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Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

807^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 7% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary is a small PK-5 school in Baltimore, MD, serving 189 students as part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, where over 81% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The most critical challenge at Dallas F. Nicholas is an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 54.3%, which is significantly worse than nearby schools like Mount Royal Elementary/Middle (32.0%) and Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School (20.4%). This attendance crisis is directly linked to very low academic performance. Only 19% of students are proficient in English Language Arts (ELA), the lowest rate among all nearby schools with available data, and far below the district average of 32.9%. While math proficiency is also low overall at 11.1%, there is a small bright spot: 3rd graders outperformed the district average in math (16.7% vs. 22.6%), though this progress is not sustained in later grades.

A striking finding is that Dallas F. Nicholas spends $33,806 per student—the highest of any school in the area—yet achieves some of the lowest academic results. For comparison, Mount Royal Elementary/Middle spends significantly less ($20,721) but achieves top-tier outcomes. This suggests that the school's substantial funding is not translating into effective instruction or student engagement. The school also has a low student-teacher ratio of 13:1, which could be an asset, but it has not helped overcome the attendance and achievement challenges. Nearby Barclay Elementary/Middle, which has similar demographics and absenteeism (49.5%), achieves a much higher ELA proficiency rate (37.1%), indicating that Dallas F. Nicholas could benefit from adopting more effective instructional strategies.

189

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$33,806

Per pupil spending ?

81.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

201 E 21st Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-6118

(410) 396-4525

District: Baltimore City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

75.1%

Hispanic:

18.5%

Pacific Islander:

2.6%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 1st percentile in 2015 → 7th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 7th (2026) from a 1st-percentile low (2015)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (14% vs 39% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!English Language Arts scores 33 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school14%

District avg23%

Maryland avg39%

807^th of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Bottom 7%▲ up 4 pts since 2018

From bottom 3% (2018) to bottom 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

72^nd of 103Elementary 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
2026	11.3	807 of 864	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.4	856 of 865	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.2	815 of 859	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.3	854 of 862	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.3	845 of 853	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.5	834 of 857	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	7.6	853 of 859	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	6.6	817 of 867	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	19.7	731 of 847	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	29.9	666 of 857	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	5.7	823 of 853	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	17.9	773 of 855	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	15.4	793 of 850	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	54.5	434 of 838	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	51.4	450 of 818	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	56.3	386 of 804	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	61.4	352 of 805	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	68.1	288 of 803	64.1%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts19%-33 vs state

Mathematics11%-16 vs state

Science7%-25 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary

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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 3rd Grade	MCAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	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 5th Grade	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	201 E 21st Street	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-4525	189	15	13.0	81.5%	2 (1.1%)	142 (75.1%)	35 (18.5%)	2 (1.1%)	1 (0.5%)	5 (2.6%)	2 (1.1%)	11.3	807^th of 864 public elementary schools	6.6%		7.4	856^th of 865 public elementary schools	1.0%	49	16.7	4.0	14.3				11.1	25.0	12.0	21.4				19.0			7.1		$33,806	$6,232	$27,574
Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1600 Guilford Avenue	Baltimore	21202	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(410) 528-5393	604	31	19.4	53.6%	123 (20.4%)	398 (65.9%)	36 (6.0%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	41 (6.8%)	32.1	557^th of 864 public elementary schools	35.5%		27.5	579^th of 865 public elementary schools	33.1%	22	34.7	17.3	16.3	4.6	17.1	0.0	18.8	55.1	34.6	30.6	34.9	45.7	39.5	39.8	61.5		24.5	23.7	$20,781	$4,967	$15,815
Cecil Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2000 Cecil Avenue	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-6385	348	22	15.8	85.1%	3 (0.9%)	328 (94.3%)	10 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.0%)	8.1	841^st of 864 public elementary schools	2.7%		7.4	857^th of 865 public elementary schools	0.9%	16	9.4	8.2	5.3				7.9	16.7	14.3	13.2				14.9			5.3		$25,070	$4,804	$20,265
Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	100 E 26th Street	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-6509	235	18	13.4	60.0%	35 (14.9%)	102 (43.4%)	82 (34.9%)	5 (2.1%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.7%)	6 (2.6%)	25.3	626^th of 864 public elementary schools	27.5%		19.4	693^rd of 865 public elementary schools	19.9%	67	26.9	32.0	20.8	6.7	8.3	26.7	19.7	34.6	28.0	25.0	29.0	33.3	42.1	31.5			14.3	5.6	$24,395	$4,780	$19,615
Midtown Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	1398 W Mount Royal Avenue	Baltimore	21217	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(410) 225-3257	184	12	15.3	70.1%	13 (7.1%)	162 (88.0%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.6%)	17.5	720^th of 864 public elementary schools	16.7%		21	670^th of 865 public elementary schools	22.5%	50	10.5	0.0	9.1	0.0	0.0	4.7	4.1	42.1	33.3	27.3	15.8	31.6	52.4	33.9			18.2	4.7	$25,174	$6,275	$18,899
Mount Royal Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	121 McMechen Street	Baltimore	21217	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0864	786	48	16.5	63.5%	136 (17.3%)	548 (69.7%)	51 (6.5%)	15 (1.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (4.2%)	51	404^th of 864 public elementary schools	53.2%		54.5	369^th of 865 public elementary schools	57.3%	35	41.1	21.1	17.5	32.0	35.7	1.6	31.0	42.9	36.8	28.1	56.2	66.7	58.7	53.7	44.4	100.0	28.1	28.8	$20,721	$4,029	$16,691
Barclay Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	2900 Barclay Street	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-6387	373	28	13.5	82.3%	13 (3.5%)	263 (70.5%)	86 (23.1%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	22.7	651^st of 864 public elementary schools	24.7%		18.7	705^th of 865 public elementary schools	18.5%	54	11.1	13.9	7.3	5.4	2.4	10.4	8.3	41.7	13.9	34.1	50.0	34.9	45.8	37.1			12.2	16.7	$25,600	$5,214	$20,386
Johnston Square Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1101 Valley Street	Baltimore	21202	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-1477	271	17	16.4	94.5%	0 (0.0%)	261 (96.3%)	9 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	4.4	862^nd of 864 public elementary schools	0.2%		5	864^th of 865 public elementary schools	0.1%	2	5.6	0.0	0.0				1.7	2.8	8.8	2.0				4.2			0.0		$25,290	$5,509	$19,780
Dr. Bernard Harris Senior Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 N Caroline Street	Baltimore	21213	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-1452	300	21	14.6	93.7%	0 (0.0%)	286 (95.3%)	7 (2.3%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	3.8	863^rd of 864 public elementary schools	0.1%		4.9	865^th of 865 public elementary schools	0.0%	2	0.0	0.0	0.0				0.0	9.3	2.2	0.0				4.1			0.0		$25,987	$6,018	$19,969
Harford Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1919 N Broadway Street	Baltimore	21213	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-9341	435	34	12.7	87.4%	5 (1.1%)	393 (90.3%)	30 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	19.3	691^st of 864 public elementary schools	20.0%		21.8	669^th of 865 public elementary schools	22.7%	22	31.3	14.3	3.8				17.1	39.7	27.1	21.2				29.7			1.9		$27,664	$5,785	$21,879

Frequently Asked Questions about Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary

Is Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary a good school?

Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary ranks in the bottom 6.6% of Maryland elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary attend?

Students who attend Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Booker T. Washington Middle
Middle : Stadium School
Middle : The Crossroads School
Middle : Vanguard Collegiate Middle
High : Academy for College and Career Exploration
High : Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts
High : Baltimore City College
High : Baltimore Design School
High : Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women
High : Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
High : Baltimore School for the Arts
High : Benjamin Franklin High School at Masonville Cove
High : Carver Vocational-Technical High
High : City Neighbors High
High : ConneXions: A Community Based Arts School
High : Coppin Academy
High : Digital Harbor High School
High : Edmondson-Westside High
High : Forest Park High
High : Frederick Douglass High
High : Green Street Academy
High : Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High
High : National Academy Foundation
High : Patterson High
High : Paul Laurence Dunbar High
High : Reginald F. Lewis High
High : Renaissance Academy
High : The Reach! Partnership School
High : Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy
High : Western High

How many students attend Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 189 students attended Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary.

What district is Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary in?

Baltimore City Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary?

Students at Dallas F. Nicholas Senior Elementary are 75% African American, 19% Hispanic, 3% Pacific Islander, 1% White, 1% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

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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.