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Average

#642 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 47% in state

William S. James Elementary

Elementary School · Harford County Public Schools

1 Laurentum Pkw, Abingdon, MD 21009

Enrollment

475

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

6.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#642 of 1,363

In Abingdon

#2 of 3

public schools

In district

#37 of 55

Harford County Public Schools

Equity

8.0 / 10

Excellent

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William S. James Elementary

6.5/10

Elementary School in Abingdon · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Abingdon Elementary

6.8/10

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

Emmorton Elementary

7.8/10

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

About William S. James Elementary

William S. James Elementary is a public elementary school in Abingdon, MD, part of Harford County Public Schools. William S.

James Elementary serves approximately 475 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. William S. James Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #642 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for William S. James Elementary show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts below district
  • This school 6.5 · Average
  • District avg 7.2
  • MD avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.7Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.24 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.4Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency44.3% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency59.6% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+14.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+8.5 pts
Overall Proficiency52% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)54% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-2.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile62th
Resources & Environment7.2Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,493
Chronic Absenteeism16.8%

William S. James Elementary — Students at William S. James Elementary score 52% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

27.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 57.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 63.9% (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
90%
ELA
94%
2010
Math
94%
ELA
96%
2011
Math
97%
ELA
95%
2012
Math
90%
ELA
92%
2013
Math
90%
ELA
92%
2014
Math
44%
ELA
56%
2015
Math
50%
ELA
53%
2016
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
48%
ELA
51%
2019
Math
48%
ELA
51%
2020*
Math
11%
ELA
29%
2021*
Math
11%
ELA
29%
2022
Math
31%
ELA
45%
2025
Math
44.3%
ELA
59.6%

* 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: 5.7/10.

How William S. James Elementary Compares

See how William S. James Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.5/10
53th percentile in MD
Academic
7.4/10
Very Good
Growth
5.7/10
Average
Environment
7.2/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
28%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
31 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
16.8%

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

1 Laurentum Pkw, Abingdon, MD 21009

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering William S. James Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Fountain Green Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 4.1 miles away, in nearby Bel Air), which scores notably higher. Another option is Ring Factory Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Bel Air), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Homestead/Wakefield Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 3.5 miles away, in nearby Bel Air), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Abingdon, see our Abingdon schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Abingdon Elementary Abingdon 1.0 mi 6.8
Emmorton Elementary Bel Air 1.2 mi 7.8
Patterson Mill High School Bel Air 2.0 mi 7.7
Patterson Mill Middle School Bel Air 2.0 mi 7.0
EMMORTON BAPTIST ACADEMY Bel Air 2.0 mi 5.7
Old Post Road Elementary Abingdon 2.2 mi 5.3
Ring Factory Elementary Bel Air 2.6 mi 8.4
GRACE CLASSICAL ACADEMY Bel Air 2.5 mi 5.6
THE HIGHLANDS SCHOOL Bel Air 2.7 mi 6.3
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL & EARLY LRNG CTR Joppa 3.3 mi 6.1
Homestead/Wakefield Elementary Bel Air 3.5 mi 8.3
Edgewood Elementary Edgewood 4.0 mi 6.3
Bel Air Middle Bel Air 3.8 mi 7.4
Church Creek Elementary Belcamp 3.2 mi 5.9
Fountain Green Elementary Bel Air 4.1 mi 8.8
Edgewood Middle Edgewood 4.2 mi 5.3
Deerfield Elementary Edgewood 4.2 mi 5.8
Edgewood High Edgewood 4.2 mi 6.4
JOHN CARROLL SCHOOL Bel Air 4.2 mi 5.0
Bel Air High Bel Air 4.1 mi 7.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 21009 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$117,017

Median Home Value

$335,100

Median Rent

$1,680/mo

Population

33,444

College Educated

39.7%

Homeownership

81.3%

Avg Commute

31.2 min

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Median Age

36.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Harriet R. Tubman Elementary Gaithersburg, MD 6.5
Imagine Andrews Public Charter Andrews Afb, MD 6.5
Meadow Hall Elementary Rockville, MD 6.5
Takoma Park Elementary Takoma Park, MD 6.5
West Salisbury Salisbury, MD 6.5
Andrew Jackson Academy Forestville, MD 6.6

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
58 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
20 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
36 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
475
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
31
Free/Reduced Lunch
27.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Harford County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.8%

District

Harford County Public Schools
District Enrollment
38,105
Schools in District
55
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,493
District Rank
#37 of 55

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