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Excellent

#120 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

8.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#120 of 1,363

In Sykesville

#3 of 11

public schools

In district

#4 of 40

Carroll County Public Schools

Equity

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Piney Ridge Elementary

8.8/10

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

Eldersburg Elementary

8.8/10

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

Liberty High

8.0/10

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

About Piney Ridge Elementary

Piney Ridge Elementary is a public elementary school in Sykesville, MD, part of Carroll County Public Schools. Piney Ridge Elementary serves approximately 583 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Piney Ridge Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks #120 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Piney Ridge Elementary show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts above district
  • This school 8.8 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.1
  • MD avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.0Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.88 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.6Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency70.5% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency74.3% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+40.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+23.2 pts
Overall Proficiency72% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected+13.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
Resources & Environment6.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,548
Chronic Absenteeism12.3%

Piney Ridge Elementary — Students at Piney Ridge Elementary score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

21.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 74.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 72.5% (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
98%
ELA
99.5%
2010
Math
99.5%
ELA
99.5%
2011
Math
98%
ELA
99.5%
2012
Math
97%
ELA
96%
2013
Math
91%
ELA
98%
2014
Math
68%
ELA
66%
2015
Math
71%
ELA
60%
2016
Math
73%
ELA
63%
2018
Math
65%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
65%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
39%
ELA
40%
2021*
Math
39%
ELA
40%
2022
Math
68%
ELA
75%
2025
Math
70.5%
ELA
74.3%

* 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: 9.0/10.

How Piney Ridge Elementary Compares

See how Piney Ridge Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.8/10
91th percentile in MD
Academic
9.6/10
Excellent
Growth
9.0/10
Excellent
Environment
6.9/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
21%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
37 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.3%

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

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 9.6/10, 6.9 miles away, in nearby West Friendship), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Freedom District Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 1.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Eldersburg Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 0.6 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 8.8
Liberty High Sykesville 1.0 mi 8.0
Freedom District Elementary Sykesville 1.6 mi 8.9
Sykesville Middle Sykesville 1.9 mi 7.8
Carrolltowne Elementary Sykesville 1.6 mi 8.5
Oklahoma Road Middle Sykesville 1.6 mi 7.6
Linton Springs Elementary Sykesville 2.1 mi 8.7
IMMANUEL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Sykesville 2.5 mi
IMMANUEL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Sykesville 2.5 mi
Century High Sykesville 2.3 mi 7.6
LEGACY SCHOOL Eldersburg 2.5 mi 6.7
Mechanicsville Elementary Sykesville 4.8 mi 8.2
Marriotts Ridge High Marriottsville 5.6 mi 8.6
Mount View Middle Marriottsville 5.7 mi 9.3
South Carroll High Sykesville 5.2 mi 6.8
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Owings Mills 4.8 mi 5.0
West Friendship Elementary West Friendship 6.9 mi 9.6
GLENWOOD COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Woodbine 6.5 mi
Winfield Elementary Westminster 6.1 mi 8.8
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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bannockburn Elementary Bethesda, MD 8.8
Beall Elementary Rockville, MD 8.8
Eldersburg Elementary Sykesville, MD 8.8
Fountain Green Elementary Bel Air, MD 8.8
Kent Island Elementary School Stevensville, MD 8.8
Maryvale Elementary Rockville, MD 8.8

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 ranks #120 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Piney Ridge Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Piney Ridge Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 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 Piney Ridge Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Piney Ridge Elementary has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
14 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
23 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.3%

District

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

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