The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Math. The lowest is 24% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Grantsville Elementary
Grantsville Elementary is a regular public school in the far western corner of Maryland, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the town of Grantsville, a small historic community near the Pennsylvania border in Garrett County. The school is part of the Garrett County Public Schools district.
The student body is small and overwhelmingly white, reflecting the broader demographics of the rural area. A substantial share of students come from low-income households, as indicated by the free and reduced-price meal program. The school runs one class per grade, with enrollment spread evenly from kindergarten through fifth grade and a notable prekindergarten program.
For a family considering this school, the most direct picture comes from the state's standardized testing program. In math, results showed that in grade three, roughly under half of students met the state's proficiency benchmark. In grade four, that share was slightly lower, and in grade five, it was similar to grade four's level. In English language arts, the picture was mixed. Grade four results were below the midpoint of the county's range, while grade five reading showed a stronger performance. For grade three, the state reported a range rather than a single figure, suggesting a level of performance that a parent may want to discuss with the school for greater clarity. In science, tested only in grade five, the share of students reaching proficiency was noticeably lower than in reading or math, a soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school. Because Maryland's assessment system has undergone recent changes, direct comparisons with prior years are not available, so there is no multi-year trend to evaluate.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. No data was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing ratios, leaving gaps in the full picture of school climate. Information on special education and English learner populations was also missing from the available records.
Grantsville itself is a town with a distinct character. Its downtown runs along the historic National Road, with landmarks like the Casselman Inn and the stone-arch Casselman Bridge. The area draws visitors for its outdoor recreation, with access to several state parks and the Great Allegheny Passage trail. Housing values are modest and have seen recent growth. The town is small, and daily life is car-dependent for most errands and commutes. There is a shuttle service connecting Grantsville to Frostburg and on to larger towns, but transit is limited.
The district as a whole, Garrett County Public Schools, did not have any parent-relevant changes or major developments publicly reported in recent years, so there is little to note about district-level shifts that would affect this school.
For parents, this is a small, rural elementary school where class sizes are modest and the community is tight-knit. Academic performance on state tests is uneven, with some grades showing stronger results in reading than in math or science. Families who value a small school setting in a historic town may find it a natural fit, but those with concerns about academic outcomes, particularly in math and science, will want to engage directly with the school to understand how those results are being addressed.
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