The school was named after a local historical site, The Pot Spring Mansion. The mansion was built in the 1700's and still stands. The name Pot Spring is derived from a spring on the property. A pot is said to have been put in a tomb over the spring and is still believed to be buried in that spot - hence the name Pot Spring.

Pot Spring Elementary School initially served as an annex to Timonium Elementary School when its doors opened in January 1963. It housed first graders from Timonium Elementary during its first six months.

The school officially opened its doors to the community in September 1963. There were eighteen classroom teachers for grades 1-6. Students came from Springlake, Pine Valley and a number transferred in from Timonium Elementary School. Because of a lack of bus transportation for students that transferred from the Timonium district and unsafe walking conditions, many families transferred back to Timonium. Nevertheless, by March 1964 there were 650 children attending Pot Spring. Faculty reporting in September 1963 can remember seeing several hundred folders of student records stacked in piles in the gymnasium. After hours of reading and sifting through information, classes were formed, and Pot Spring was ready to function as a place of learning.

Pot Spring continued to grow, and an addition was built which opened in 1969; it now houses the kindergarten and first grades. A new lower playground was built in 1996 with many ladders, slides, activity panels, and even a play jeep for the younger students. Stephen Koplin, an Eagle Scout, built an Outdoor Learning Center behind the school in 2000.