Average
#693 of 1,363 schools in MD
Fort Smallwood Elementary
Elementary School · Anne Arundel County Public Schools
1720 Poplar Ridge Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122
Enrollment
404
Student-Teacher
13:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
404
Student-Teacher
13:1
Score
6.3
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Pasadena
#6 of 12
public schools
Maryland elementary schools
#594 of 882
In district
#63 of 123
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
School environment
7.7 / 10
Very strong
About Fort Smallwood Elementary
Fort Smallwood Elementary serves 404 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade in Pasadena, Maryland. This regular public school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13:1 with 31 full-time equivalent teachers, creating an environment where students can receive more individualized attention. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #275 out of 1,364 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 80th percentile.
Students show particular strength in English Language Arts, with 55% achieving proficiency or above across grade levels. Mathematics presents an area with room for growth, with 35% of students meeting proficiency standards. Fort Smallwood Elementary draws from Anne Arundel County's well-established community, where families enjoy a median household income of $118,302 and median home values of $402,100.
The surrounding area reflects stability and educational investment, with 32% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a low poverty rate of 5.2%. Located on Poplar Ridge Road, Fort Smallwood Elementary sits in a large suburban setting that combines residential comfort with access to educational resources, serving a community of over 61,000 residents who value both academic achievement and neighborhood stability.
Score Breakdown
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Fort Smallwood Elementary — Students at Fort Smallwood Elementary score 49% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
23.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)
Based on 8 test records from MD state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.8/10.
How Fort Smallwood Elementary Compares
See how Fort Smallwood Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 47% (2019) to 41.2% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 57% (2019) to 55.9% (2025).
Location
1720 Poplar Ridge Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Fort Smallwood Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Riviera Beach Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Jacobsville Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Broadneck Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 5.9 miles away, in nearby Arnold), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Pasadena, see our Pasadena schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 5.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake High Pasadena | 1.7 mi | 4.7 |
| Chesapeake Bay Middle Pasadena | 1.8 mi | 6.5 |
| Bodkin Elementary Pasadena | 1.9 mi | 5.5 |
| Lake Shore Elementary Pasadena | 2.1 mi | 7.9 |
| Riviera Beach Elementary Pasadena | 2.6 mi | 9.5 |
| DIVINE MERCY ACADEMY Pasadena | 2.7 mi | 6.2 |
| DEVINE MERCY ACADEMY Pasadena | 2.7 mi | 6.8 |
| Jacobsville Elementary Pasadena | 2.7 mi | 8.5 |
| Sunset Elementary Pasadena | 2.9 mi | 5.9 |
| Northeast High Pasadena | 2.9 mi | 6.0 |
| High Point Elementary Pasadena | 3.5 mi | 6.9 |
| Northeast Middle Pasadena | 3.9 mi | 5.2 |
| Belvedere Elementary Arnold | 5.3 mi | 7.7 |
| Folger Mckinsey Elementary Severna Park | 4.8 mi | 7.4 |
| Magothy River Middle Arnold | 5.5 mi | 5.8 |
| Severn River Middle Arnold | 5.5 mi | 6.3 |
| AACPS Virtual Academy Arnold | 5.5 mi | 6.3 |
| Broadneck Elementary Arnold | 5.9 mi | 8.5 |
| ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST SCHOOL Severna Park | 5.4 mi | 5.6 |
| ARNOLD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Arnold | 5.9 mi | 7.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 21122 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$121,732
Median Home Value
$412,100
Median Rent
$2,077/mo
Population
61,589
College Educated
31.6%
Homeownership
86.1%
Avg Commute
31.1 min
Poverty Rate
5%
Median Age
39.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Fort Smallwood Elementary has a median household income of $121,732. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $412,100, with a median rent of $2,077/month. The local poverty rate of 5.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Clopper Mill Elementary Germantown, MD | 6.3 |
| Fort Foote Elementary Fort Washington, MD | 6.3 |
| HOLY REDEEMER SCHOOL KENSINGTON Kensington, MD | 6.3 |
| Hilton Elementary Baltimore, MD | 6.3 |
| Robert Moton Elementary Westminster, MD | 6.3 |
| Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle Baltimore, MD | 6.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Fort Smallwood Elementary
What grades does Fort Smallwood Elementary serve?
Fort Smallwood Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Fort Smallwood Elementary?
Fort Smallwood Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 404 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Smallwood Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Smallwood Elementary is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Fort Smallwood Elementary rank in MD?
Fort Smallwood Elementary is ranked #693 out of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Fort Smallwood Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Fort Smallwood Elementary has a composite rating of 6.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Fort Smallwood Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Fort Smallwood Elementary has 36.3% math proficiency and 47.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Fort Smallwood Elementary a charter school?
No, Fort Smallwood Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Fort Smallwood Elementary a Title I school?
No, Fort Smallwood Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Fort Smallwood Elementary?
23.5% of students at Fort Smallwood Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 404
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 31
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 23.5%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Anne Arundel County
- Phone
- (410) 222-6450
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Anne Arundel County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 84,346
- Schools in District
- 126
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $17,624
- District Rank
- #63 of 123
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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