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Empowerment Academy

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-8

739^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 14% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Empowerment Academy is a public PK-8 school in Baltimore, MD, serving 344 students within the Baltimore City Public Schools district, where nearly 80% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

This school stands out for its strong performance in English Language Arts (ELA), especially in the upper grades. In 7th grade, 57.1% of students were proficient in ELA, far exceeding both the district (37.7%) and state (54.6%) averages. This is a remarkable achievement compared to nearby schools like Harlem Park Elementary/Middle, where only 11.4% of 7th graders were proficient. However, math scores are a significant concern. Only 6.3% of all students were proficient in math, which is less than half the district average (13.3%) and far below the state average (27.1%). In 6th grade, 0% of students were proficient in math. This creates a clear "ELA vs. Math" paradox, where the school excels in literacy but struggles with numeracy.

On a positive note, Empowerment Academy has a low chronic absenteeism rate of 25.5%, dramatically lower than the district average of 46.4% and much better than nearby schools like Frederick Elementary (73.0%). The school also spends less per student ($22,994) than its neighbors, such as Belmont Elementary ($31,890), suggesting efficient use of resources. While the school's overall state ranking has dropped to the 14th percentile, its strong ELA outcomes and attendance record are bright spots in a challenging district, making it a school with clear strengths and a critical need to improve math instruction.

344

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,994

Per pupil spending ?

79.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

851 Braddish Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21216

(443) 984-2381

District: Baltimore City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

97.4%

Hispanic:

1.5%

White:

0.9%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Empowerment Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 40th percentile in 2015 → 14th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (18% vs 37% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (14th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 26 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school18%

District avg21%

Maryland avg37%

Elementary school

739^th of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Bottom 14%▲ up 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 7% (2016) to bottom 14% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

235^th of 339

Maryland public middle schools ?

Bottom 31%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 22% (2016) to bottom 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

52^nd of 103Elementary 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	16.1	739 of 864	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.7	648 of 865	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.4	550 of 859	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.1	594 of 855	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.2	640 of 862	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.4	542 of 853	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	21.7	655 of 857	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	15.9	717 of 847	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	10.5	784 of 845	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	35.8	517 of 859	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2014	64.6	346 of 867	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	66.0	292 of 847	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	63.8	345 of 857	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	69.3	252 of 853	70.5%	★★★★☆
2010	74.2	215 of 855	74.9%	★★★★☆
2009	63.9	341 of 850	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	57.7	413 of 838	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	74.5	192 of 818	76.5%	★★★★☆
2006	81.6	123 of 804	84.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	8.2	791 of 796	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	28.0	235 of 339	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.5	213 of 337	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.6	192 of 328	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	18.4	267 of 322	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.8	243 of 333	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.6	205 of 316	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.7	186 of 328	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	42.6	179 of 317	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	20.9	246 of 314	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	31.0	213 of 315	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	76.9	83 of 339	75.5%	★★★★☆
2013	70.9	99 of 316	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	74.1	87 of 314	72.3%	★★★★☆
2011	79.9	58 of 309	81.2%	★★★★☆
2010	78.5	65 of 324	79.9%	★★★★☆
2009	77.5	68 of 301	77.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	44.7	155 of 273	43.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	22.8	230 of 288	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Female (2021)1st percentile

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)43rd percentile

Male (2021)20th percentile

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts33%-19 vs state

Science15%-17 vs state

Mathematics6%-21 vs state

Algebra I3%-19 vs state

3.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, October 16, 2013

The teachers are not experienced enough to offer a variety of learning experiences. Also, there are only a handful of teachers (4) for the entire middle school. Close Quote

Schools Near Empowerment Academy

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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 3rd Grade	MCAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Science 5th Grade	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Empowerment Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	851 Braddish Avenue	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(443) 984-2381	344	30	11.4	79.7%	3 (0.9%)	335 (97.4%)	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	16.1	739^th of 864 public elementary schools	14.5%		22.7	648^th of 865 public elementary schools	25.1%	91	6.7	8.8	13.3	0.0	8.6		6.3	15.6	29.4	43.3	17.5	57.1	43.6	33.2	2.6	20.0	10.3	$22,994	$3,716	$19,278
Billie Holiday Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	2400 W Mosher Street	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0506	242	22	11.0	86.0%	2 (0.8%)	229 (94.6%)	9 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)								(n/a)																		$31,423	$6,416	$25,006
Mary Ann Winterling Elementary at Bentalou	Public	PK, KG-5	220 N Bentalou Street	Baltimore	21223	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-1385	296	16	18.5	92.2%	0 (0.0%)	283 (95.6%)	10 (3.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	6.2	859^th of 864 public elementary schools	0.6%		7.8	852^nd of 865 public elementary schools	1.5%	7	6.8	6.1	2.3				5.2	11.4	10.2	9.5				10.4		2.5		$26,929	$5,369	$21,559
Rosemont Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	2777 Presstman Street	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0574	294	19	15.4	90.1%	4 (1.4%)	288 (98.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6.6	855^th of 864 public elementary schools	1.0%		14.7	759^th of 865 public elementary schools	12.3%	96	8.0	3.9	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.7	16.7	18.5	6.1	1.9	25.0	23.9	14.8		0.0	6.4	$25,006	$5,902	$19,105
Belmont Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1406 N Ellamont Street	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0579	177	12	15.3	90.4%	0 (0.0%)	170 (96.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.8%)	19.4	688^th of 864 public elementary schools	20.4%		14.6	760^th of 865 public elementary schools	12.1%	72	17.4	25.0	28.0				23.7	26.1	17.9	4.0				15.8		8.3		$31,890	$7,289	$24,601
Matthew A. Henson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1600 N Payson Street	Baltimore	21217	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0776	199	13	15.9	85.9%	4 (2.0%)	177 (88.9%)	15 (7.5%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17	723^rd of 864 public elementary schools	16.3%		26	600^th of 865 public elementary schools	30.6%	123	8.3	27.3	25.0				18.3	19.4	27.3	20.8				22.0		0.0		$28,098	$5,944	$22,154
Harlem Park Elementary/Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	1401 W Lafayette Avenue	Baltimore	21217	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0633	402	30	13.4	93.5%	3 (0.7%)	388 (96.5%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.2%)	10.9	813^th of 864 public elementary schools	5.9%		8.2	847^th of 865 public elementary schools	2.1%	34	30.8	10.3	0.0	0.0	2.4	22.0	11.0	7.5	15.4	5.7	25.5	11.4	19.6	15.0		0.0	13.5	$20,251	$4,743	$15,508
Mary E. Rodman Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3510 W Mulberry Street	Baltimore	21229	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0508	431	32	13.6	86.5%	3 (0.7%)	395 (91.6%)	20 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.0%)	15.9	747^th of 864 public elementary schools	13.5%		12.9	792^nd of 865 public elementary schools	8.4%	45	31.9	10.7	3.9				15.2	33.3	20.3	21.5				24.8		5.2		$22,594	$4,694	$17,900
New Song Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1530 Presstman Street	Baltimore	21217	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(410) 728-2091	182	13	14.0	87.4%	0 (0.0%)	182 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7.3	848^th of 864 public elementary schools	1.9%		7.7	853^rd of 865 public elementary schools	1.4%	5	14.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	14.3	4.0	7.1	4.5	0.0	25.0	28.6	42.9	18.4		9.1	21.4	$24,869	$4,763	$20,107
Frederick Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	2501 Frederick Avenue	Baltimore	21223	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	Yes	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0830	320	20	16.0	88.8%	12 (3.8%)	239 (74.7%)	50 (15.6%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.0%)	6.7	853^rd of 864 public elementary schools	1.3%		5.3	863^rd of 865 public elementary schools	0.2%	10	6.8	2.3	1.8				3.5	11.1	4.4	14.5				10.3		7.8		$30,078	$6,680	$23,398

Frequently Asked Questions about Empowerment Academy

What district is Empowerment Academy in?

Baltimore City Public Schools

Is Empowerment Academy a good school?

Empowerment Academy ranks in the bottom 14.5% of Maryland elementary schools.

How many students attend Empowerment Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 344 students attended Empowerment Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Empowerment Academy?

Students at Empowerment Academy are 97% African American, 1% Hispanic.

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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.