Crellin Elementary School

Crellin Elementary School is a Garrett County public elementary school in the small village of Crellin, about four miles west of Oakland along the Youghiogheny River valley. You'll find it at 115 Kendall Drive, where it serves families in the Crellin area through fifth grade and is known for teaching much of its science outdoors.

Learning Outside the Classroom

Behind the school, an outdoor classroom called the Environmental Education Laboratory takes in Snowy Creek, a wetland, a meadow, a hemlock forest and vernal ponds. Students study how these habitats connect, collect macroinvertebrates from the creek and monitor bird boxes through the year. The school has also supported an acid mine drainage reclamation project on Snowy Creek, a reminder of Crellin's past as a turn-of-the-century coal and lumber company town.

A Barn, a Garden and a Greenhouse

Hands-on projects are part of everyday school life here:

• A small on-site barn with sheep and hens, where students help care for the animals and collect eggs
• A solar-powered automatic hen-house door that students designed and built using an engineering design process
• A hydroponic greenhouse where students grow lettuce, plus vegetable, stewardship and bird-and-butterfly gardens
• A composting program and an energy unit where students track energy use at school and at home

Partners such as Trout Unlimited, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and local garden clubs help lead lessons.

National Recognition

In 2022 Crellin was named a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School, the only Maryland school honored that year, recognizing its work to reduce environmental impact and teach sustainability.

If you're new to the Crellin area and have questions about enrollment or bus routes, the main office is the place to start.

Call Us!

• Website
• (301) 334-4704