Summary:
The city of Hagerstown, Maryland is home to 22 schools, including 14 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 1 alternative school, all part of the Washington County Public Schools district. The schools in Hagerstown serve a diverse student population and face a range of academic and socioeconomic challenges, with some standout schools demonstrating strong performance and others struggling to meet state standards.
Among the top-performing schools in Hagerstown is the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, a public magnet high school that ranks among the top 11 high schools in Maryland. This school boasts consistently high test scores, with 93.4% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, and a relatively low free/reduced lunch rate of 34.24%. Additionally, Paramount Elementary and Fountaindale Elementary stand out with over 50% of students proficient or better in both math and English Language Arts, and lower free/reduced lunch rates compared to other elementary schools in the district.
However, the data also reveals significant disparities in performance across the district, with many schools struggling to meet state proficiency standards. The district's high schools have a 4-year graduation rate of around 89.6%, slightly below the state average, and a dropout rate of 7.0%, which is higher than the state average. Additionally, the district as a whole faces challenges with chronic absenteeism, with all schools reporting a rate of 26.9%, significantly higher than the state average. These systemic issues, coupled with the high rates of economic disadvantage in the district, highlight the need for targeted interventions and strategies to improve educational outcomes for all students in Hagerstown.
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