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Paul Laurence Dunbar High

Q: Is Paul Laurence Dunbar High a good school?

Paul Laurence Dunbar High ranks 72 nd of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

72^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 68% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Paul Laurence Dunbar High is a traditional public high school in Baltimore, MD, serving 1,087 students in grades 9-12 within the Baltimore City Public Schools district, where nearly 78% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Dunbar High is in the midst of a remarkable turnaround, surging from the 9th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 68th percentile in 2025-2026 and earning a 3-star rating. Its standout strength is English Language Arts (ELA), with 62.2% of students proficient—nearly double the district average of 32.9% and well above the state average of 51.7%. This is a dramatic contrast to nearby schools like The Reach! Partnership School (12.8% ELA) and Renaissance Academy (11.1% ELA). The school also boasts a 92.7% graduation rate, far exceeding the district's 71.7%, and a low dropout rate of 6.4% compared to the district's 20.8%. While math proficiency (18.7%) lags behind the state average (27.1%), it still outpaces the district average (13.3%) and is far higher than schools like Digital Harbor High School (4.4% math) and National Academy Foundation (5.3% math).

Despite these successes, Dunbar High faces a significant challenge: chronic absenteeism. In 2024-2025, 51.7% of students were chronically absent, higher than the district average of 46.4%. This means the school is achieving strong results even though many students miss substantial school time. Interestingly, Dunbar High spends $18,832 per student—far less than lower-performing neighbors like Renaissance Academy ($38,693) and Excel Academy at Francis M. Wood High ($27,169)—suggesting effective resource use. The school's primary goals are to replicate its ELA success in math and tackle absenteeism to sustain its upward trajectory.

1,087

Students ?

18.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,832

Per pupil spending ?

77.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1400 Orleans Street
Baltimore, MD 21231

(443) 642-4478

District: Baltimore City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

80.2%

Hispanic:

17.3%

White:

1.4%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare Paul Laurence Dunbar High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 36th percentile in 2013 → 68th in 2026

Strengths

✓93% graduate within 4 years

✓Ranking is trending up — up 32 percentile points since 2013

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Baltimore City Public Schools

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school36%

District avg23%

Maryland avg38%

72^nd of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 32 pts since 2016

From bottom 36% (2016) to top 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 31High 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	49.2	72 of 227	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	46.7	83 of 220	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	21.2	133 of 146	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	25.9	160 of 225	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	24.5	140 of 197	28.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	18.5	149 of 180	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	38.0	148 of 233	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	47.1	134 of 233	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	40.3	164 of 231	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	44.1	119 of 185	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	40.8	123 of 183	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	59.6	121 of 220	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2009	76.3	48 of 213	77.5%	★★★★☆
2008	77.2	51 of 214	76.2%	★★★★☆
2007	62.6	79 of 209	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2006	59.2	79 of 204	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	52.2	95 of 204	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	63.5	6 of 201	97.0%	★★★★★

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts62%+10 vs state

Mathematics19%-8 vs state

Algebra I19%-3 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paul Laurence Dunbar High

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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 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 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Paul Laurence Dunbar High	Public	9-12	1400 Orleans Street	Baltimore	21231	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 642-4478	1,087	60	18.1	77.7%	15 (1.4%)	872 (80.2%)	188 (17.3%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.5%)	49.2	72^nd of 227 public high schools	68.3%		46.7	83^rd of 220 public high schools	62.3%	11				18.7				62.2	62.2	18.7		$18,832	$3,740	$15,092
National Academy Foundation	Public	6-12	540 N Caroline Street	Baltimore	21205	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 984-1594	801	60	13.3	64.0%	11 (1.4%)	316 (39.5%)	457 (57.1%)	6 (0.7%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	6 (0.7%)	12.3	207^th of 227 public high schools	8.8%		13.5	203^rd of 220 public high schools	7.7%	4	0.0	7.0	6.1	5.3	4.3	12.3	16.0	14.5	12.5	6.1	4.3	$25,006	$4,437	$20,569
Eager Street Academy	Public	6-12	926 Greenmount Avenue	Baltimore	21202	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 234-1815	45	10	4.5	57.8%	1 (2.2%)	40 (88.9%)	1 (2.2%)	1 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.4%)	8.9	219^th of 227 public high schools	3.5%					(n/a)				0.0				17.2	17.2	0.0		$45,237	$8,592	$36,645
Baltimore School for the Arts	Public	9-12	712 Cathedral Street	Baltimore	21201	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 642-5165	443	28	15.8	24.2%	150 (33.9%)	246 (55.5%)	25 (5.6%)	8 (1.8%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	7 (1.6%)	70.1	21^st of 227 public high schools	90.7%		75.5	16^th of 220 public high schools	92.7%	5				8.3				88.1	88.1	8.3		$27,113	$5,283	$21,830
Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women	Public, Charter	6-12	128 W Franklin Street	Baltimore	21201	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(443) 642-2048	466	40	11.6	82.6%	1 (0.2%)	455 (97.6%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	9.6	217^th of 227 public high schools	4.4%		15.9	189^th of 220 public high schools	14.1%	28	9.1	6.1	0.0	3.2	24.2	32.7	31.0	18.5	26.8	0.0	0.0	$27,691	$7,661	$20,030
Baltimore Design School	Public	6-12	1500 Barclay Street	Baltimore	21202	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 642-2311	503	39	13.0	75.9%	26 (5.2%)	435 (86.5%)	25 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.0%)	54.2	60^th of 227 public high schools	73.6%		53.4	60^th of 220 public high schools	72.7%		10.3	9.0	35.3	15.1	25.6	49.3	30.9	72.5	46.7	11.6	12.7	$21,049	$4,384	$16,665
Digital Harbor High School	Public	9-12	1100 Covington Street	Baltimore	21230	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 984-1256	1,359	87	15.6	75.3%	94 (6.9%)	737 (54.2%)	501 (36.9%)	7 (0.5%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	15 (1.1%)	16.9	183^rd of 227 public high schools	19.4%		13.6	202^nd of 220 public high schools	8.2%	19				4.4				33.5	33.5	4.4		$19,329	$3,229	$16,101
Joseph C. Briscoe Academy	Public	6-12	900 Druid Hill Avenue	Baltimore	21201	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-0774	30	17	1.7	86.7%	0 (0.0%)	27 (90.0%)	2 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.3%)								(n/a)
The Reach! Partnership School	Public	9-12	2555 Harford Road	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 642-2291	724	46	15.7	84.4%	12 (1.7%)	642 (88.7%)	57 (7.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.6%)	6 (0.8%)	8.8	221^st of 227 public high schools	2.6%		12.8	207^th of 220 public high schools	5.9%	14				1.7				12.8	12.8	1.7		$24,125	$5,014	$19,111
Renaissance Academy	Public	9-12	1301 McCulloh Street	Baltimore	21217	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 984-3164	241	23	10.7	94.2%	0 (0.0%)	223 (92.5%)	14 (5.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	8.7	224^th of 227 public high schools	1.3%		16.6	187^th of 220 public high schools	15.0%	37				1.4				11.1	11.1	1.4		$38,693	$9,264	$29,429

Frequently Asked Questions about Paul Laurence Dunbar High

What is the racial makeup of Paul Laurence Dunbar High?

Students at Paul Laurence Dunbar High are 80% African American, 17% Hispanic, 1% White.

Is Paul Laurence Dunbar High a good school?

Paul Laurence Dunbar High ranks 72^nd of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Paul Laurence Dunbar High in?

Baltimore City Public Schools

What schools feed into Paul Laurence Dunbar High?

How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,087 students attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High.

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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.