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Northwest Middle

Q: Is Northwest Middle a good school?

Northwest Middle ranks 109 th of 339 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

109^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 339 Maryland Middle Schools

Better than 68% of Maryland middle schools

Summary

Northwest Middle in Taneytown, MD, serves 655 students in grades 6-8 and is part of the highly-rated Carroll County Public Schools district, though over 44% of its students come from low-income backgrounds. The school presents a mixed picture: it excels in English Language Arts (ELA), with 61.6% of students proficient—well above the state average of 51.7%—but struggles significantly in mathematics, where only 22.1% of students are proficient, far below the district average of 41.9% and even lower than nearby schools like Mount Airy Middle (40.8%) and Westminster West Middle (36.9%). This stark contrast between subjects suggests that while the school’s ELA instruction is strong, its core math curriculum is a major area needing improvement.

Interestingly, Northwest Middle shows a notable strength in advanced math: 40.4% of students taking the Algebra I End-of-Course exam were proficient, nearly double the state average of 21.3% and above the district average of 35.1%. This creates a "two-tiered" math system where accelerated students thrive, but the majority of students in grade-level math classes—such as 8th-grade math, where only 10.7% are proficient—fall behind. The school also invests more per student ($17,685) than many peers, such as Mount Airy Middle ($14,362), and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio of 13.9:1, yet these resources have not yet translated into higher overall test scores.

A critical challenge is chronic absenteeism, with 27.2% of students chronically absent in the 2024-2025 school year—the highest rate among comparable Carroll County middle schools like Shiloh Middle (17.2%) and North Carroll Middle (18.8%). While this rate has improved from a peak of 39.8% in 2021-2022, it remains a significant barrier to academic success. Overall, Northwest Middle is a school with pockets of excellence—particularly in ELA and Algebra I—but is held back by systemic issues in math instruction and attendance, placing it in the middle of the pack statewide with a consistent 3-star rating.

655

Students ?

13.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,685

Per pupil spending ?

44.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

99 Kings Drive
Taneytown, MD 21787-2331

(410) 751-3270

District: Carroll County Public Schools

Students who attend Northwest Middle usually attend:

High:

Francis Scott Key High

Feeder schools for Northwest Middle:

Elementary:	Elmer A. Wolfe Elementary
	Runnymede Elementary
	Taneytown Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.6%

African American:

10.8%

Hispanic:

6.9%

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Compare Northwest Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 64th percentile in 2016 → 68th in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Maryland median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Near the bottom of Carroll County Public Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg53%

Maryland avg37%

109^th of 339

Maryland public middle schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From top 36% (2016) to top 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 8Middle Schools in the Carroll County Public Schools

2^nd of 25Carroll 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	66.1	109 of 339	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	64.5	112 of 337	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.3	107 of 328	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.7	136 of 322	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.3	123 of 333	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.4	150 of 303	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.5	81 of 316	74.4%	★★★★☆
2018	76.1	74 of 328	77.4%	★★★★☆
2017	70.9	85 of 317	73.2%	★★★★☆
2016	58.9	112 of 314	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.1	104 of 315	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	69.3	114 of 339	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	66.1	112 of 316	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	74.3	86 of 314	72.6%	★★★★☆
2011	63.5	128 of 309	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	74.1	93 of 324	71.3%	★★★★☆
2009	61.8	137 of 301	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	71.2	95 of 283	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	58.2	108 of 264	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	60.7	94 of 254	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	51.3	127 of 255	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2004	45.2	141 of 252	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	64.9	70 of 259	73.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	49.9	140 of 303	53.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	30.6	147 of 207	29.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	43.8	159 of 273	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	47.5	133 of 288	53.8%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	15.7	126 of 136	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	24.0	166 of 210	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2021)73rd percentile+22 vs school

Male (2021)54th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2021)54th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)42nd percentile-9 vs school

Hispanic (2021)29th percentile-22 vs school

White (2021)21st percentile-30 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)7th percentile-43 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts62%+10 vs state

Algebra I40%+19 vs state

Science33%~ state avg

Mathematics22%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Northwest Middle

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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 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
Northwest Middle	Public	6-8	99 Kings Drive	Taneytown	21787	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3270	655	47	13.9	44.4%	495 (75.6%)	71 (10.8%)	45 (6.9%)	13 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	28 (4.3%)	66.1	109^th of 339 public middle schools	67.8%		64.5	112^th of 337 public middle schools	66.8%	3	20.9	22.1	10.7	22.1	54.5	64.5	66.4	61.6	40.4	33.0	$17,685	$720	$16,965
Westminster West Middle	Public	6-8	60 Monroe Street	Westminster	21157	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3661	923	58	15.8	33.2%	662 (71.7%)	45 (4.9%)	125 (13.5%)	39 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	49 (5.3%)	85.4	49^th of 339 public middle schools	85.5%		85.9	46^th of 337 public middle schools	86.4%	3	30.5	41.1	18.6	36.9	65.4	79.2	66.1	70.0	62.4	49.3	$15,006	$767	$14,239
Westminster East Middle	Public	6-8	121 Longwell Avenue	Westminster	21157	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3656	796	59	13.4	38.1%	548 (68.8%)	75 (9.4%)	115 (14.4%)	22 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	33 (4.1%)	67.4	102^nd of 339 public middle schools	69.9%		69.8	94^th of 337 public middle schools	72.1%	8	22.6	25.9	5.6	24.7	60.3	61.7	60.8	61.0	46.4	36.1	$16,476	$578	$15,897
Crossroads Middle School	Public	6-8	45 Kate Wagner Road	Westminster	21157	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3691	13	4	3.2	69.2%	10 (76.9%)	2 (15.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (7.7%)								(n/a)											$48,099	$1,287	$46,812
Thurmont Middle	Public	6-8	408 E Main St	Thurmont	21788	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-2500	507	35	14.6	48.3%	400 (78.9%)	14 (2.8%)	64 (12.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.1%)	39.9	192^nd of 339 public middle schools	43.4%		44.4	174^th of 337 public middle schools	48.4%	18	16.5	8.4	6.9	14.6	41.4	38.4	50.3	43.6	61.3	23.8	$19,223	$977	$18,246
Walkersville Middle	Public	6-8	55 W Frederick Street	Walkersville	21793	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-2650	779	49	16.0	41.6%	468 (60.1%)	116 (14.9%)	107 (13.7%)	25 (3.2%)	7 (0.9%)	3 (0.4%)	53 (6.8%)	75.4	80^th of 339 public middle schools	76.4%		81.9	56^th of 337 public middle schools	83.4%	24	25.5	28.7	18.0	28.9	64.0	66.0	62.7	64.3	92.6	35.8	$15,638	$734	$14,904
North Carroll Middle	Public	6-8	2401 Hanover Pike	Hampstead	21074	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3440	626	40	15.7	30.0%	528 (84.3%)	22 (3.5%)	41 (6.5%)	12 (1.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.0%)	77.9	70^th of 339 public middle schools	79.4%		71.9	89^th of 337 public middle schools	73.6%	19	23.2	25.4	8.0	26.8	65.5	75.4	80.1	73.6	50.9	45.9	$16,009	$580	$15,429
Shiloh Middle	Public	6-8	3675 Willow Street	Hampstead	21074	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 386-4570	631	43	14.5	27.3%	493 (78.1%)	37 (5.9%)	60 (9.5%)	13 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (4.1%)	85	51^st of 339 public middle schools	85.0%		90	38^th of 337 public middle schools	88.7%	13	31.3	39.2	22.9	35.6	68.2	74.8	61.7	68.1	62.5	46.0	$17,500	$803	$16,697
Mount Airy Middle	Public	6-8	102 Watersville Road	Mount Airy	21771	Carroll County	Carroll County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 751-3554	761	45	17.1	19.4%	609 (80.0%)	17 (2.2%)	100 (13.1%)	16 (2.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.2%)	87.8	38^th of 339 public middle schools	88.8%		78.9	65^th of 337 public middle schools	80.7%	27	33.5	39.5	21.5	40.8	72.2	75.7	67.3	71.5	67.1	50.4	$14,362	$804	$13,558
Monocacy Middle	Public	6-8	8009 Opossumtown Pike	Frederick	21702	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-2350	710	55	13.0	56.5%	194 (27.3%)	181 (25.5%)	245 (34.5%)	31 (4.4%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	56 (7.9%)	49.2	163^rd of 339 public middle schools	51.9%		49.8	155^th of 337 public middle schools	54.0%	8	9.7	14.8	12.6	17.7	41.5	57.1	48.0	48.8	73.1	31.2	$16,931	$1,481	$15,450

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest Middle

What district is Northwest Middle in?

Carroll County Public Schools

Is Northwest Middle a good school?

Northwest Middle ranks 109^th of 339 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Northwest Middle?

Students at Northwest Middle are 76% White, 11% African American, 7% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Northwest Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 655 students attended Northwest Middle.

What high school do graduates of Northwest Middle attend?

Students who attend Northwest Middle usually go on to attend Francis Scott Key High

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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.