The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in English language arts. The lowest is 43% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Churchville Elementary
Churchville Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the unincorporated rural community of Churchville, Maryland. It is part of Harford County Public Schools. The school sits on a separated campus along Level Road, away from the crossroads that form the informal center of this small, historically agricultural community. There is no downtown within walking distance, and daily life depends on car travel.
The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, Hispanic, or Black, and a very small number of Asian students. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a rate that positions the school with a moderate level of economic diversity. Enrollment is relatively small for an elementary school in the district, and the school houses one class section per grade in most grades.
Academically, Churchville Elementary shows a pattern that parents should consider carefully. In English language arts, the school performs well. In third grade, the large majority of students scored at the proficient level or above, and in both fourth and fifth grades, the proficiency rate was even higher, reaching into the low eighties. This is a clear strength: students across the upper elementary grades are reading and writing at a level the state considers solid.
In math, the picture is more uneven. Third graders posted a proficiency rate that was solid but below the school's own ELA marks. Fourth-grade math results fell into a range that suggests more students need support, and fifth-grade math results were somewhat stronger but still below the school's reading performance. Overall ELA proficiency for the school sits well above its math proficiency, a gap that a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand how math instruction and intervention are structured.
Science is tested once in fifth grade, and the share of students scoring proficient was lower than in either ELA or math. This is a soft spot in the data. A parent may want to look into how the school delivers science instruction and whether there are hands-on or inquiry-based opportunities in earlier grades that build toward the fifth-grade assessment.
No data was available for chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, course access, staffing ratios, or special education and English learner enrollments. Because the neighbor comparison could not compute proficiency rankings due to a very small cohort within the county, the school's performance cannot be positioned against nearby schools in this report.
The community context matters for families considering this school. Churchville is not a growth area; no major new housing developments were identified. The housing market has a typical home value that is well above the state median, which suggests that homebuyers here pay a premium for the area. Rent is also high relative to income, making the community expensive for families who do not already own a home. The dominant employer in the broader area is Aberdeen Proving Ground, a major U.S. Army installation a short drive east, and many residents likely commute there or to Bel Air, the county seat.
A district-wide change that may affect Churchville families is the state-mandated Keep Students In Class law, which began with the 2024-25 school year and introduces new attendance and behavioral expectations. This applies to all Maryland schools, so parents should expect modified policies around absences and discipline.
Churchville Elementary is a small, rural school with strong reading results across the board, math results that are weaker than its reading, and comparatively low science proficiency. Families who prioritize strong literacy instruction and a low-density, car-dependent setting may find it a good fit. Those who want to see stronger math and science outcomes or who need a more walkable community should look into these areas further with the school.
See more original research from School Decision →