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Baltimore School for the Arts

Public Grades 9-12

21^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 91% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Baltimore School for the Arts is a selective public high school in Baltimore, MD, serving 443 students in grades 9-12 and operating within the Baltimore City Public Schools district.

This school stands out for its exceptional English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency, with 88.1% of students meeting standards—nearly 2.7 times the state average and a stark contrast to nearby schools like Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts, which had only 1.8% proficiency. However, math proficiency is critically low at just 8.3%, below the district average of 13.3%. This creates a massive 79.8 percentage point gap between ELA and math scores, suggesting a highly specialized curriculum that prioritizes literacy and the arts over quantitative skills. The school also has a low chronic absenteeism rate of 17.6%, less than half the district average of 46.4%, and a much lower economic disadvantage rate (24.15% qualify for free or reduced lunch) compared to nearby schools like Renaissance Academy (94.19%) and Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy (84.8%).

Despite its district's overall struggles, BSA has climbed to a 5-star rating and the 91st percentile statewide, a significant improvement from the 61st percentile just three years ago. While it spends $27,113 per student—well above the national average—schools like Eager Street Academy ($45,237 per student) spend far more with far worse results, indicating that student selection and school culture drive success here. For parents, BSA offers an elite arts and literacy education but may require supplemental math support for college readiness, especially in STEM fields.

443

Students ?

15.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,113

Per pupil spending ?

24.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

712 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

(443) 642-5165

District: Baltimore City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

55.5%

White:

33.9%

Hispanic:

5.6%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare Baltimore School for the Arts to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 79th percentile in 2015 → 91st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (50% vs 38% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 9% of Maryland high schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Mathematics scores 19 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg23%

Maryland avg38%

21^st of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 9%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From top 17% (2016) to top 9% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd 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	70.1	21 of 227	90.7%	★★★★★
2025	75.5	16 of 220	92.7%	★★★★★
2024	66.1	21 of 146	85.6%	★★★★☆
2023	53.2	49 of 127	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.3	83 of 225	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.4	69 of 138	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.9	73 of 197	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.1	44 of 180	75.6%	★★★★☆
2016	71.2	40 of 233	82.8%	★★★★☆
2015	67.5	50 of 233	78.5%	★★★★☆
2014	75.7	64 of 231	72.3%	★★★★☆
2013	74.7	43 of 185	76.8%	★★★★☆
2012	80.3	27 of 187	85.6%	★★★★☆
2011	83.6	20 of 183	89.1%	★★★★☆
2010	81.4	28 of 220	87.3%	★★★★☆
2009	83.9	9 of 213	95.8%	★★★★★
2008	80.6	26 of 214	87.9%	★★★★☆
2007	72.9	39 of 209	81.3%	★★★★☆
2006	75.0	28 of 204	86.3%	★★★★☆
2005	72.4	21 of 204	89.7%	★★★★★
2004	56.8	37 of 201	81.6%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts88%+36 vs state

Mathematics8%-19 vs state

Algebra I8%-13 vs state

★

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Schools Near Baltimore School for the Arts

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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
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)
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
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
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
Excel Academy at Francis M. Wood High	Public	9-12	1001 W Saratoga Street	Baltimore	21223	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-1290	264	17	15.5	92.8%	5 (1.9%)	239 (90.5%)	18 (6.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	11.3	213^th of 227 public high schools	6.2%		15.9	188^th of 220 public high schools	14.5%	25				5.1				20.8	20.8	5.1		$27,169	$3,830	$23,339
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
Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts	Public	9-12	1500 Harlem Avenue	Baltimore	21217	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-7701	337	25	13.4	92.6%	5 (1.5%)	321 (95.3%)	8 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	6.9	227^th of 227 public high schools	0.0%		11	212^th of 220 public high schools	3.6%	15				0.0				1.8	1.8	0.0		$30,282	$5,760	$24,521

Frequently Asked Questions about Baltimore School for the Arts

How many students attend Baltimore School for the Arts?

In the 2024-25 school year, 443 students attended Baltimore School for the Arts.

Is Baltimore School for the Arts a good school?

Yes. Baltimore School for the Arts ranks in the top 9.3% of Maryland high schools.

What district is Baltimore School for the Arts in?

Baltimore City Public Schools

What schools feed into Baltimore School for the Arts?

What is the racial makeup of Baltimore School for the Arts?

Students at Baltimore School for the Arts are 56% African American, 34% White, 6% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

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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.