The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Youths Benefit Elementary
Youths Benefit Elementary is a regular public school in Fallston, Maryland, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Harford County Public Schools district. The school sits in a semi-rural community that is mostly residential, with farms and suburban-style developments along winding roads. Most residents commute to work outside Fallston, and the community has a high rate of homeownership and very low housing vacancy. Property values in the area are notably above both state and national benchmarks, and the median household income is high. The setting is car-dependent, with no traditional walkable downtown. The Little Gunpowder Falls and Winters Run provide natural corridors, and the Veronica Chenowith Center is a local community facility.
The school itself is large for an elementary school, enrolling students across all grades from PK through 5. The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic, Asian, Black, and multiracial students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the community’s overall affluence. Information on special education and English learner populations was not available in the data reviewed.
State testing results are available for grades three through five from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, with fifth-grade science results from the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment. The strongest performance is in English language arts across all tested grades. Third-graders posted a very high proficiency rate, and fourth- and fifth-graders also reached strong levels, well above a clear majority. Math results show more variation. Third-graders performed very well, with a solid majority proficient or above. Fourth-grade math saw a notable drop, with just over a third of students meeting the proficiency mark; a parent may want to follow up with the school about instructional support in that grade. Fifth-grade math results were reported as a range centering around the midpoint, and overall math proficiency across tested grades sits at a moderate level. Science results in fifth grade were below half of students proficient, a softer spot relative to the reading outcomes.
No multi-year trend data is available beyond a single year, so it is not possible to assess whether performance is improving or declining. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. The district has recently begun implementing a state-mandated attendance and behavior policy called Keep Students In Class, which may affect how absences and disciplinary matters are handled across all schools. A separate capital project rebuilding Homestead-Wakefield Elementary in Bel Air is underway, though that does not directly touch this school community.
For a family considering Fallston, Youths Benefit Elementary offers strong early reading results, a low-poverty peer environment, and a large, stable school with a predominantly white demographic profile. The math and science results are less consistent, and the drop in fourth-grade math is worth asking about. The community itself is quiet, affluent, and spread out, with most daily destinations requiring a car. The school’s academic profile fits families who place a priority on literacy outcomes and who are comfortable with a larger elementary setting in a semi-rural area.
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