Enrollment
593
Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Westminster, MD
Cranberry Station Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cranberry Station Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240021001105
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cranberry Station Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median.
- #8 of 8
- schools in Westminster · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- students per teacher
- 36.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Cranberry Station Elementary has class sizes near the Maryland median. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cranberry Station Elementary ranks #8 of 8 schools in Westminster, MD.
School address
District: Carroll County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240021001105 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 14.5:1 Maryland avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
36.7%
vs 49.0% Maryland avg
-25% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cranberry Station Elementary compares with Maryland and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cranberry Station Elementary
Cranberry Station Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Westminster, Maryland, enrolling 593 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 36.7% of students eligible for free meals.
With 593 students, its enrollment sits close to the Maryland median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,382 scored Maryland schools.
Among 283 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Maryland schools statewide, it ranks #257, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (65%) and Hispanic or Latino (14%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 593 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Carroll County Public Schools spends $15,757 per pupil, 23% below the Maryland average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Westminster's public schools, it stands alongside Winfield Elementary (724 students): Cranberry Station Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.6:1 vs 13.9:1).
Carroll County Public Schools also operates Westminster High (1,477 students) and Manchester Valley High (1,339 students) alongside Cranberry Station Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Cranberry Station Elementary compares
Cranberry Station Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.6:1 | ▲ 8% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.7% | ▼ 25% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 593 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
593
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
36.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 65% in Maryland - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,757
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $20,446
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 593 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 65.3%
Hispanic or Latino 14.3%
African American 9.6%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 4.6%
Largest group: White at 65.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.8, Cranberry Station Elementary is about as mixed as the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Carroll County Public Schools, which includes Cranberry Station Elementary.
$15,757
Per student
-23%
vs Maryland
Avg $20,446
-5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.2%
State 37.6%
Federal 8.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Cranberry Station Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Manchester Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Winters Mill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Century High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cranberry Station Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,477
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,339
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,156
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,101
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,007
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar other schools in Westminster
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Winfield Elementary
Standard public school
724 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Runnymede Elementary
Standard public school
625 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
William Winchester Elementary
Standard public school
587 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Westminster Elementary
Standard public school
564 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Friendship Valley Elementary
Standard public school
518 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Robert Moton Elementary
Standard public school
440 students 8.5:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Maryland, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~593 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cranberry Station Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Cranberry Station Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Carroll County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Cranberry Station Elementary
How many students attend Cranberry Station Elementary?
Cranberry Station Elementary has 593 students enrolled. It is a public school in Westminster, MD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cranberry Station Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cranberry Station Elementary is 15.6:1, which is 8% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cranberry Station Elementary?
36.7% of students at Cranberry Station Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cranberry Station Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cranberry Station Elementary is White at 65.3% of enrollment, in Westminster, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cranberry Station Elementary?
Cranberry Station Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cranberry Station Elementary rank among schools in Westminster?
By Resource Investment Index, Cranberry Station Elementary ranks #8 of 8 schools in Westminster, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Westminster on the city page.
Is Cranberry Station Elementary a good school?
Cranberry Station Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Carroll County Public Schools?
Besides Cranberry Station Elementary, Carroll County Public Schools also operates Westminster High (1,477 students), Manchester Valley High (1,339 students), and Winters Mill High (1,156 students). See the Carroll County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.