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Southwest Academy

Q: Is Southwest Academy a good school?

Southwest Academy ranks 251 st of 339 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

251^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 339 Maryland Middle Schools

Better than 26% of Maryland middle schools

Summary

Southwest Academy is a middle school in Baltimore, MD, serving 842 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Baltimore County Public Schools district, which ranks 18th out of 25 districts in Maryland. The school faces significant academic challenges, with only 5.3% of students proficient in math—far below the district average of 21.9% and the state average of 27.1%. This is the lowest math proficiency among nearby schools like Windsor Mill Middle (10.6%) and Arbutus Middle (14.9%). English Language Arts (ELA) is a relative strength, with 35.3% proficiency, though this still lags behind higher-performing peers like Sudbrook Magnet Middle (58.8%).

Despite spending $19,023 per student—higher than Catonsville Middle ($17,283) and Patapsco Middle (in the Howard County Public Schools district, which ranks 4th in the state)—Southwest Academy’s state ranking has declined from the 43rd percentile in 2020-2021 to the 26th percentile in 2025-2026. This suggests that increased funding alone hasn’t translated into better outcomes. A notable bright spot is the school’s success with Hispanic students, who ranked in the 64th percentile statewide in 2020-2021, outperforming the school’s overall ranking. Additionally, chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically from 43.4% in 2020-2021 to 23.1% in 2024-2025, now below the district average of 25.6%.

However, academic progress hasn’t followed the improvement in attendance. There’s a concerning “8th grade cliff” in ELA, where proficiency drops from about 39% in 6th and 7th grades to just 26.7% in 8th grade—a pattern not seen at Arbutus Middle, where 8th-grade ELA proficiency (49.2%) is nearly on par with 6th grade (53.5%). The stark contrast with nearby Patapsco Middle (4.3 miles away), which boasts 51.1% math and 71.4% ELA proficiency, highlights how district boundaries can dramatically shape student outcomes. For parents, Southwest Academy offers a school working to improve attendance and support specific student groups, but faces deep instructional challenges, especially in math and 8th-grade reading.

842

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,023

Per pupil spending ?

63.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6200 Johnnycake Rd
Baltimore, MD 21207-3929

(410) 887-0825

District: Baltimore County Public Schools

Students who attend Southwest Academy usually attend:

High:

Woodlawn High

Feeder schools for Southwest Academy:

Elementary:	Chadwick Elementary
	Edmondson Heights Elementary
	Johnnycake Elementary
	Woodbridge Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

51.3%

Hispanic:

24.0%

Asian:

15.1%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 30th percentile in 2016 → 26th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (19% vs 37% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Geometry scores 35 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school19%

District avg32%

Maryland avg37%

251^st of 339

Maryland public middle schools ?

Bottom 26%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 30% (2016) to bottom 26% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 29Middle Schools in the Baltimore County Public Schools

18^th of 25Baltimore County 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	25.0	251 of 339	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.5	262 of 337	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.3	270 of 328	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.7	211 of 322	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.7	255 of 333	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.7	173 of 303	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	17.8	253 of 316	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.6	248 of 328	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	35.0	206 of 317	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2016	29.6	219 of 314	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	36.2	201 of 315	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	49.5	195 of 339	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	41.2	203 of 316	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	42.3	198 of 314	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	41.8	195 of 309	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2010	39.5	224 of 324	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	36.8	224 of 301	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	18.2	241 of 283	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	84.8	37 of 264	86.0%	★★★★☆
2006	82.6	42 of 254	83.5%	★★★★☆
2005	81.0	47 of 255	81.6%	★★★★☆
2004	78.1	53 of 252	79.0%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	39.9	158 of 259	39.0%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	32.3	87 of 116	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	44.2	157 of 303	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	54.0	74 of 207	64.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	43.2	160 of 273	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	35.0	181 of 288	37.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2021)64th percentile+21 vs school

Female (2021)48th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)41st percentile~ school

African American (2021)39th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2021)37th percentile-6 vs school

Asian (2021)25th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts35%-16 vs state

Science17%-14 vs state

Algebra I11%-10 vs state

Geometry9%-35 vs state

Mathematics5%-22 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, January 26, 2021

This school is bad and it is not good Close Quote

Schools Near Southwest 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 Algebra II (2026)	MCAP Geometry (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 Algebra II End of Course	MCAP Geometry 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
Southwest Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	6200 Johnnycake Rd	Baltimore	21207	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 887-0825	842	52	16.1	63.8%	61 (7.2%)	432 (51.3%)	202 (24.0%)	127 (15.1%)	5 (0.6%)	2 (0.2%)	13 (1.5%)	25	251^st of 339 public middle schools	26.0%		22.5	262^nd of 337 public middle schools	22.3%	11				7.2	1.7	2.5	5.3				39.4	39.5	26.7	35.3	11.2		9.1		17.4	$19,023	$2,019	$17,004
Meadowood Education Center	Public	6-8	1849 Gywnn Oak Ave	Baltimore	21207	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 809-6888	29	14	2.0	79.3%	3 (10.3%)	21 (72.4%)	3 (10.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.9%)	16.6	300^th of 339 public middle schools	11.5%		5.5	337^th of 337 public middle schools	0.0%	37				0.0	10.0	0.0	2.9					50.0	5.3	17.5					0.0
Woodlawn Middle	Public	6-8	3033 Saint Lukes Ln	Baltimore	21207	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 887-1304	522	40	13.2	68.8%	12 (2.3%)	376 (72.0%)	107 (20.5%)	9 (1.7%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.9%)	24.9	252^nd of 339 public middle schools	25.7%		26.6	237^th of 337 public middle schools	29.7%	15				8.6	1.6	1.2	5.6				38.6	38.6	37.2	38.1	8.2		10.0		8.5	$21,254	$2,428	$18,826
Catonsville Middle	Public	6-8	2301 Edmondson Ave	Catonsville	21228	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-0803	818	47	17.4	36.6%	397 (48.5%)	143 (17.5%)	78 (9.5%)	155 (18.9%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.4%)	39 (4.8%)	59.1	123^rd of 339 public middle schools	63.7%		67.2	103^rd of 337 public middle schools	69.4%	20				25.6	6.0	1.0	20.1				50.2	65.7	49.6	55.3	30.5		26.8		39.8	$17,283	$1,238	$16,046
Arbutus Middle	Public	6-8	5525 Shelbourne Rd	Baltimore	21227	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 887-1402	974	60	16.1	54.6%	400 (41.1%)	175 (18.0%)	95 (9.8%)	229 (23.5%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	72 (7.4%)	49.7	162^nd of 339 public middle schools	52.2%		51.7	147^th of 337 public middle schools	56.4%	15				24.0	5.1	2.4	14.9				53.5	47.7	49.2	50.2	12.2		30.8		30.5	$16,403	$1,299	$15,104
Sudbrook Magnet Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	4300 Bedford Rd	Baltimore	21208	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 887-6720	821	57	14.4	43.7%	70 (8.5%)	565 (68.8%)	97 (11.8%)	52 (6.3%)	3 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (4.0%)	58.2	124^th of 339 public middle schools	63.4%		50	154^th of 337 public middle schools	54.3%	30				18.6	4.3	2.3	12.3				58.5	61.5	55.9	58.8	9.1		22.5		37.2	$18,475	$1,225	$17,250
Katherine Johnson Global Academy	Public	3-8	1101 Braddish Avenue	Baltimore	21216	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-0581	473	31	15.5	90.5%	13 (2.7%)	413 (87.3%)	37 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.3%)	10.4	329^th of 339 public middle schools	2.9%		10	331^st of 337 public middle schools	1.8%	2	6.8	0.0	0.0	1.7	2.2	1.9	2.1	13.6	11.8	0.0	8.5	18.1	13.6	12.1				0.0	1.0	$25,625	$5,536	$20,089
Patapsco Middle	Public	6-8	8885 Old Frederick Rd	Ellicott City	21043	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-2848	670	45	15.0	20.4%	222 (33.1%)	86 (12.8%)	67 (10.0%)	252 (37.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.7%)	87.9	37^th of 339 public middle schools	89.1%		88	41^st of 337 public middle schools	87.8%	4				49.1	29.3	14.1	51.1				75.5	69.5	68.8	71.4	73.8	100.0	86.1		55.4	$17,957	$726	$17,230
Windsor Mill Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	8300 Windsor Mill Rd	Baltimore	21209	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 887-0000	606	35	17.3	61.1%	8 (1.3%)	525 (86.6%)	42 (6.9%)	11 (1.8%)	6 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (2.1%)	30.5	224^th of 339 public middle schools	33.9%		29.9	223^rd of 337 public middle schools	33.8%	1				12.1	7.8	3.0	10.6				37.8	49.8	31.8	39.7	18.6		20.9		14.1	$17,279	$1,543	$15,736
Northwest Academy of Health Sciences	Public, Magnet	6-8	4627 Old Court Rd	Baltimore	21208	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 887-0742	808	58	13.8	68.7%	12 (1.5%)	724 (89.6%)	44 (5.4%)	5 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	18 (2.2%)	20.9	278^th of 339 public middle schools	18.0%		22.4	263^rd of 337 public middle schools	22.0%	15				7.5	2.7	1.1	4.9				31.4	42.2	25.5	32.8	8.3		5.6		8.2	$19,756	$2,161	$17,594

Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest Academy

How many students attend Southwest Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 842 students attended Southwest Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Southwest Academy?

Students at Southwest Academy are 51% African American, 24% Hispanic, 15% Asian, 7% White, 2% Two or more races.

Is Southwest Academy a good school?

Southwest Academy ranks 251^st of 339 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Southwest Academy attend?

Students who attend Southwest Academy usually go on to attend Woodlawn High

What district is Southwest Academy in?

Baltimore County Public Schools

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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.