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Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

Public Grades 9-12

3^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 220 Maryland High Schools

Better than 99% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (BPI) is a high-performing public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, serving 1,580 students in grades 9-12. Despite being part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, which is ranked 24th out of 25 districts in the state, BPI consistently ranks among the top high schools in Maryland, maintaining a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for most of the past decade.

BPI's academic performance is exceptional, with students significantly outperforming their peers in the district and the state on standardized tests. In the 2024-2025 school year, 92.3% of BPI 10th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to just 42.6% in the district and 59.5% statewide. The school also excels in serving students from diverse backgrounds, ranking 2nd out of 40 Maryland high schools for White students, 2nd out of 9 for Hispanic students, and 1st out of 11 for low-socioeconomic status students.

While BPI has experienced higher chronic absenteeism rates in recent years, ranging from 16.1% to 58.1%, these rates are still lower than the district average. The school also spends significantly more per student than the district average, with per-student spending ranging from $13,085 to $18,309 over the past few years, compared to the district average of around $14,000 to $22,000. This higher funding may contribute to the school's academic success, as it is able to provide more resources and support for its students. BPI's performance far surpasses that of nearby high schools in the Baltimore City Public Schools district, such as Forest Park High, Baltimore City College, Carver Vocational-Technical High, and Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High, which have significantly lower proficiency rates, graduation rates, and overall rankings.

1,632

Students ?

19.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,309

Per pupil spending ?

47.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1400 W Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21209-4904

(410) 396-7026

District: Baltimore City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

58.5%

White:

20.6%

Hispanic:

13.7%

See top rated Maryland high schools

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 94th percentile in 2015 → 99th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (74% vs 37% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Maryland high schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school74%

District avg21%

Maryland avg37%

3^rd of 220

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 5 pts since 2015

From top 6% (2015) to top 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 29High Schools in the Baltimore City Public Schools

24^th of 25Baltimore City 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	87.8	3 of 220	98.6%	★★★★★
2024	84.5	4 of 146	97.3%	★★★★★
2023	80.9	4 of 127	96.9%	★★★★★
2022	83.6	9 of 225	96.0%	★★★★★
2021	82.0	8 of 32	75.0%	★★★★☆
2019	81.8	12 of 138	91.3%	★★★★★
2018	71.7	28 of 197	85.8%	★★★★☆
2017	83.3	13 of 180	92.8%	★★★★★
2016	79.6	16 of 233	93.1%	★★★★★
2015	78.3	15 of 233	93.6%	★★★★★
2014	79.0	46 of 231	80.1%	★★★★☆
2013	79.7	31 of 185	83.2%	★★★★☆
2012	82.3	16 of 187	91.4%	★★★★★
2011	87.4	4 of 183	97.8%	★★★★★
2010	87.1	4 of 220	98.2%	★★★★★
2009	86.3	2 of 213	99.1%	★★★★★
2008	86.9	2 of 214	99.1%	★★★★★
2007	84.7	5 of 209	97.6%	★★★★★
2006	87.6	2 of 204	99.0%	★★★★★
2005	88.3	1 of 204	99.5%	★★★★★
2004	67.9	3 of 201	98.5%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	86.2	4 of 14	71.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	80.2	9 of 31	71.0%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	84.2	2 of 9	77.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	82.6	1 of 11	90.9%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	82.9	7 of 35	80.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	89.3	2 of 40	95.0%	★★★★★

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)

White (2021)95th percentile+20 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)91st percentile+16 vs school

Male (2021)80th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2021)78th percentile+3 vs school

African American (2021)71st percentile-4 vs school

Female (2021)71st percentile-4 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts92%+42 vs state

Mathematics29%+3 vs state

Algebra I29%+8 vs state

5.0

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, August 24, 2017

Poly affords its students a very rigorous learning experience that prepares them well for college. There are a number of clubs, sports and other activities to hone their gifts and talents or explore new interests all together. I'm grateful my three children were selected to attend such a great school at their dad's alma mater.
Husband c/o '85
Son 1 c/o '14 (Honors)
Son 2 c/o '18 (Ingenuity program)
Daughter c/o '21 (Wait list for Ingenuity) Close Quote

by a student on FaceBook
Tuesday, April 14, 2009

I am a student at the great Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and in the graduating class of 2009. I take great pleasure in my school. We're taught by some of the best teachers Maryland has to offer and I'm so glad my parents told me about it. Even though my mother went to City, also known as the dump on the hump school. Even though we're not number one we're in the top 5 and we're the first public school on the list so in my eyes that is number one. Since public school are underfunded and we less resources than most county schools. So HEY POLY!!! :) Close Quote

Schools Near Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

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 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 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I 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
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute	Public	9-12	1400 W Cold Spring Lane	Baltimore	21209	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-7026	1,632	85	19.2	47.8%	336 (20.6%)	954 (58.5%)	224 (13.7%)	81 (5.0%)	4 (0.2%)	4 (0.2%)	25 (1.5%)	87.8	3^rd of 220 public high schools	98.6%		84.5	4^th of 146 public high schools	97.3%	1				29.1				92.3	92.3	29.1			$18,309	$4,276	$14,033
Western High	Public	9-12	4600 Falls Road	Baltimore	21209	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-7040	1,290	77	16.7	72.8%	29 (2.2%)	1,100 (85.3%)	143 (11.1%)	6 (0.5%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.5%)	58.4	44^th of 220 public high schools	80.0%		37	95^th of 146 public high schools	34.9%	51				24.0				66.4	66.4	24.0			$18,950	$4,418	$14,532
Academy for College and Career Exploration	Public	6-12	1300 W 36th Street	Baltimore	21211	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-7607	967	67	14.4	79.1%	85 (8.8%)	674 (69.7%)	171 (17.7%)	20 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	12 (1.2%)	21.9	162^nd of 220 public high schools	26.4%		10	144^th of 146 public high schools	1.4%	18	0.0	4.8	2.5	4.5	13.2	30.2	19.5	40.4	32.4	6.0	2.7	2.6	$23,129	$4,571	$18,558
ConneXions: A Community Based Arts School	Public, Charter	6-12	2801 N Dukeland Street	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(443) 984-1418	523	32	16.6	88.7%	5 (1.0%)	496 (94.8%)	18 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	13.2	206^th of 220 public high schools	6.4%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	15.8	10.8	10.5	28.4	17.6	1.3	3.6	3.5	$30,555	$7,626	$22,929
Bard High School Early College	Public	9-12	2801 N Dukeland Street	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 642-5040	459	31	15.0	65.4%	47 (10.2%)	387 (84.3%)	17 (3.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	49.3	75^th of 220 public high schools	65.9%		34.8	106^th of 146 public high schools	27.4%	31				6.5				64.9	64.9	6.5			$23,408	$5,220	$18,188
Coppin Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	2500 W North Avenue	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(443) 642-5060	450	27	16.6	83.8%	0 (0.0%)	438 (97.3%)	8 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	23.5	156^th of 220 public high schools	29.1%		11.3	143^rd of 146 public high schools	2.1%	13				5.9				43.1	43.1	5.9			$23,883	$4,371	$19,512
Forest Park High	Public	9-12	3701 Eldorado Avenue	Baltimore	21207	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0753	1,024	63	16.2	75.1%	13 (1.3%)	803 (78.4%)	192 (18.8%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	9 (0.9%)	15.2	195^th of 220 public high schools	11.4%		12.1	141^st of 146 public high schools	3.4%	54				8.8				23.7	23.7	8.8			$22,667	$4,355	$18,312
Baltimore City College	Public	9-12	3220 The Alameda	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-6557	1,470	79	18.6	52.1%	207 (14.1%)	986 (67.1%)	207 (14.1%)	23 (1.6%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	36 (2.4%)	65.1	30^th of 220 public high schools	86.4%		60.4	31^st of 146 public high schools	78.8%	1				25.1				75.7	75.7	25.1			$18,604	$4,067	$14,537
Carver Vocational-Technical High	Public	9-12	2201 Presstman Street	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0553	1,041	61	17.2	86.4%	23 (2.2%)	955 (91.7%)	59 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	13.9	199^th of 220 public high schools	9.5%					(n/a)				8.3				22.9	22.9	8.3			$22,485	$5,615	$16,870
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High	Public	9-12	3500 Hillen Road	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-6496	1,714	116	14.7	79.2%	22 (1.3%)	1,498 (87.4%)	159 (9.3%)	22 (1.3%)	5 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	5 (0.3%)	14.9	196^th of 220 public high schools	10.9%					(n/a)				3.9				29.6	29.6	3.9			$20,324	$3,835	$16,489

Frequently Asked Questions about Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

What district is Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in?

Baltimore City Public Schools

How many students attend Baltimore Polytechnic Institute?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,632 students attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.

Is Baltimore Polytechnic Institute a good school?

Yes! Baltimore Polytechnic Institute is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 3^rd of 220 Maryland high schools.

What schools feed into Baltimore Polytechnic Institute?

What is the racial makeup of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute?

Students at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute are 58% African American, 21% White, 14% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

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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.