The school's programs and course offerings were also not included in the source material, so this narrative cannot speak to what extracurricular or enrichment opportunities exist.
The town of Friendsville blends residential life with outdoor recreation. It sits along the Youghiogheny River and is known for whitewater rafting and kayaking. The town's own marketing emphasizes walkability, with a compact grid and a park offering a paved walking loop. Employment within Friendsville is limited, and many residents commute to Morgantown, West Virginia, or the Deep Creek Lake resort area. The town has experienced a population decline in recent years, though home values have risen, possibly due to limited housing supply and second-home activity. Housing in the area is valued well below state and national benchmarks, reflecting the rural setting and lower regional incomes. The district itself had no major recent changes that met the bar for lasting impact, based on a search of publicly reported information.
For a family considering this school, the picture is of a small, rural elementary that serves a tight-knit community with significant economic diversity. Academic results are mixed, with reading performance generally stronger than math and science in the tested grades. The town offers a quiet, outdoors-oriented lifestyle, but most career opportunities lie beyond its borders. Because the school is elementary only, families will eventually need to transition to a middle and high school within Garrett County, though data on those schools is not part of this profile. The absence of information on special education services, English learner support, and program offerings means a parent should reach out to the school directly to fill those gaps.
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