Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 25 schools in district

Northwestern Elementary

9975 Sharptown Rd, Mardela Springs, MD 21837Wicomico County Public Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–05Non-Charter
341
Students
Total enrolled
$20,295
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 41% vs nat'l
16.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 5% vs nat'l
40/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 21% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 341 students in grades PK–05 in Mardela Springs, Maryland.
41% above average funding
District spends $20,295 per pupil, 41% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 40th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Northwestern Elementary is a mid-sized elementary in Mardela Springs, Maryland, serving grades PK–05 with 341 students. The district invests $20,295 per student — 41% above the national average of $14,347, with a 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 54% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Northwestern Elementary

341
Total Students
16.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
54%
Free Lunch
21
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (PK–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution179 male · 162 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility54%
National avg 52% · 185 students
Student Composition
80%
8%
Asian1%
White80%
Hispanic / Latino3%
Black8%
Multiracial6%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 240069001308

Academic Outcomes at Northwestern Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
40
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 40th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 26th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 21837

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$20,295Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$20,295
State avg
$28,238
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,930
Student Support$3,856
Administration$2,435
Operations$3,044
Other$2,030
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $20,295 spent per student, an estimated $8,991 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
66%
20%
State government
66.2%
Local (property tax)
19.7%
Federal programs
14.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $20,295/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Delmar ElementaryPrince Street SchoolBeaver Run SchoolPemberton Elementary
+11 more
↓
Middle
Bennett MiddleSalisbury MiddleWicomico MiddlePittsville Elementary & Middle
↓
High School
James M. Bennett HighWicomico HighParkside HighMardela Middle & High
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesPK – 05
Location—
CountyWicomico County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictWicomico County Public Schools →
Phone: (410)677-5808
NCES ID: 240069001308
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Mardela Springs seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Wicomico County Public Schools
High
James M. Bennett High
1,343 students · 09–12
● 46 opp44% FRL
High
Wicomico High
1,325 students · 09–12
● 46 opp60% FRL
High
Parkside High
1,160 students · 09–12
● 46 opp45% FRL
Mid
Bennett Middle
906 students · 06–09
● 39 opp47% FRL
Mid
Salisbury Middle
873 students · 06–08
● 39 opp51% FRL
Elem
Delmar Elementary
858 students · PK–04
● 42 opp37% FRL
Elem
Prince Street School
854 students · PK–05
● 46 opp64% FRL
Mid
Wicomico Middle
819 students · 06–08
● 46 opp68% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
9975 Sharptown Rd, Mardela Springs, MD 21837
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.