Best Public Schools in Towson, MD

Towson, Maryland, is home to five schools within the Baltimore County Public Schools district, serving a mix of elementary and high school students across a wide socioeconomic spectrum. The standout performer is Riderwood Elementary, a 5-star school ranking in the 99th percentile, where 94.4% of students are proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and only 7.2% are chronically absent. In contrast, Pleasant Plains Elementary struggles with a 1-star rating, 36.3% chronic absenteeism, and 70.09% of students receiving free/reduced lunch, despite spending slightly more per student ($20,133) than Riderwood ($19,774). Among high schools, George W. Carver Center for Arts & Technology excels in ELA with 87.3% proficiency and a low 10.1% absenteeism rate, while Towson High boasts a strong 94.1% graduation rate but only 21.1% math proficiency. The BCDC Educational Center is an outlier with a 0-star rating, 0% math proficiency, and an 82.7% dropout rate, serving just 52 students with the lowest per-pupil spending ($8,268).

Key metrics reveal a stark divide: chronic absenteeism strongly correlates with performance, as the two lowest-rated schools—Pleasant Plains and BCDC—have the highest rates (36.3% and 55.9%, respectively), while top performers like Riderwood and Carver Center have rates below 10.2%. Spending does not guarantee success, as Pleasant Plains spends the most but achieves the least, while Riderwood spends slightly less for dramatically better results. The data also shows that specialized programs, like Carver Center’s arts-integrated curriculum, may boost ELA outcomes compared to comprehensive high schools like Towson High.

For parents, the takeaway is clear: Riderwood Elementary and George W. Carver Center for Arts & Technology offer the strongest academic environments with low absenteeism and high proficiency, while Pleasant Plains Elementary and BCDC Educational Center face significant challenges tied to poverty and attendance. Towson High remains a solid choice for graduation rates but lags in math. Overall, school choice in Towson depends heavily on prioritizing academic excellence versus addressing high-need populations.