The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in English language arts. The lowest is 40% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hollywood Elementary
Hollywood Elementary sits in a rural stretch of St. Mary's County, serving a pre-kindergarten-through-fifth-grade population that draws from the surrounding unincorporated community of Hollywood and its scattered residential areas. The school is a regular public school within St. Mary's County Public Schools, and it is not a charter or magnet school. Its setting is a mix of active farmland—soybean, corn, hay, and wheat—and defense-related commercial activity, including a Northrop Grumman presence and a training center tied to the nearby Patuxent River Naval Air Station, the dominant employer in the region.
The student body is a bit under five hundred children. The majority of students are white, with significant shares identifying as two or more races, Black, or Hispanic and a smaller Asian population. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that is not extreme but signals that the school serves a mix of economic backgrounds. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not provided, so a parent may want to ask the school for those numbers directly.
Academically, Hollywood Elementary shows a clear strength in English language arts. In every tested grade, a solid majority of students met or exceeded the state's proficiency standard on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program. The strongest result came from the youngest tested grade, and even in fifth grade, where the rate dipped, it still landed above half. That pattern suggests the school's literacy instruction is generally effective across the elementary span.
Math performance is more uneven. In third grade, a substantial share of students scored proficient or above, but that share dropped by a noticeable margin in fourth and fifth grades, where fewer than half did. A parent whose child struggles with math may want to look into what tiered support or intervention the school offers. The fifth-grade science assessment, the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment, yielded a rate below half, which is a softer spot. Because this is the only tested science grade, it is hard to tell whether the result reflects a single cohort or a broader pattern, but it is worth asking about the school’s science curriculum and how it builds knowledge across the earlier grades.
Because Hollywood Elementary ends at fifth grade, there are no graduation data and no high-school-level metrics such as AP or dual enrollment. The absence is expected given the grade band, not a reflection on the school. The comparison set for St. Mary's County contains only one district, so there is no reliable way to position this school against local peers on proficiency, chronic absenteeism, or graduation. The reader should treat the school's results in absolute terms rather than relative to neighbors.
The community around the school is car-dependent and spread out along highway corridors, with no concentrated downtown. Key civic anchors include Greenwell State Park, the historic Sotterley Plantation, and the local volunteer fire department. Housing values in the area are notably above the state median, and the typical monthly mortgage payment would be a significant household expense. Rents are also high relative to income. The local unemployment rate matched the national figure, and median household income sits at a level that makes the area comfortable for many families but tight for those on a single modest salary. The district itself did not appear to have any major recent changes or strategic initiatives that were publicly reported, so a parent should check with the school or district office for current priorities around curriculum, staffing, or facilities.
Hollywood Elementary offers a straightforward elementary experience in a rural, highway-oriented part of St. Mary's County. The academic picture is strongest in reading, less consistent in math, and softer in science for the one tested grade. Families who value a small-town setting with nearby access to the Patuxent River and who work in the defense or agricultural sectors will find this a natural fit. Those concerned about math and science outcomes, or who want more information on special education and English learner supports, should pursue those conversations directly with the school before making a placement decision.
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