Average
#642 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 47% in state
William S. James Elementary
Elementary School · Harford County Public Schools · Abingdon, MD
A Harford County Public Schools elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
1 Laurentum Pkw, Abingdon, MD 21009
- Math 44% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 60% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at William S. James Elementary score 52% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 32 points since 2020, reaching 52% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 64% (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
27.8%
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 William S. James 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 58Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 20Minimal Transit
- Bike 36Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated732/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$117,017
Median home value
$335,100
Median rent
$1,680/mo
College educated
39.7%
Homeownership
81.3%
Poverty rate
3.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21009; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abingdon ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 674 | Compare → |
| Emmorton ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | K–5 | 1.2 mi | 556 | Compare → |
| Emmorton Baptist AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.7private | K–12 | 2.0 mi | 49 | Compare → |
| Old Post Road ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | PK–5 | 2.2 mi | 892 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Harford County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 55
- Rank in district
- #37 of 55
- District spending per student
- $17,493NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
William S. James Elementary is listed in Harford County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About William S. James Elementary
William S. James Elementary is a public elementary school in Abingdon, MD, part of Harford County Public Schools, serving approximately 475 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #642 of 1,363 schools in MD.
State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about William S. James Elementary
What grades does William S. James Elementary serve?
William S. James Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend William S. James Elementary?
William S. James Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 475 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at William S. James Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at William S. James Elementary is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does William S. James Elementary rank in MD?
William S. James Elementary ranks #642 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is William S. James Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
William S. James Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 William S. James Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, William S. James Elementary has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is William S. James Elementary a charter school?
No, William S. James Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is William S. James Elementary a Title I school?
No, William S. James Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for William S. James Elementary?
27.8% of students at William S. James 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 475
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 31
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Harford County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 16.8%
- Phone
- (410) 638-3900
- Area population (ZIP 21009)
- 33,444
- Area average commute
- 31.2 min
- Area median age
- 36.1
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 21009; 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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