The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Glenallan Elementary
Glenallan Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Silver Spring, a large, unincorporated census-designated place in southeastern Montgomery County that borders Washington, D.C. The school is a regular public school within Montgomery County Public Schools, the county’s single school district. With an enrollment in the several hundred range, Glenallan is a mid-sized elementary for its grade band.
Academically, state assessment results from the most recent testing year present a mixed picture that parents will want to examine closely. In third grade, proficiency in both math and English language arts reached roughly two-fifths of students, a level broadly in line with state averages for that grade. By fourth and fifth grade, however, the share of students meeting proficiency dropped markedly. Fourth-grade math proficiency landed at about one-fifth of students, and fifth-grade math was similarly low. English language arts followed a similar pattern: fourth-grade proficiency was a third or so, while fifth grade fell to about a quarter. Science testing, which occurs only in fifth grade, showed proficiency at about one in eight students. These results indicate that as students move through the upper elementary grades, a growing share are not meeting state benchmarks. The district adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum in the 2023-24 school year, which may have bearing on future reading results, but the current data is from a single year, so no trend can be assessed.
The student body is notably diverse. The largest group is Hispanic, making up roughly half of enrollment. Black students account for about a quarter, with smaller shares of Asian, white, and multiracial students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a marker that the school serves a predominantly lower-income population. This economic context is relevant when interpreting the academic results, as schools with higher poverty rates often face additional challenges in reaching proficiency targets.
Glenallan sits in the Wheaton–Silver Spring area, inside the Capital Beltway. The surrounding community is dense, urbanized, and richly connected by transit. Downtown Silver Spring, a short distance away, has a major transit center serving Metro, MARC, bus, and soon the Purple Line light rail. Parks along Rock Creek, Sligo Creek, and other waterways provide recreational space. The area’s population is highly diverse, with large Salvadoran, Ethiopian, Indian, and Chinese communities. Major federal employers such as NOAA and FDA are nearby, contributing to a stable employment base.
The housing market in the school’s zip code is expensive. Home values sit well above the national median, and rents are high relative to typical incomes. For a family buying a home, the estimated monthly mortgage payment significantly exceeds local rent, making ownership a stretch for many. This is a pricey corner of an already costly region, though it remains more affordable than some closer-in Washington suburbs.
Because Glenallan serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not offer high school programs, so aspects such as AP or career pathways are not applicable here. The district, Montgomery County Public Schools, has been conducting a systemwide boundary analysis as part of its long-term facilities planning, which could affect attendance zones in the future.
For a family considering this school, the main takeaway is that Glenallan operates in a high-cost, transit-rich, diverse community, but its state test results show a pattern of declining proficiency in upper elementary grades, particularly in math and science. A parent may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks and what interventions are in place for fourth and fifth graders.
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