The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Route 40 Elementary
Route 40 Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Frostburg, Maryland, part of Garrett County Public Schools. It is a very small school, with an enrollment that makes it one of the smallest elementary schools in the county. The student body is overwhelmingly white, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The school sits along National Pike on the outskirts of Frostburg, a small Appalachian mountain town shaped by Frostburg State University.
The community context matters for families considering this school. Frostburg blends residential neighborhoods with a historic Main Street corridor and a downtown Arts and Entertainment District that includes the university, the Frostburg Museum, and the depot for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. The university brings a modest cultural and economic energy to a town that was historically a coal mining and fire brick manufacturing center. Housing in the area is relatively affordable compared to the state as a whole, and the town’s elevation and mountain setting are part of its identity. There is no public transit system identified beyond regional roads, so car commuting is the norm. The district brief turned up no recent changes with a lasting impact, so the school’s operations appear stable.
State testing results from the 2024-25 school year provide the main academic picture. In mathematics, performance varied by grade. The third grade showed a rate of proficiency that was notably higher than the other two tested grades, while fourth and fifth grade math results were lower. In English language arts, the third grade also had a higher rate, with a reported range suggesting roughly half of students met proficiency. Fourth grade ELA showed a lower range, and fifth grade ELA came in at a moderate level. Fifth grade science results were also at the lower end. For an elementary school, these results point to uneven academic performance across subjects and grade levels. Families may want to look into how the school supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency standards, particularly in math and science.
No data was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or course access, and the school does not report special education or English learner counts. Because Route 40 Elementary only serves grades K-5, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not operate as a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not provided.
The school’s small size is a defining characteristic. With only a handful of classrooms per grade, class sizes are quite small, which may allow for close relationships between students and teachers. The lack of data on staff qualifications or student support programs makes it difficult to assess the full academic environment. A parent considering this school might want to ask the school directly about its approach to intervention and enrichment, as well as how it uses resources to address the gaps visible in the test results.
Route 40 Elementary serves a community that is rural and small-town in character, with a university presence that adds some diversity of activity but not much demographic diversity to the student body. For families who value a very small school in a quiet mountain setting with affordable housing and a strong sense of local history, this school fits that profile. The academic results suggest that the school faces challenges common to small, economically mixed rural schools, and a parent would want to explore how those challenges are met in the classroom day to day.
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