Excellent
#125 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 9% in state
Piney Ridge Elementary
Elementary School · Carroll County Public Schools
6315 Freedom Avenue, Sykesville, MD 21784
Enrollment
583
Student-Teacher
15.8:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
583
Student-Teacher
15.8:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Sykesville
#2 of 11
public schools
Maryland elementary schools
#123 of 882
In district
#5 of 40
Carroll County Public Schools
Equity
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Piney Ridge Elementary
Piney Ridge Elementary is a public elementary school in Sykesville, MD, part of the Carroll County Public Schools. The school serves approximately 583 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 15.8:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5/10, placing it in the 90.9th percentile among MD schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 61% proficiency in math, 31 points above the state average and 61% in reading/language arts, 10 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.6/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $141,228, where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a fringe town setting.
Score Breakdown
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Piney Ridge Elementary — Students at Piney Ridge Elementary score 76% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
21.1%
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
↑ ImprovingAverage 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: 9.6/10.
How Piney Ridge Elementary Compares
See how Piney Ridge Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 65% (2019) to 73.6% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 52% (2019) to 78.2% (2025).
Location
6315 Freedom Avenue, Sykesville, MD 21784
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Piney Ridge Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. West Friendship Elementary (rated 9.2/10, 6.9 miles away, in nearby West Friendship), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Winfield Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 6.1 miles away, in nearby Westminster), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Carrolltowne Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Sykesville, see our Sykesville schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 7.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Eldersburg Elementary Sykesville | 0.6 mi | 8.1 |
| Liberty High Sykesville | 1.0 mi | 5.8 |
| Freedom District Elementary Sykesville | 1.6 mi | 7.3 |
| Sykesville Middle Sykesville | 1.9 mi | 6.4 |
| Carrolltowne Elementary Sykesville | 1.6 mi | 8.5 |
| Oklahoma Road Middle Sykesville | 1.6 mi | 4.3 |
| Linton Springs Elementary Sykesville | 2.1 mi | 8.0 |
| IMMANUEL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Sykesville | 2.5 mi | — |
| IMMANUEL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Sykesville | 2.5 mi | — |
| Century High Sykesville | 2.3 mi | 4.9 |
| LEGACY SCHOOL Eldersburg | 2.5 mi | 6.7 |
| Mechanicsville Elementary Sykesville | 4.8 mi | 7.6 |
| Marriotts Ridge High Marriottsville | 5.6 mi | 5.7 |
| Mount View Middle Marriottsville | 5.7 mi | 6.6 |
| South Carroll High Sykesville | 5.2 mi | 4.7 |
| LIBERTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Owings Mills | 4.8 mi | 5.0 |
| West Friendship Elementary West Friendship | 6.9 mi | 9.2 |
| GLENWOOD COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Woodbine | 6.5 mi | — |
| Winfield Elementary Westminster | 6.1 mi | 8.6 |
| CHAPELGATE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Marriottsville | 7.6 mi | 8.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 21784 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$141,228
Median Home Value
$478,200
Median Rent
$1,673/mo
Population
37,813
College Educated
53.2%
Homeownership
87%
Avg Commute
35.1 min
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Median Age
39.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Piney Ridge Elementary has a median household income of $141,228. It is a well-educated community where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $478,200, with a median rent of $1,673/month. The local poverty rate of 4.1% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 35 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Barstow Elementary Prince Frederick, MD | 8.5 |
| Broadneck Elementary Arnold, MD | 8.5 |
| Carrolltowne Elementary Sykesville, MD | 8.5 |
| Forest Knolls Elementary Silver Spring, MD | 8.5 |
| Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle Baltimore, MD | 8.5 |
| Glenallan Elementary Silver Spring, MD | 8.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Piney Ridge Elementary
What grades does Piney Ridge Elementary serve?
Piney Ridge Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Piney Ridge Elementary?
Piney Ridge Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 583 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Piney Ridge Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Piney Ridge Elementary is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Piney Ridge Elementary rank in MD?
Piney Ridge Elementary is ranked #125 out of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Piney Ridge Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Piney Ridge Elementary has a composite rating of 8.5 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 Piney Ridge Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Piney Ridge Elementary has 61.4% math proficiency and 61.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Piney Ridge Elementary a charter school?
No, Piney Ridge Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Piney Ridge Elementary a Title I school?
No, Piney Ridge Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Piney Ridge Elementary?
21.1% of students at Piney Ridge 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Sykesville). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 583
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 37
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 21.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Town
- County
- Carroll County
- Phone
- (410) 751-3535
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Carroll County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 26,123
- Schools in District
- 44
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $16,548
- District Rank
- #5 of 40
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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