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Southern Middle

Q: Is Southern Middle a good school?

Southern Middle ranks 110 th of 337 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

110^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 337 Maryland Middle Schools

Better than 67% of Maryland middle schools

Summary

Southern Middle is a public middle school located in Lothian, Maryland, serving 765 students in grades 6-8. It is part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district, which is ranked 13 out of 25 in Maryland and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Southern Middle's English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rates are higher than the county and state averages, its math proficiency rates are consistently lower. However, the school stands out in Algebra I performance, with 68.1% of students proficient in 2024-2025, significantly higher than the county (22%) and state (21.4%) averages. Compared to nearby schools, Crofton Middle and Central Middle outperform Southern Middle in both math and ELA proficiency, while Mary Moss at Adams Academy and Annapolis Middle have lower proficiency rates across the board.

Southern Middle has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 22.1% to 25.3% over the past few years, which are higher than the Anne Arundel County and state averages. The school also spends significantly more per student ($17,906 in 2023-2024) compared to the district and state averages, which may contribute to its relatively strong performance in certain areas. Overall, Southern Middle demonstrates some strengths, particularly in Algebra I and ELA proficiency, but lags behind many of its neighboring schools in academic achievement.

726

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,906

Per pupil spending ?

47.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5235 Solomons Island Rd
Lothian, MD 20711-9702

(410) 867-0050

District: Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Students who attend Southern Middle usually attend:

High:

Southern High

Feeder schools for Southern Middle:

Elementary:	Deale Elementary
	Lothian Elementary
	Shady Side Elementary
	Traceys Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.1%

Hispanic:

29.6%

African American:

6.5%

See top rated Maryland middle schools

Compare Southern Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 63rd percentile in 2015 → 67th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Maryland median (67th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg41%

Maryland avg37%

110^th of 337

Maryland public middle schools ?

Top 33%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From top 37% (2015) to top 33% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 19Middle Schools in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools

13^th of 25Anne Arundel County Public Schools among Maryland districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2025	64.8	110 of 337	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.9	130 of 328	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.4	150 of 322	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.8	151 of 333	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.4	147 of 303	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.1	121 of 316	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.4	105 of 328	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	63.5	106 of 317	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	60.4	108 of 314	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.8	115 of 315	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	69.8	112 of 339	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	73.3	88 of 316	72.2%	★★★★☆
2012	80.9	59 of 314	81.2%	★★★★☆
2011	74.4	81 of 309	73.8%	★★★★☆
2010	68.9	117 of 324	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	70.9	99 of 301	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	64.2	119 of 283	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	35.6	171 of 264	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	34.3	172 of 254	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	31.9	177 of 255	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	33.8	171 of 252	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	54.1	108 of 259	58.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	48.5	143 of 303	52.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	36.7	127 of 207	38.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	68.9	43 of 273	84.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	46.2	137 of 288	52.4%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	30.2	91 of 136	33.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	27.9	104 of 120	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	32.1	142 of 210	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)84th percentile+33 vs school

African American (2021)58th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2021)53rd percentile~ school

Male (2021)52nd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2021)39th percentile-13 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)33rd percentile-18 vs school

White (2021)32nd percentile-19 vs school

Special Education (2021)13th percentile-38 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2024-2025) ?

Algebra I68%+47 vs state

English Language Arts58%+7 vs state

Social Studies38%~ state avg

Science33%~ state avg

Mathematics23%-3 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 16, 2018

The teachers at Southern Middle School are horrible! They do not care about the children's education. In fact, when I have called the school which has been on several occasions and left messages at the front desk asking for a return call from the teachers with detailed explanations regarding my child I am disgusted to say I have never received a call back from any of them. These teachers are unwilling to help the children when a little extra help in needed. Talk to other parents before you send your children to this school! Close Quote

Schools Near Southern Middle

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAP Mathematics (2025)				MCAP English Language Arts (2025)				MCAP Algebra I (2025)	MCAP Geometry (2025)	MCAP Science (2025)	MCAP Social Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Geometry End of Course	MCAP Science 8th Grade	MCAP Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Southern Middle	Public	6-8	5235 Solomons Island Rd	Lothian	20711	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 867-0050	726	53	13.7	47.5%	422 (58.1%)	47 (6.5%)	215 (29.6%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	34 (4.7%)	64.8	110^th of 337 public middle schools	67.4%		51.9	130^th of 328 public middle schools	60.4%	20	22.1	23.1	13.5	23.2	56.2	60.6	55.6	57.6	68.1		33.2	37.5	$17,906	$1,417	$16,489
Central Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	221 Central Ave E	Edgewater	21037	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 956-5800	1,204	78	15.3	20.0%	865 (71.8%)	67 (5.6%)	183 (15.2%)	28 (2.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	58 (4.8%)	91.9	25^th of 337 public middle schools	92.6%		88.1	33^rd of 328 public middle schools	89.9%	8	43.1	44.0	23.4	45.1	74.2	72.7	73.2	73.4	81.7		54.8	62.5	$15,465	$1,140	$14,326
Windy Hill Middle	Public	6-8	9560 Boyd's Turn Rd	Owings	20736	Calvert County	Calvert County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 550-9310	669	43	15.7	29.1%	431 (64.4%)	93 (13.9%)	64 (9.6%)	13 (1.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	65 (9.7%)	81.7	57^th of 337 public middle schools	83.1%		73.7	72^nd of 328 public middle schools	78.0%	15	35.0	26.3	10.1	29.9	71.1	74.3	67.9	70.9	47.3	100.0	47.8	52.0	$16,249	$1,035	$15,213
Northern Middle	Public	6-8	2954 Chaneyville Rd	Owings	20736	Calvert County	Calvert County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 550-9230	745	39	19.1	17.0%	537 (72.1%)	64 (8.6%)	64 (8.6%)	14 (1.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	63 (8.5%)	90.5	36^th of 337 public middle schools	89.3%		87.2	35^th of 328 public middle schools	89.3%	1	42.0	35.3	14.5	37.7	81.6	82.2	69.4	77.7	50.5	91.3	54.0	62.9	$15,776	$1,004	$14,772
Annapolis Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	1399 Forest Dr	Annapolis	21403	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 267-8658	790	74	10.6	85.1%	66 (8.4%)	215 (27.2%)	480 (60.8%)	11 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.3%)	25	245^th of 337 public middle schools	27.3%		19.3	256^th of 328 public middle schools	22.0%	11	5.2	8.2	6.5	8.6	22.5	26.8	33.8	27.6	60.7		14.6	28.3	$23,011	$2,560	$20,450
Wiley H. Bates Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	701 Chase Street	Annapolis	21401	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 263-0270	707	67	10.5	54.7%	236 (33.4%)	176 (24.9%)	250 (35.4%)	15 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.8%)	55.5	137^th of 337 public middle schools	59.3%		54.4	119^th of 328 public middle schools	63.7%	18	18.1	23.3	6.2	23.7	45.3	54.8	49.1	49.6	71.4		30.8	42.0	$22,850	$1,964	$20,887
Benjamin Tasker Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	4901 Collington Rd	Bowie	20715	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 805-2660	1,058	69	15.4	53.8%	113 (10.7%)	713 (67.4%)	153 (14.5%)	45 (4.3%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	29 (2.7%)	58.6	125^th of 337 public middle schools	62.9%		50.7	131^st of 328 public middle schools	60.1%	6	18.8	13.7	11.7	18.1	59.6	56.0	55.8	57.2	58.7	70.0	33.5	33.9	$18,762	$1,026	$17,736
Kettering Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	65 Herrington Dr	Upper Marlboro	20774	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 808-4060	874	85	10.2	69.5%	14 (1.6%)	668 (76.4%)	167 (19.1%)	9 (1.0%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	13 (1.5%)	35.7	200^th of 337 public middle schools	40.7%		27.4	214^th of 328 public middle schools	34.8%	14	8.1	16.0	2.9	10.2	37.9	54.4	36.0	42.4	16.9		16.8	24.6	$22,580	$1,151	$21,429
Crofton Middle	Public	6-8	2301 Davidsonville Rd	Gambrills	21054	Anne Arundel County	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 793-0280	1,345	78	17.2	19.8%	673 (50.0%)	297 (22.1%)	158 (11.7%)	113 (8.4%)	5 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	97 (7.2%)	91.2	31^st of 337 public middle schools	90.8%		88.2	31^st of 328 public middle schools	90.5%		43.8	45.4	15.3	44.0	75.8	76.0	72.2	74.6	75.8		55.4	62.8	$14,054	$1,104	$12,950
James Madison Middle	Public	6-8	7300 Woodyard Road	Upper Marlboro	20772	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 599-2422	800	50	16.1	63.5%	18 (2.3%)	608 (76.0%)	154 (19.3%)	7 (0.9%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	9 (1.1%)	22.2	266^th of 337 public middle schools	21.1%		25.3	224^th of 328 public middle schools	31.7%	42	3.9	2.3	1.9	2.8	44.5	29.8	34.2	35.7	7.1		10.4	12.5	$17,099	$955	$16,144

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Middle

How many students attend Southern Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 726 students attended Southern Middle.

What district is Southern Middle in?

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Southern Middle?

Students at Southern Middle are 58% White, 30% Hispanic, 6% African American, 5% Two or more races.

Is Southern Middle a good school?

Southern Middle ranks 110^th of 337 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Southern Middle attend?

Students who attend Southern Middle usually go on to attend Southern High

Rate Southern Middle!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.