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National Academy Foundation

Public Grades 6-12

207^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 9% of Maryland high schools

Summary

National Academy Foundation is a public high school in Baltimore, MD, serving 801 students in grades 6-12 as part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, where 64% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school faces significant challenges that parents should know about. Academically, it is a low-performing school with only 5.3% of students proficient in Math and 12.5% in English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 27.1% and 51.7%. The graduation rate is critically low at 51.6%, while the dropout rate has spiked dramatically to 40.9%—nearly double the district average of 20.8%. Chronic absenteeism affects 68.6% of students, indicating a systemic issue with engagement. The school spends $25,006 per student, which is higher than the district average, but these resources are not translating into better outcomes. Interestingly, the school's 8th-grade Social Studies proficiency rate of 22.4% actually outperformed the district average of 17.3%, suggesting a potential bright spot.

The most striking comparison is with Paul Laurence Dunbar High, located just 0.1 miles away. Despite serving a similar demographic, Dunbar boasts a 92.7% graduation rate, a 6.4% dropout rate, and 62.2% ELA proficiency—dramatically better than National Academy Foundation on every measure. This suggests the challenges at National Academy Foundation are likely related to school-specific culture, leadership, or instructional practices rather than the neighborhood context alone. The dropout rate has exploded in just the last two years, jumping from 11.0% in 2023 to 40.9% in 2025, signaling an acute crisis. Additionally, the school's middle school grades show the weakest performance, with 0% of 6th graders proficient in Math, indicating foundational academic issues that may contribute to the high school dropout problem.

801

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,006

Per pupil spending ?

64%

Free/discounted lunch ?

540 N Caroline Street
Baltimore, MD 21205

(443) 984-1594

District: Baltimore City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

57.1%

African American:

39.5%

White:

1.4%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare National Academy Foundation to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 28th percentile in 2009 → 9th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (8% vs 37% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (9th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 19 percentile points since 2009

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school8%

District avg22%

Maryland avg37%

Middle school

316^th of 339

Maryland public middle schools ?

Bottom 7%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 3% (2016) to bottom 7% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

207^th of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 15% (2016) to bottom 9% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

22^nd 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	13.7	316 of 339	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.1	307 of 337	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.7	313 of 328	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.5	325 of 333	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	7.8	305 of 314	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	8.5	311 of 315	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	3.0	328 of 339	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	12.3	207 of 227	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	13.5	203 of 220	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	12.7	214 of 225	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	9.9	199 of 233	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	10.7	202 of 233	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	5.3	211 of 231	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	34.3	136 of 187	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	30.3	140 of 183	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	52.0	136 of 220	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	38.6	153 of 213	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	40.9	151 of 214	29.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	32.7	145 of 209	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	19.5	161 of 204	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	49.9	102 of 204	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2004	57.3	35 of 201	82.6%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts12%-39 vs state

Algebra I6%-15 vs state

Mathematics5%-22 vs state

Science4%-27 vs state

4.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★1

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, April 4, 2013

NAf appears to be in a period of adjustments, that is frequent staff and administrative changes. The middle school lacks extra curricula activities. My child is well adjusted after two years; however, should there be more integration between the high school and the middle school, students can become more productive. As a willing volunteer, the school does not follow through to capture volunteers. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, May 21, 2012

NAF is a wonderful school, My son is a current student of NAF and I have no complaints at all. The Faculty and Staff are some of the most professional educators that I have come across in a long time dealing with the Baltimore City Public School System.The children seem to know what they want out of there education and NAF prepares them for a bright future. Close Quote

Schools Near National Academy Foundation

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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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 National Academy Foundation

How many students attend National Academy Foundation?

In the 2024-25 school year, 801 students attended National Academy Foundation.

What schools feed into National Academy Foundation?

Is National Academy Foundation a good school?

National Academy Foundation ranks in the bottom 8.8% of Maryland high schools.

What is the racial makeup of National Academy Foundation?

Students at National Academy Foundation are 57% Hispanic, 39% African American, 1% White.

What district is National Academy Foundation in?

Baltimore City Public Schools

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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.