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Waugh Chapel Elementary School

Odenton, MD 21113

Phone: (410) 672-7565
District: Anne Arundel County Public Schools

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GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades PK,KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 511 students

Waugh Chapel Elementary School, a public school located in Odenton, MD, serves grades PK-5 in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 8 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Waugh Chapel Elementary School is a public school located in Odenton, MD. 511 students attend Waugh Chapel Elementary School.

School Ratings

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	8/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program data from Maryland State Department of Education, and using 2025 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program End-Of-Course data from Maryland State Department of Education.
Student Growth	7/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student Growth - Elementary Level data from Maryland State Department of Education, and using 2025 Student Growth - Middle Level data from Maryland State Department of Education.

Posted: January 1, 2026

As an involved parent over the past five years, I have had the opportunity to get to know the staff at Waugh Chapel. I dont have anything bad to say about the school or staff. Everyone is professional and hard working. Highly recommend!

Posted: January 1, 2026

Posted: December 30, 2025

After several years at this school, we couldn't be happier watching our children thrive and love learning. The teachers are incredible, bringing so much heart and expertise to the classroom. We also really appreciate how approachable and involved the administration is; they genuinely listen to parents and care about the school culture. Its been a wonderful experience seeing our kids grow up in such a supportive and high-energy environment.

Posted: December 30, 2025

Posted: July 30, 2025

I have had two kids attend this school and would recommend it to any family considering the neighborhood!

Posted: July 30, 2025

Posted: July 10, 2025

WOW, what a school! We were only at this school for half the year. I had a 4th and a 1st grader. This school exceeded ALL my expectations. The staff was attentive, kind, supportive and went above and beyond for my family on so many levels. My children loved going here. The principal, vice principal, the office staff, the counselors and of course the teachers are the best you will find anywhere. Special shout out to Ms. Hill and Ms. Baker. Thank you for all you did for my boys!

Posted: July 10, 2025

Posted: April 8, 2024

This School has been an Absolute Nightmare for my Special Needs Child. RUN the other way!! If you need special accommodations this school will NOT provide it!! They are understaffed, they cant provide 1:1 support for our most vulnerable special needs kids. They will take another childs 1:1 and assign 2 other students, making it a 1:3. Save yourself the pain and heartache and find another school!!

Posted: April 8, 2024

Posted: August 9, 2023

My son has been here since Kindergarten, he is going into the 3rd grade, I could not possibly have more nice things to say about this school. The staff is top tier. My son struggled with his reading his second grade teacher saw this and got him the help he needed.

Posted: August 9, 2023

Posted: January 22, 2022

The children at this school are impressive and diverse. The leadership and faculty seem to care about the students. Traffic can be a bit of a hassle, but it is a small price to pay for the quality.

Posted: January 22, 2022

Posted: August 10, 2021

This school is a nightmare. Please avoid this school at all cost especially if you have a special needs child. The assistant principal has NO clue how to handle an education plan for those children. Furthermore I thankfully got my son away from there and asked for the transfer packet. Secretary had just returned from vacation and "just didn't know " if she could get to it. Almost 2 weeks she still hasn't sent it and the worst part is I advised the first day of school for us was today. Honestly RUN find another school.

Posted: August 10, 2021

Posted: June 24, 2021

Moved here from Rockville (Montgomery County) which is known for having some of the best schools in the state, and this school is very comparable to those schools in quality. Great and innovative education, but the equity rating of this school is concerning.

Posted: June 24, 2021

Posted: March 9, 2021

Lack of support, flexibility and compassion in the special education space. Everything is a fight!

Posted: March 3, 2021

My oldest child attended this school. The school has problematic areas when it comes to equity and diversity. My child was identified as Gifted and Talented in second grade. Yet, there was not advanced worked or classes. My daughter always finished all assignments quickly and was given "busy work" to pass the time. Also, my daughter would wear black pride shirts to school and some kids called my child a racist. I asked the guidance counselor about the incident and she said, "it is a teaching moment". Yet, did not say anything to the kids in order to teach them what racism actually is. This job does not do a good job at all in equity or equality.

Posted: March 3, 2021

Posted: June 27, 2020

Great community feel while maintaining strong academics.

Posted: June 27, 2020

We have been in Waugh Chapel for 4 years and have 2 children there. The teachers and administration are absolutely the best! They care about developing their students academically as well as developing their character. It feels like a small community because the teachers and administrators really know the students and the families and are always willing to go above and beyond. We also love that the school is an IB school which opens up a whole new level of learning and experiences for their students. This school is wonderful!!

Posted: June 27, 2020

We've had children at WCES since 2017. Being a military family from elsewhere, we looked at schools a lot before moving to this area. We love the teachers and the staff. The way our oldest was prepared for middle school was amazing. Very happy with our experience so far!

Posted: April 28, 2019

Excellent. Definitely the best school in the Arundel cluster. Wouldnt send my children anywhere else!

Posted: April 28, 2019

WC teachers and admin see the importance of family time and extra curricular activities and therefore assign very little homework. More homework doesnt mean smarter children!

Posted: April 28, 2019

Weve loved every teacher each of our children have had at Waugh Chapel. Experienced. And even the newer teachers seemed like theyve been teaching for years!

Posted: April 28, 2019

These characteristics seem to be taught through the IB program.

Posted: April 28, 2019

The leadership is all Ive known at waugh chapel. We are pleased.

Posted: April 28, 2019

Definitely more then other schools in the area so Ive heard. However seems like the special ed department is short staffed and very busy.

Posted: April 28, 2019

Posted: April 11, 2019

The fight to get an IEP and even a 504 is ridiculous. With staff not even knowing the federal law and even in Arundel Countys own policies so that they wrongly deny students support until you go to the school board.

Posted: April 11, 2019

Caught not reviewing written evidence and dismissing it. If you child is bullied, make sure to file the countys online bullying report form so you at least have an official record.

Posted: April 11, 2019

Very disappointing after becoming an IB school and they stop tracking students which they still do an under Arundel middle school.

Posted: April 11, 2019

Very poor communication with patents. They are more interested in pleasing the administration but often without good administrative support. Seen many teachers now caught since becoming a IB school eliminated tracking caught having to teach to lowest denominator, that leaves some kids at higher levels unsupported and bored.

Posted: April 11, 2019

The bullying policy of being an upstander has become a joke and with evidence ignored.

Posted: April 11, 2019

Often defensive versus working with parents as a team and even ignorant of their own county policies.

Posted: April 16, 2018

I don't believe in homework. With most families being 2 income, and after school activities, there's just not enough time for homework. It needs to be a thing of the past.

Posted: April 16, 2018

My daughter started in 2015, and both her kindergarten and first grade teachers are phenomenal!

Posted: April 16, 2018

Ms. Cox is an amazing principal! She is always asking for parents suggestions.

Posted: April 16, 2018

We have been very happy with this school, having moved from Howard County right before my child was to start kindergarten we were very apprehensive about the school system. Every fear we had has been extinguished. My daughter LOVES school, she looks forward to it everyday. I love the "Cougar with Character" program, and the reward systems. Looking forward to 4 fantastic more years!