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GreatSchools Rating

Bear Creek Elementary School

Public | PK-5 | 446 students

Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
Based on 1 rating
2012:
Based on 2 ratings
2011:
No new ratings
2010:
Based on 1 rating

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Parent involvement

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11 reviews of this school


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Posted May 8, 2013

I heard nothing but good things about Bear Creek, so I was excited that my son would be starting kindergarten in the fall. Since this time I am unimpressed. My main problems are: My son is always missing papers. It appears his teacher does not check to make sure students have their homework. I have been told this is his responsibility. He is 5, come on now. Kindergartners are supposed to bring home sight words. Teacher was not giving new sight words even though the baggie was always in his book bag. I had to start making my own for me son. Now its towards the end of the year and the teacher has "concerns" because he doesn't know all the sight words. My son is always coming home with marker on his back. Clothes are expensive. Paperwork that is filled out for field trips are sent in and taken out of my sons book bag, yet two days later we get the paper work asking to be filled out AGAIN. I am just so frustrated with he lack of communication between teacher and parent. Not sure if its the teacher or the way the school is. My son seems to learn better on a one on one basis, but in his classroom, I really believe he is getting lost in the shuffle. :(
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 8, 2012

We LOVE Bear Creek Elementary! I have 2 daughters and both of them went to school here. One daughter has graduated high school and my other daughter is currently attending 5th grade at Bear Creek. My daughter that graduated still talks about how much she loved this school and my younger daughter loves it just as much! The Principal and Vice Principal are top of the line professionals and get the job done! I love the fact that they have made Bear Creek a National Honors Society School I only wish my older daughter had the opportunities that my youngest daughter has with GT classes and National Honors Society. Keep up the great work!!! The Benkert/Sharpe Family.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 29, 2012

I also moved within the school boundaries so that my son could attend here. This is his third year in this school and I could not be happier with the choice I made. His teachers have been wonderful and nurturing. The principal and vice principal have been very attentive. And I've noticed the school improving every year (it's gone from a 5 to a 7 rating these past two years). They provide activities to engage the parents and diverse learning experiences for the children.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted September 21, 2010

The Staff is wonderful at Bear Creek Elementary.. I relocated to Dundalk just to ensure my three daughters were able to attend. The programs they have in place to help the students are wonderful. Communication is always open between the administration and parents. Can't beat this school!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted July 15, 2010

I have twin boys getting ready to start second grade. They have been at bear creek since Pre-K. I have brought up learning concerns with some of their teachers only to be basically ignored. I feel like the communication between school and parents need to improve. I also feel as though elementary school should be about learning and having fun, but the principle and assistant principle have basically taken away every fun activity. and all holidays. I remember elementary school as fun, but with bear creek their is nothing fun about school.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted August 13, 2009

the school is great i recommend it all the tim to friends. the only things i would change are the time in advance when they lt you know about awards and the graduation ceremonies ..there is none.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted December 14, 2006

Bear Creek has provided a very productive and nurturing environment for my 8 year old daughter and my 6 year old son. My husband and I would not choose another elementary school for our children, because the staff and teachers ensure that every child learns to the best of his/her ability.
—Submitted by Jameisha Rogers-Carter, a parent


Posted July 6, 2006

This was my daughters first year in school. She is in the cals program. I found it to be a safe and loving place for her. I was very scared to let her grow up but as I have found out she is treated just as well in school as she is at home. The teachers are all very kind and caring they have taken care of my daughter as I would myself, and when she is sick they even take the time to call and check on her. I can't thank the teachers and staff at bear creek enough for allowing me the extra time to part from my daughter so I could see for myself that she be in good hands. I thank them all so very much.
—Submitted by Patty Lamb, a parent


Posted June 7, 2006

My second daughter is graduating 5th grade from BC this year - my eldest graduated in 2002. Both girls are so different, but one thing that remained the same was the support and care that every teacher and staff member gave. The older daughter was in GT classes from 2nd grade all the way through, and with the help and guidance she recieved she has continued on this wonderful education path and now is a straight A/B GT student in High School. My younger daughter has difficulties in Math mainly, and has been given every opportunity to come in before school, during lunch and recess and attended Math facts clubs along with tutoring to help her achieve the success she needed to enter middle school. I am sad to leave BC - but my children take with them memories that will last a lifetime! THANKS YOU ALL! KIM D
—Submitted by Kim Duncan, a parent


Posted April 9, 2006

This school was not a great school for my son. He entered the school at the 4th grade level in Nov. 03. He had some discipline problems which the school dealt with in an ok manner. In my opinion, they sometimes enabled his problems. <BR>
—Submitted by Erika M, a parent


Posted October 25, 2004

since the last comment about parent teacher communiction was made, the teachers have improved this by keeping parents up to date about the childrens progress.
—Submitted by a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 88% in 2012.

74 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
91%

2011

 
 
95%

2010

 
 
92%

2009

 
 
78%

2008

 
 
91%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 85% in 2012.

74 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
84%

2011

 
 
91%

2010

 
 
85%

2009

 
 
83%

2008

 
 
95%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Maryland used the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) to test students in grades 3 through 8 in reading and math, and grades 5 and 8 in science. The MSA is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Maryland. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Maryland's state standards

Source: Maryland State Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 90% in 2012.

60 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
93%

2011

 
 
90%

2010

 
 
>=95%

2009

 
 
92%

2008

 
 
90%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 90% in 2012.

60 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
95%

2011

 
 
85%

2010

 
 
88%

2009

 
 
85%

2008

 
 
87%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Maryland used the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) to test students in grades 3 through 8 in reading and math, and grades 5 and 8 in science. The MSA is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Maryland. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Maryland's state standards

Source: Maryland State Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 85% in 2012.

55 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
95%

2011

 
 
91%

2010

 
 
87%

2009

 
 
77%

2008

 
 
88%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 90% in 2012.

55 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
96%

2011

 
 
>=95%

2010

 
 
86%

2009

 
 
94%

2008

 
 
88%
Science

The state average for Science was 69% in 2012.

55 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
71%

2011

 
 
68%

2010

 
 
40%

2009

 
 
63%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Maryland used the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) to test students in grades 3 through 8 in reading and math, and grades 5 and 8 in science. The MSA is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Maryland. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

See Maryland's state standards

Source: Maryland State Department of Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
White 84% 46%
Black 9% 38%
Hispanic 3% 10%
Asian/Pacific Islander 2% 6%
American Indian/Alaska Native 1% 0%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 52%N/A35%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 17N/A15
Source: NCES, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

1601 Melbourne Rd
Baltimore, MD 21222
Phone: (410) 887-7007

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