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Southern Middle

Q: Is Southern Middle a good school?

Southern Middle ranks 131 st of 339 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

131^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 339 Maryland Middle Schools

Better than 61% of Maryland middle schools

Summary

Southern Middle in Lothian, MD, is a public school serving 726 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district, where nearly half of its students (47.5%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a moderate level of economic diversity in the community.

One of the school's standout strengths is its exceptional Algebra I program, with 88.2% of students achieving proficiency in the 2025-2026 school year—far exceeding the district average of 26.3% and the state average of 21.3%. This performance rivals top nearby schools like Crofton Middle (83.8%) and Central Middle (83.1%), despite Southern Middle's overall math proficiency being much lower at 21.4%. The school also excels in supporting students from low socio-economic backgrounds, ranking in the 84th percentile statewide for this subgroup. However, there is a significant gap between subjects: while 51.4% of students are proficient in English Language Arts (close to the state average), general math proficiency lags behind, and chronic absenteeism (22.2% in 2024-2025) remains a persistent challenge, higher than the district average of 19.9%.

Compared to nearby high-performing schools like Northern Middle (5-star, 92nd percentile) and Central Middle (5-star, 93rd percentile), which have lower rates of economic disadvantage and chronic absenteeism, Southern Middle faces unique challenges with a higher-needs student population. Despite this, its Algebra I program and support for low-SES students are notable bright spots. The school spends $17,906 per student, more than some higher-performing peers like Crofton Middle ($14,054), suggesting that resource allocation—such as investing in advanced math and targeted interventions—is yielding specific results, even as other areas like general math and attendance need attention.

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: Rebounding — 51st percentile in 2021 → 61st in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 61st (2026) from a 51st-percentile low (2021)

✓Above the Maryland median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg41%

Maryland avg37%

131^st of 339

Maryland public middle schools ?

Top 39%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 34% (2016) to top 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^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
2026	57.3	131 of 339	61.4%	★★★☆☆
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 (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I88%+67 vs state

English Language Arts51%~ state avg

Science28%-3 vs state

Mathematics21%-6 vs state

1.0

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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

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAP Mathematics (2026)				MCAP English Language Arts (2026)				MCAP Algebra I (2026)	MCAP Geometry (2026)	MCAP Science (2026)	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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	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%)	57.3	131^st of 339 public middle schools	61.4%		64.8	110^th of 337 public middle schools	67.4%	21	12.6	23.7	17.7	21.4	50.4	49.8	53.5	51.4	88.2		28.1	$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	23^rd of 339 public middle schools	93.2%		91.9	25^th of 337 public middle schools	92.6%	2	45.2	48.3	29.2	48.3	68.9	72.8	68.8	70.2	83.1		60.3	$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%)	88.7	34^th of 339 public middle schools	90.0%		81.7	57^th of 337 public middle schools	83.1%	23	45.6	35.3	14.2	38.7	75.1	70.9	72.2	72.8	60.8	70.0	54.9	$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%)	90.7	27^th of 339 public middle schools	92.0%		90.5	36^th of 337 public middle schools	89.3%	9	38.6	40.8	18.1	41.6	69.8	82.5	78.2	76.9	67.3	91.3	52.5	$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%)	19.5	287^th of 339 public middle schools	15.3%		25	245^th of 337 public middle schools	27.3%	42	5.7	5.6	3.1	7.3	27.9	23.4	29.9	27.1	63.3		13.0	$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%)	58.1	125^th of 339 public middle schools	63.1%		55.5	137^th of 337 public middle schools	59.3%	12	23.9	24.8	4.9	25.6	49.4	49.3	53.7	50.7	71.8		35.6	$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%)	56.9	132^nd of 339 public middle schools	61.1%		58.6	125^th of 337 public middle schools	62.9%	7	21.6	19.6	7.5	18.9	56.1	57.2	52.0	55.1	36.7	50.0	26.4	$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%)	37.1	197^th of 339 public middle schools	41.9%		35.7	200^th of 337 public middle schools	40.7%	3	10.2	13.9	7.2	12.1	40.9	40.5	46.0	42.4	31.0		18.7	$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%)	90.2	29^th of 339 public middle schools	91.4%		91.2	31^st of 337 public middle schools	90.8%	2	38.3	44.8	20.2	43.4	68.5	75.5	74.4	72.8	83.8	80.0	54.7	$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%)	23.8	261^st of 339 public middle schools	23.0%		22.2	266^th of 337 public middle schools	21.1%	5	4.1	4.9	3.8	4.2	42.2	33.5	30.0	35.0	2.9		11.2	$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 131^st of 339 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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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresJul 28, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCAP test scoresAug 26, 2025

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.