Needs Improvement
#1321 of 1,363 schools in MD
Pleasant Plains Elementary
Elementary School · Baltimore County Public Schools · Towson, MD
A Baltimore County Public Schools elementary school where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.
8300 Pleasant Plains Rd, Towson, MD 21286
- Math 14% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 27% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Pleasant Plains Elementary score 21% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 11 points since 2020, reaching 21% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
67%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Pleasant Plains Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 65Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 50Good Transit
- Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
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Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$93,093
Median home value
$402,000
Median rent
$1,597/mo
College educated
57.4%
Homeownership
62.3%
Poverty rate
13.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21286; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immaculate Heart of Mary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.8private | PK–8 | 0.5 mi | 310 | Compare → |
| Cromwell Valley Elementary Regional MagnetEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 410 | Compare → |
| The Arrow Center for EducationPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 4–12 | 0.9 mi | 26 | Compare → |
| Halstead AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 3.0 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 472 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Baltimore County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 179
- Rank in district
- #155 of 169
- District spending per student
- $18,666NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Pleasant Plains Elementary is listed in Baltimore County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pleasant Plains Elementary
Pleasant Plains Elementary is a public elementary school in Towson, MD, part of Baltimore County Public Schools, serving approximately 521 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,321 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pleasant Plains Elementary
What grades does Pleasant Plains Elementary serve?
Pleasant Plains Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Pleasant Plains Elementary?
Pleasant Plains Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 521 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pleasant Plains Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pleasant Plains 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 Pleasant Plains Elementary rank in MD?
Pleasant Plains Elementary ranks #1,321 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Pleasant Plains Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Pleasant Plains Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 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 Pleasant Plains Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pleasant Plains Elementary has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Pleasant Plains Elementary a charter school?
No, Pleasant Plains Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pleasant Plains Elementary a Title I school?
No, Pleasant Plains Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pleasant Plains Elementary?
67.0% of students at Pleasant Plains 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 521
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Baltimore County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 48.9%
- Phone
- (443) 809-3549
- Area population (ZIP 21286)
- 21,782
- Area average commute
- 28.8 min
- Area median age
- 40.1
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 21286; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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