Summary:
Allegany County Public Schools, a 3-star district in Maryland, oversees four middle schools—Washington Middle, Braddock Middle, Mount Savage Middle, and Westmar Middle—serving grades 6-8 across a mix of small and larger communities.
Braddock Middle is the standout performer, consistently earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 25% of Maryland middle schools. It leads the district in math (34.9% proficient) and ELA (61.2% proficient), and its advanced math program is exceptional, with Algebra I and Geometry proficiency rates far exceeding state averages. In contrast, Westmar Middle faces the greatest challenges, with the lowest academic scores (just 4.7% proficient in math) and the highest rate of economic disadvantage, despite spending over $25,000 per student—$9,000 more than any other school. Mount Savage Middle shows strong ELA and 7th-grade math scores but has a puzzling drop in 8th-grade math proficiency to just 1%. Washington Middle has the highest chronic absenteeism rate (42.8%) and the second-lowest academic performance, suggesting attendance is a key issue.
Key takeaways include a spending-performance paradox at Westmar, where high investment hasn't translated to results, and a district-wide strength in ELA, with all schools near or above the state average. Chronic absenteeism appears closely tied to lower achievement, particularly at Washington Middle. For parents, Braddock Middle offers the strongest academics and advanced opportunities, while Mount Savage Middle provides solid performance in most areas except 8th-grade math. Washington Middle and Westmar Middle may require more attention to attendance and support services to improve outcomes.
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