Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Park Heights Academy

Public Grades PK, KG-5

791^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 8% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Park Heights Academy is an elementary school in Baltimore, MD, serving 390 students in grades PK-5 as part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, where about 90% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school faces a critical challenge with chronic absenteeism—71.3% of students are chronically absent, which is the highest rate among nearby schools and far above the district average of 46.4%. For comparison, high-performing neighbors like Roland Park Elementary/Middle and Medfield Heights Elementary have rates of just 15.4% and 23.6%, respectively. This absenteeism is strongly linked to the school's low academic performance, which has consistently ranked in the bottom 5-10% of Maryland elementary schools over the past decade.

Despite spending a very high $29,127 per student—nearly $10,000 more than Medfield Heights—Park Heights Academy struggles to translate resources into results. There is a notable bright spot in early literacy: 38.2% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts in 2025-2026, which is higher than the district average (31%) and several nearby schools like Pimlico Elementary/Middle (21.4%) and Callaway Elementary (20.8%). However, this success is not sustained, as 5th-grade proficiency drops dramatically to just 3.7% in Math and 9.3% in ELA, indicating a systemic failure to build on early learning.

Compared to its closest neighbor, Pimlico Elementary/Middle (just 0.36 miles away), Park Heights Academy has similar demographics and performance levels (both in the 8th percentile), but it has a slightly higher absenteeism rate and lower overall ELA proficiency (21.6% vs. 25.1%). This suggests that even within the same neighborhood, Park Heights Academy is underperforming relative to its most comparable peer. Addressing chronic absenteeism is the single most critical lever for improvement, as the data shows a clear link between attendance and academic success across all nearby schools.

390

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$29,127

Per pupil spending ?

90%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2835 Virginia Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215-6534

(410) 396-0550

District: Baltimore City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

86.4%

Hispanic:

9.2%

Two or more races:

2.8%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Park Heights Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 5th percentile in 2014 → 8th in 2026

Worth a look

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

!In the lower quartile statewide (8th percentile)

!English Language Arts scores 30 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school14%

District avg23%

Maryland avg39%

791^st of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Bottom 8%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 4% (2016) to bottom 8% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

68^th 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	12.4	791 of 864	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.1	861 of 865	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.7	832 of 859	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	6.7	840 of 855	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.4	853 of 862	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.5	816 of 853	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.0	829 of 857	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	8.8	810 of 845	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	7.6	850 of 859	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	4.9	825 of 867	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	0.2	845 of 847	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	0.9	850 of 857	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	6.1	822 of 853	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	20.6	756 of 855	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	28.2	681 of 850	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	12.3	795 of 838	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	79.0	136 of 818	83.4%	★★★★☆
2006	81.8	119 of 804	85.2%	★★★★☆
2005	79.0	153 of 805	81.0%	★★★★☆
2004	81.9	125 of 803	84.4%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts22%-30 vs state

Mathematics10%-17 vs state

Science4%-29 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

Rate Park Heights Academy

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a citizen
Wednesday, December 20, 2017

I was house hunting and a serious consideration for purchasing in this area were the schools. Upon entering the school and asking a few questions as to their curriculum I was first looked at for a moment by the admin, then they called in a fellow co-worker. I was told 'you don't want to send your kids here! your kind don't fit in here' and given a big laugh. It was because I was white and the school is 99 black.... very unfortunate. I thanked them for their time and don't dare come back to this area again. Close Quote

Schools Near Park Heights Academy

Load more schools when map is moved

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
Park Heights Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	2835 Virginia Avenue	Baltimore	21215	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0550	390	29	13.6	90.0%	6 (1.5%)	337 (86.4%)	36 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.8%)	12.4	791^st of 864 public elementary schools	8.4%		7.1	861^st of 865 public elementary schools	0.5%	70	14.5	11.3	3.7				9.9	38.2	17.0	9.3				21.6			3.9		$29,127	$5,389	$23,738
Pimlico Elementary/Middle	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	4849 Pimlico Road	Baltimore	21215	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0876	732	42	17.4	82.5%	7 (1.0%)	583 (79.6%)	129 (17.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	9 (1.2%)	12.3	792^nd of 864 public elementary schools	8.3%		9.9	836^th of 865 public elementary schools	3.4%	44	23.2	3.5	4.7	1.1	2.0	15.6	7.6	21.4	17.5	14.3	30.8	31.1	27.2	25.1			4.6	6.5	$28,032	$6,973	$21,059
Creative City Public Charter School	Public, Charter	K-5	2810 Shirley Avenue	Baltimore	21215	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(443) 642-3600	210	13	16.8	81.9%	12 (5.7%)	182 (86.7%)	5 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.2%)	16.4	735^th of 864 public elementary schools	14.9%		16.7	736^th of 865 public elementary schools	14.9%	1	10.8	16.7	17.6				14.6	16.2	27.3	29.4				23.5			16.7		$25,196	$5,208	$19,987
Dr. Nathan A. Pitts-Ashburton Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	3935 Hilton Road	Baltimore	21215	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0636	287	21	14.0	84.0%	2 (0.7%)	263 (91.6%)	18 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	8.9	837^th of 864 public elementary schools	3.1%		9.2	842^nd of 865 public elementary schools	2.7%	5	16.7	0.0	9.5	0.0	2.4	0.0	3.0	22.2	15.8	4.7	14.9	16.7	14.6	14.9			4.8	2.0	$26,803	$5,179	$21,624
Callaway Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3701 Fernhill Avenue	Baltimore	21215	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0604	231	16	14.4	85.3%	0 (0.0%)	218 (94.4%)	9 (3.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	8.8	838^th of 864 public elementary schools	3.0%		13.4	786^th of 865 public elementary schools	9.1%	52	0.0	0.0	0.0				0.0	20.8	21.4	11.1				18.6			16.7		$27,955	$5,964	$21,991
Medfield Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4300 Buchanan Avenue	Baltimore	21211	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-6460	485	25	19.4	37.9%	203 (41.9%)	153 (31.5%)	26 (5.4%)	60 (12.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (8.9%)	75.3	222^nd of 864 public elementary schools	74.3%		80.6	175^th of 865 public elementary schools	79.8%	47	57.9	39.1	39.2				45.8	71.1	67.7	56.9				65.2			40.3		$19,774	$2,907	$16,868
Arlington Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3705 W Rogers Avenue	Baltimore	21215	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0567	529	33	16.2	81.1%	3 (0.6%)	395 (74.7%)	124 (23.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	17.7	714^th of 864 public elementary schools	17.4%		14.5	761^st of 865 public elementary schools	12.0%	47	14.0	19.7	9.2				14.4	24.7	35.2	30.8				29.9			3.1		$23,148	$4,634	$18,514
The Mount Washington School	Public	PK, KG-8	1801 Sulgrave Avenue	Baltimore	21209	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-6354	516	26	20.2	41.5%	107 (20.7%)	333 (64.5%)	35 (6.8%)	15 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (4.8%)	48.9	420^th of 864 public elementary schools	51.4%		53.5	380^th of 865 public elementary schools	56.1%	40	37.7	29.5	30.4	7.0	30.0	17.2	25.5	55.6	55.7	47.8	42.1	58.3	55.9	52.9	23.1		31.1	14.9	$17,685	$2,970	$14,716
Liberty Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3901 Maine Avenue	Baltimore	21207	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0571	335	23	14.8	86.3%	0 (0.0%)	313 (93.4%)	20 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	25.4	624^th of 864 public elementary schools	27.8%		25.1	609^th of 865 public elementary schools	29.6%	15	28.9	9.4	13.0				16.7	45.7	21.2	36.2				33.8			20.0		$26,541	$5,280	$21,262
Roland Park Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	5207 Roland Avenue	Baltimore	21210	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-6420	1,371	73	18.7	33.0%	434 (31.7%)	634 (46.2%)	93 (6.8%)	112 (8.2%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	91 (6.6%)	83.3	148^th of 864 public elementary schools	82.9%		77.6	204^th of 865 public elementary schools	76.4%	56	55.2	50.0	43.2	41.0	40.2	5.0	44.6	70.4	61.1	61.9	75.1	67.6	70.0	68.5	46.3	84.4	45.8	51.0	$16,989	$3,502	$13,487

Frequently Asked Questions about Park Heights Academy

What is the racial makeup of Park Heights Academy?

Students at Park Heights Academy are 86% African American, 9% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% White.

What district is Park Heights Academy in?

Baltimore City Public Schools

What schools do graduates of Park Heights Academy attend?

Students who attend Park Heights Academy 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

Is Park Heights Academy a good school?

Park Heights Academy ranks in the bottom 8.4% of Maryland elementary schools.

How many students attend Park Heights Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 390 students attended Park Heights Academy.

Rate Park Heights Academy!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MDMaryland Elementary School Rankings

MDMaryland District Rankings

Schools in Baltimore, MD

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Park Heights Academy!

Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresNewJul 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.