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Excellent

#205 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 15% in state

Friendship Valley Elementary

Elementary School · Carroll County Public Schools

1100 Gist Road, Westminster, MD 21157

Enrollment

499

Student-Teacher

13.1:1

Score

8.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#205 of 1,363

In Westminster

#3 of 14

public schools

In district

#10 of 40

Carroll County Public Schools

Equity

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Friendship Valley Elementary

8.3/10

Elementary School in Westminster · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Pride School

Nearby

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Westminster High

6.9/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Friendship Valley Elementary

Friendship Valley Elementary is a public elementary school in Westminster, MD, part of Carroll County Public Schools. Friendship Valley Elementary serves approximately 499 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Friendship Valley Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #205 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Friendship Valley Elementary show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 8.3 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.1
  • MD avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Friendship Valley Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.29 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.6Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency55.1% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency63.4% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+24.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+12.3 pts
Overall Proficiency59% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)54% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected+5.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile79th
Resources & Environment7.8Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,548
Chronic Absenteeism23.6%

Friendship Valley Elementary — Students at Friendship Valley Elementary score 59% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

27.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 67.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 64.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
51.1% (2025 MCAP)

Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
93%
ELA
95%
2010
Math
90%
ELA
93%
2011
Math
93%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
93%
ELA
93%
2013
Math
86%
ELA
94%
2014
Math
61%
ELA
50%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
45%
2016
Math
70%
ELA
45%
2018
Math
58%
ELA
48%
2019
Math
58%
ELA
48%
2020*
Math
30%
ELA
36%
2021*
Math
30%
ELA
36%
2022
Math
54%
ELA
60%
2025
Math
55.1%
ELA
63.4%

* 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: 8.3/10.

How Friendship Valley Elementary Compares

See how Friendship Valley Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.3/10
85th percentile in MD
Academic
8.6/10
Excellent
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
7.8/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
28%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
38 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.6%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1100 Gist Road, Westminster, MD 21157

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Friendship Valley Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. William Winchester Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Mechanicsville Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 6.2 miles away, in nearby Sykesville), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Sandymount Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 4.8 miles away, in nearby Finksburg), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Westminster, see our Westminster schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.2 mi
School Distance Rating
PRIDE School Westminster 0.0 mi
Westminster High Westminster 0.7 mi 6.9
Robert Moton Elementary Westminster 0.9 mi 7.5
Flexible Student Support Westminster 1.0 mi 4.8
Gateway School Westminster 1.0 mi 8.1
Crossroads Middle School Westminster 1.0 mi
Carroll Springs School Westminster 1.2 mi
Post Secondary Program Westminster 1.2 mi 7.3
CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM Westminster 1.5 mi
Westminster East Middle Westminster 2.2 mi 6.9
William Winchester Elementary Westminster 2.6 mi 8.4
Winters Mill High Westminster 2.3 mi 6.0
Cranberry Station Elementary Westminster 2.4 mi 7.4
Westminster West Middle Westminster 2.7 mi 7.4
Westminster Elementary Westminster 2.6 mi 7.8
ST JOHN SCHOOL Westminster 2.8 mi 5.5
CARROLL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Westminster 5.0 mi 5.4
Sandymount Elementary Finksburg 4.8 mi 7.9
NORTH CARROLL COMMUNITY SCHOOL Westminster 6.5 mi 5.5
Mechanicsville Elementary Sykesville 6.2 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21157 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$102,835

Median Home Value

$394,100

Median Rent

$1,236/mo

Population

40,191

College Educated

37.2%

Homeownership

75.9%

Avg Commute

31.2 min

Poverty Rate

7.5%

Median Age

41.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Bayside Elementary School Stevensville, MD 8.3
Buckingham Elementary Berlin, MD 8.3
Central Elementary Edgewater, MD 8.3
Clarksburg Elementary Clarksburg, MD 8.3
Crofton Elementary Crofton, MD 8.3
Franklin Elementary Reisterstown, MD 8.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Friendship Valley Elementary

What grades does Friendship Valley Elementary serve?

Friendship Valley Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Friendship Valley Elementary?

Friendship Valley Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 499 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Friendship Valley Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Friendship Valley Elementary is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Friendship Valley Elementary rank in MD?

Friendship Valley Elementary ranks #205 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Friendship Valley Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Friendship Valley Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Friendship Valley Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Friendship Valley Elementary has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Friendship Valley Elementary a charter school?

No, Friendship Valley Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Friendship Valley Elementary a Title I school?

No, Friendship Valley Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Friendship Valley Elementary?

27.9% of students at Friendship Valley 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
9 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
22 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
499
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Free/Reduced Lunch
27.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Carroll County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.6%

District

Carroll County Public Schools
District Enrollment
26,123
Schools in District
44
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,548
District Rank
#10 of 40

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