Parkside Elementary

Set in Lavale, Maryland, Parkside Elementary is a compact elementary-level community, overseen by Allegany County Public Schools. It teaches 222 students across grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 481 students per school, that is 54% below typical.

Parkside Elementary is one of 22 schools operated by Allegany County Public Schools, a district that hosts 8,113 students overall.

On demographics, Parkside Elementary shows that the largest single group is White, at 79% of enrollment. Beyond that, the school logs 11% multiracial, 5% Black, 3% Hispanic, 2% Asian.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Parkside Elementary has 17 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 13.1:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 13.8:1 average. An estimated 50% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is south of Allegany County's rate of about 58%.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Parkside Elementary is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 44.4%; this one delivers 68.4%, a residual of +24.0 points.

In the broader community, the surrounding county (Allegany County) records that the typical household earns roughly $59,603 per year, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Allegany County runs 22 public schools (combined enrollment of about 8,113 students), of which Parkside Elementary is one.

The closest other public school is Cash Valley Elementary, roughly 1.9 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Parkside Elementary at 1st of 7; the average score across the group is 45.3%.

Geographically, the school is in a town-center area.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count stayed largely flat: 224 students in 2018 compared to 222 in 2025. Class-load math has tightened: from 15.3:1 in 2018 to 13.1:1 in 2025.

On this page, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around fundraisers, lost-and-found posts, and report-card season. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.