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Western High

Q: Is Western High a good school?

Western High ranks 44 th of 220 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

44^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 220 Maryland High Schools

Better than 80% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Western High is a public high school located in Baltimore, Maryland, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,328 students. It is part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, which is ranked 24th out of 25 districts in Maryland and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Western High has shown a fluctuating academic performance, ranking as high as 44th out of 220 Maryland high schools in 2024-2025 (4-star rating) but dropping to 95th out of 146 in 2023-2024 (2-star rating). The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) are generally higher than the district and state averages, but its mathematics proficiency rates are lower. Western High has maintained a relatively stable four-year graduation rate, ranging from 68.6% to 91.4%, which is higher than the district average. However, the school has experienced high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 43.4% to 58.1%, significantly higher than the district average.

Compared to nearby schools, Western High generally outperforms Forest Park High and Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High in academic performance, but lags behind the highly-ranked Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, which is located just 0.09 miles away. The higher per-student spending at Western High compared to the district average may indicate a focus on providing additional resources to support the school's student population, which has a high proportion of students from low-income families. However, the persistent academic challenges, such as lower mathematics proficiency, suggest that the allocation of resources may not be fully addressing the specific needs of the student population.

1,290

Students ?

16.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,950

Per pupil spending ?

72.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4600 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21209-4915

(410) 396-7040

District: Baltimore City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

85.3%

Hispanic:

11.1%

White:

2.2%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare Western High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 80th percentile in 2014 → 80th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (43% vs 37% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Maryland high schools

✓93% graduate within 4 years

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg21%

Maryland avg37%

44^th of 220

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 20%▲ up 7 pts since 2015

From top 27% (2015) to top 20% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 29High 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
2025	58.4	44 of 220	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	37.0	95 of 146	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.9	59 of 127	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.8	56 of 225	75.1%	★★★★☆
2019	35.4	94 of 138	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.5	128 of 197	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	41.8	94 of 180	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	49.8	118 of 233	49.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.6	64 of 233	72.5%	★★★★☆
2014	78.9	47 of 231	79.7%	★★★★☆
2013	77.9	35 of 185	81.1%	★★★★☆
2012	82.2	17 of 187	90.9%	★★★★★
2011	85.0	16 of 183	91.3%	★★★★★
2010	84.8	13 of 220	94.1%	★★★★★
2009	84.1	6 of 213	97.2%	★★★★★
2008	84.9	6 of 214	97.2%	★★★★★
2007	67.6	58 of 209	72.2%	★★★★☆
2006	79.9	14 of 204	93.1%	★★★★★
2005	68.6	34 of 204	83.3%	★★★★☆
2004	74.3	1 of 201	99.5%	★★★★★

By subject vs Maryland (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts66%+16 vs state

Mathematics24%~ state avg

Algebra I24%+3 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a student on FaceBook
Wednesday, June 10, 2015

I graduated back in 2001 and this school was awesome. It prepared me for college. I enjoyed the sisterhood. Because of the great education I received here, I was able to graduate from college and get a good job and buy a house. Western ONLY the best. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Wonderful school, high standards of academics as well as behavior. Long history as a women's only school, which is a great point of pride for students and staff alike. Extremely high college attendance percentage. This is listed as a "normal" school on this site, but it is a "citywide school" meaning that one must apply for admission. This is NOT a zoned school! But, if you flunk out, you will be sent back to your zoned school. Close Quote

Schools Near Western 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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAP Mathematics (2025)				MCAP English Language Arts (2025)					MCAP Algebra I (2025)	MCAP Science (2025)	MCAP Social Studies (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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	MCAP Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Western High	Public	9-12	4600 Falls Road	Baltimore	21209	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-7040	1,290	77	16.7	72.8%	29 (2.2%)	1,100 (85.3%)	143 (11.1%)	6 (0.5%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	7 (0.5%)	58.4	44^th of 220 public high schools	80.0%		37	95^th of 146 public high schools	34.9%	51				24.0				66.4	66.4	24.0			$18,950	$4,418	$14,532
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute	Public	9-12	1400 W Cold Spring Lane	Baltimore	21209	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-7026	1,632	85	19.2	47.8%	336 (20.6%)	954 (58.5%)	224 (13.7%)	81 (5.0%)	4 (0.2%)	4 (0.2%)	25 (1.5%)	87.8	3^rd of 220 public high schools	98.6%		84.5	4^th of 146 public high schools	97.3%	1				29.1				92.3	92.3	29.1			$18,309	$4,276	$14,033
Academy for College and Career Exploration	Public	6-12	1300 W 36th Street	Baltimore	21211	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-7607	967	67	14.4	79.1%	85 (8.8%)	674 (69.7%)	171 (17.7%)	20 (2.1%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	12 (1.2%)	21.9	162^nd of 220 public high schools	26.4%		10	144^th of 146 public high schools	1.4%	18	0.0	4.8	2.5	4.5	13.2	30.2	19.5	40.4	32.4	6.0	2.7	2.6	$23,129	$4,571	$18,558
ConneXions: A Community Based Arts School	Public, Charter	6-12	2801 N Dukeland Street	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(443) 984-1418	523	32	16.6	88.7%	5 (1.0%)	496 (94.8%)	18 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	13.2	206^th of 220 public high schools	6.4%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	15.8	10.8	10.5	28.4	17.6	1.3	3.6	3.5	$30,555	$7,626	$22,929
Bard High School Early College	Public	9-12	2801 N Dukeland Street	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 642-5040	459	31	15.0	65.4%	47 (10.2%)	387 (84.3%)	17 (3.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	49.3	75^th of 220 public high schools	65.9%		34.8	106^th of 146 public high schools	27.4%	31				6.5				64.9	64.9	6.5			$23,408	$5,220	$18,188
Coppin Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	2500 W North Avenue	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(443) 642-5060	450	27	16.6	83.8%	0 (0.0%)	438 (97.3%)	8 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	23.5	156^th of 220 public high schools	29.1%		11.3	143^rd of 146 public high schools	2.1%	13				5.9				43.1	43.1	5.9			$23,883	$4,371	$19,512
Forest Park High	Public	9-12	3701 Eldorado Avenue	Baltimore	21207	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0753	1,024	63	16.2	75.1%	13 (1.3%)	803 (78.4%)	192 (18.8%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	9 (0.9%)	15.2	195^th of 220 public high schools	11.4%		12.1	141^st of 146 public high schools	3.4%	54				8.8				23.7	23.7	8.8			$22,667	$4,355	$18,312
Baltimore City College	Public	9-12	3220 The Alameda	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-6557	1,470	79	18.6	52.1%	207 (14.1%)	986 (67.1%)	207 (14.1%)	23 (1.6%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	36 (2.4%)	65.1	30^th of 220 public high schools	86.4%		60.4	31^st of 146 public high schools	78.8%	1				25.1				75.7	75.7	25.1			$18,604	$4,067	$14,537
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High	Public	9-12	3500 Hillen Road	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-6496	1,714	116	14.7	79.2%	22 (1.3%)	1,498 (87.4%)	159 (9.3%)	22 (1.3%)	5 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	5 (0.3%)	14.9	196^th of 220 public high schools	10.9%					(n/a)				3.9				29.6	29.6	3.9			$20,324	$3,835	$16,489
Carver Vocational-Technical High	Public	9-12	2201 Presstman Street	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0553	1,041	61	17.2	86.4%	23 (2.2%)	955 (91.7%)	59 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	13.9	199^th of 220 public high schools	9.5%					(n/a)				8.3				22.9	22.9	8.3			$22,485	$5,615	$16,870

Frequently Asked Questions about Western High

What schools feed into Western High?

What is the racial makeup of Western High?

Students at Western High are 85% African American, 11% Hispanic, 2% White.

How many students attend Western High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,290 students attended Western High.

What district is Western High in?

Baltimore City Public Schools

Is Western High a good school?

Western High ranks 44^th of 220 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Western High!

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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.