The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Halls Cross Roads Elementary
Halls Cross Roads Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the city of Aberdeen, Maryland, as part of the Harford County Public Schools system. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it draws its attendance area from a community shaped by a major federal installation, distribution centers, and a mix of older residential neighborhoods.
On state assessments, the school’s proficiency rates are soft across the tested grades. In English language arts, roughly two out of five students in third, fourth, and fifth grade met the state’s proficiency bar on the MCAP. In mathematics, the share was smaller, falling by grade level from about a third of third graders to just over a fifth of fourth graders and roughly an eighth of fifth graders. Fifth graders also take the state science assessment, and a very small proportion reached proficiency. These are single-year results, and the school does not yet have a multiyear trend to show whether performance is moving up or down. Because there was only one other school in the comparison set for Harford County, no meaningful county-level positioning was possible. A parent may want to discuss with the school what academic supports are in place and how the school addresses gaps in math and science.
The student body is diverse. Black students make up the largest share, followed by White students, Hispanic students, and students who identify as two or more races. Smaller numbers of Asian American and Native American students are also enrolled. The school serves a high-poverty population, with a very large share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. This context often means the school has concentrated need, which can shape the level of wraparound resources families may want to understand. Information on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the data provided.
Aberdeen itself is a growing city and the largest municipality in Harford County. Its economy is anchored by Aberdeen Proving Ground, a large U.S. Army installation that employs a substantial civilian and military workforce. Major distribution and logistics operations from companies such as Frito-Lay, Clorox, and Saks Fifth Avenue are also located here, attracted by the highway and rail access. The city has a compact downtown with a train station serving Amtrak and MARC commuter rail, a festival park that hosts the farmers market, and a baseball complex tied to the Ripken brand. Housing in the area has seen demand rise alongside population growth, though the data suggests home values are in a middle range relative to the wider state, and rental costs are a significant share of typical incomes. The city is car-dependent, though a local bus circulator connects neighborhoods.
At the district level, Harford County Public Schools is undertaking a capital project at Homestead-Wakefield Elementary in Bel Air, consolidating a two-building campus into a single facility. The district has also adjusted its attendance and behavior policies in response to a new state law, which may affect how absences and disciplinary actions are handled. These are district-wide changes and not specific to Halls Cross Roads, but they form part of the operating context.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report. No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, or course access were included in the available records. Families considering Halls Cross Roads would want to learn more about the school’s academic intervention programs, the specific services available to students who need extra support, and how the school engages with families given the high level of economic need. Conversations with current parents and a school visit would fill in details that the published data does not cover.
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