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Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women

Public, Charter Grades 6-12

217^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 4% of Maryland high schools

Summary

The Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women (BLSYW) is a public all-girls school in downtown Baltimore serving 466 students in grades 6 through 12 within the Baltimore City Public Schools district, where over 82% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

BLSYW shows a significant strength in English Language Arts (ELA), with 26.8% of students proficient, which is much closer to the district average of 32.9% and outperforms nearby schools like Eager Street Academy (17.2%) and Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts (1.8%). However, the school faces severe challenges in STEM subjects, recording 0% proficiency in 8th Grade Math, 8th Grade Science, and Algebra I. This is a stark contrast to the Baltimore Design School, which achieved 35.3% proficiency in 8th Grade Math. The school also spends a high $27,691 per student, more than the high-performing Paul Laurence Dunbar High ($18,832), yet academic outcomes remain low, raising questions about how resources are being used.

A critical issue is a "middle school cliff," where math proficiency drops from 9.1% in 6th grade to 0% by 8th grade, indicating a systemic failure in math instruction. Chronic absenteeism is also high at 51.1%, though the school's relatively decent ELA scores suggest that students who attend regularly may be engaged in literacy. Just 0.21 miles away, the Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) serves a more affluent population and achieves 88.1% ELA proficiency, highlighting the deep socioeconomic and academic divides within the same neighborhood. While BLSYW historically had a strong graduation rate, recent data is missing, making it difficult to assess the school's current trajectory.

466

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,691

Per pupil spending ?

82.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

128 W Franklin Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

(443) 642-2048

District: Baltimore City Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

African American:

97.6%

Hispanic:

1.5%

Two or more races:

0.4%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 45th percentile in 2016 → 4th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (12% vs 37% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (4th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 41 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school12%

District avg22%

Maryland avg37%

Middle school

296^th of 342

Maryland public middle schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 3 pts since 2016

From bottom 17% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

217^th of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Bottom 4%▼ down 40 pts since 2016

From bottom 45% (2016) to bottom 4% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

26^th of 31High Schools in the Baltimore City Public Schools

24^th of 24Baltimore 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	17.8	296 of 342	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.3	306 of 337	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.3	264 of 328	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.0	283 of 322	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.8	242 of 333	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.8	261 of 303	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	12.1	288 of 316	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.6	285 of 328	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	13.4	284 of 317	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	16.9	261 of 314	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	17.8	261 of 315	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	42.3	216 of 339	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.9	157 of 316	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.3	131 of 314	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.7	114 of 309	63.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	23.3	214 of 259	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	13.3	270 of 303	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	29.0	222 of 273	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	9.6	217 of 227	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	15.9	189 of 220	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.2	112 of 127	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.6	172 of 225	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.4	102 of 197	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	31.8	118 of 180	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	45.4	129 of 233	44.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)19th percentile+5 vs school

African American (2021)17th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2021)11th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts27%-25 vs state

Mathematics3%-24 vs state

Algebra I0%-21 vs state

Science0%-31 vs state

★

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Schools Near Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women

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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 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
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
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
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%)	11.2	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
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
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	73^rd of 227 public high schools	67.8%		46.7	83^rd of 220 public high schools	62.3%	10				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
Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy	Public	9-12	100 N Calhoun Street	Baltimore	21223	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 984-2831	386	23	16.7	87.3%	9 (2.3%)	323 (83.7%)	48 (12.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	24.4	164^th of 227 public high schools	27.8%		18	180^th of 220 public high schools	18.2%	16				9.6				41.2	41.2	9.6		$23,608	$6,047	$17,561

Frequently Asked Questions about Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women

Is Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women a good school?

Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women ranks in the bottom 4.4% of Maryland high schools.

What district is Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women in?

Baltimore City Public Schools

How many students attend Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women?

In the 2024-25 school year, 466 students attended Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women.

What schools feed into Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women?

What is the racial makeup of Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women?

Students at Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women are 98% African American, 2% Hispanic.

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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.