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Western High

Q: Is Western High a good school?

Western High ranks 32 nd of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

32^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 86% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Western High is a public high school in Baltimore, MD, serving 1,290 students in grades 9-12, and is part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, which ranks near the bottom of the state.

Western High stands out as a high-performing school within its district, with a remarkable upward trajectory. After a dip in the 2023-2024 school year, it surged to a 4-star rating and a rank of 32nd out of 227 Maryland high schools for 2025-2026, placing it in the top 15% of the state. Its academic performance is dramatically higher than most nearby peers. For example, 71.4% of students were proficient in English Language Arts (ELA), more than double the district average of 32.9% and well above the state average of 51.7%. This contrasts sharply with nearby schools like Forest Park High (20.4% ELA) and Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High (27.8% ELA). The school also boasts a very high graduation rate of 93.4%, far exceeding the district average of 71.7%, and the highest among its immediate peers.

However, a key area of concern is chronic absenteeism. Despite its stellar academic performance, Western High has a chronic absenteeism rate of 52.4%, which is higher than the district average of 46.4% and significantly higher than high-performing peers like Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (18.7%) and Baltimore City College (21.7%). This suggests that while students who are consistently present achieve at a very high level, a large portion of the student body is missing significant amounts of school. This is a critical issue that could threaten future performance if not addressed.

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

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 73rd percentile in 2015 → 86th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (47% vs 38% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Maryland high schools

✓93% graduate within 4 years

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg23%

Maryland avg38%

32^nd of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 14%▲ up 37 pts since 2016

From bottom 49% (2016) to top 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^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	63.8	32 of 227	85.9%	★★★★☆
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 (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts71%+20 vs state

Mathematics27%~ state avg

Algebra I27%+6 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 (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 (2025)	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
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%)	63.8	32^nd of 227 public high schools	85.9%		58.4	44^th of 220 public high schools	80.0%	12				27.4				71.4	71.4	27.4		$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%)	92.5	1^st of 227 public high schools	99.6%		87.8	3^rd of 220 public high schools	98.6%	2				43.0				95.8	95.8	43.0		$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%)	16.6	187^th of 227 public high schools	17.6%		21.9	162^nd of 220 public high schools	26.4%	25	0.0	4.7	2.2	4.8	11.6	21.4	41.7	31.2	28.9	6.6	11.8	$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%)	16.3	190^th of 227 public high schools	16.3%		13.2	206^th of 220 public high schools	6.4%	16	2.6	0.0	2.5	1.4	13.2	18.6	7.5	36.1	20.9	1.0	0.0	$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%)	59.2	47^th of 227 public high schools	79.3%		49.3	75^th of 220 public high schools	65.9%	28				17.2				70.6	70.6	17.2		$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%)	32.4	133^rd of 227 public high schools	41.4%		23.5	156^th of 220 public high schools	29.1%	23				13.4				49.5	49.5	13.4		$23,883	$4,371	$19,512
Forest Park High	Public	9-12	3701 Eldorado Avenue	Baltimore	21207	Baltimore County	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%)	14.8	198^th of 227 public high schools	12.8%		15.2	195^th of 220 public high schools	11.4%	3				9.9				20.4	20.4	9.9		$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%)	83.9	8^th of 227 public high schools	96.5%		65.1	30^th of 220 public high schools	86.4%	22				46.7				85.0	85.0	46.7		$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%)	14.5	200^th of 227 public high schools	11.9%		14.9	196^th of 220 public high schools	10.9%	4				5.1				27.8	27.8	5.1		$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%)	13.5	205^th of 227 public high schools	9.7%		13.9	199^th of 220 public high schools	9.5%	6				2.4				28.2	28.2	2.4		$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 32^nd of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Western High!

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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.