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Magnolia Middle

Public Grades 6-8

270^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 339 Maryland Middle Schools

Better than 20% of Maryland middle schools

Summary

Magnolia Middle in Joppa, MD, serves 689 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Harford County Public Schools district, a district ranked in the top half of Maryland, yet the school itself faces significant challenges that set it apart from its higher-performing neighbors.

The most critical issue at Magnolia Middle is a stark academic performance gap. In math, only 5.6% of students are proficient, a rate dramatically lower than nearby schools like Fallston Middle School (41.8%) and Bel Air Middle (35.7%). English Language Arts proficiency is 34.5%, less than half the rate of these same peers. This is compounded by a chronic absenteeism crisis—31.2% of students are chronically absent, nearly double the district average and over 2.5 times higher than at Fallston or Bel Air. The school also has a very high rate of economic disadvantage, with over 76% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, a figure that contrasts sharply with the 12-24% rates at its higher-performing district peers. Interestingly, Magnolia Middle spends more per student ($20,839) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (10.9:1) than any of these schools, indicating that the primary barriers to learning are deeply rooted in poverty and attendance, not a lack of resources.

There are some positive signs. Chronic absenteeism has been steadily declining from a peak of 48.3% a few years ago, suggesting that efforts to get students back in class are working. Additionally, the school has shown relative effectiveness for specific student groups, such as Hispanic students and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, outperforming the state average for similar students. However, a concerning "7th grade math cliff" exists, with proficiency dropping to just 0.6% in that grade, pointing to a potential curriculum or instruction issue. For parents, Magnolia Middle is a school investing heavily in its students but grappling with external challenges that require community-wide solutions to improve outcomes.

689

Students ?

10.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,839

Per pupil spending ?

76.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

299 Fort Hoyle Rd
Joppa, MD 21085-4899

(410) 612-1525

District: Harford County Public Schools

Students who attend Magnolia Middle usually attend:

High:

Joppatowne High

Feeder schools for Magnolia Middle:

Elementary:	Magnolia Elementary
	Riverside Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

51.7%

White:

22.5%

Hispanic:

12.5%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 39th percentile in 2016 → 20th 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 (20th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 19 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school18%

District avg41%

Maryland avg37%

270^th of 339

Maryland public middle schools ?

Bottom 20%▼ down 18 pts since 2016

From bottom 39% (2016) to bottom 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 9Middle Schools in the Harford County Public Schools

11^th of 25Harford 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	22.1	270 of 339	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.8	231 of 337	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.2	231 of 328	29.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	19.8	264 of 322	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.2	291 of 333	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.4	194 of 303	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	17.1	256 of 316	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.7	233 of 328	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	28.7	226 of 317	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	38.5	192 of 314	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	48.7	154 of 315	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2014	51.3	186 of 339	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	35.1	216 of 316	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	36.5	213 of 314	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	37.4	209 of 309	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	38.0	232 of 324	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	46.2	200 of 301	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	39.0	200 of 283	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	65.1	87 of 264	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	71.4	73 of 254	71.3%	★★★★☆
2005	72.8	71 of 255	72.2%	★★★★☆
2004	70.8	76 of 252	69.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	33.4	178 of 259	31.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	33.9	195 of 303	35.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	54.5	72 of 207	65.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	47.0	135 of 273	50.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	27.8	209 of 288	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	18.4	120 of 136	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	31.6	97 of 120	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	26.7	160 of 210	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)65th percentile+29 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)51st percentile+15 vs school

Female (2021)36th percentile~ school

African American (2021)31st percentile-5 vs school

Male (2021)27th percentile-9 vs school

White (2021)24th percentile-12 vs school

Special Education (2021)19th percentile-17 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)12th percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts34%-17 vs state

Algebra I14%-7 vs state

Science12%-19 vs state

Geometry8%-36 vs state

Mathematics6%-22 vs state

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, February 18, 2016

There is no secret here. Overall this school is horrible. It deserves it's reputation. There are some great teachers, but they either burn out quickly or decide to roll out because of inept administration and unruly students. There is little hope for this place and a parent's only blessing is that it's only for 3 years. If there was a 0 star option, I would choose it.

Administration- on its best day is nothing more then average.
Teachers- Its a shame to see new energetic teachers struggle to teach lessons because the school cant handle or will not discipline students.
Overall opinion "Hopeless" Close Quote

Schools Near Magnolia 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 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 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 Geometry End of Course	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Magnolia Middle	Public	6-8	299 Fort Hoyle Rd	Joppa	21085	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 612-1525	689	63	10.9	76.2%	155 (22.5%)	356 (51.7%)	86 (12.5%)	10 (1.5%)	4 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (11.3%)	22.1	270^th of 339 public middle schools	20.4%		27.8	231^st of 337 public middle schools	31.5%	39	6.4	0.6	1.5	5.6	35.5	40.1	28.0	34.5	14.5	8.3	11.5	$20,839	$2,159	$18,680
Edgewood Middle	Public	6-8	2311 Willoughby Beach Rd	Edgewood	21040	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 612-1518	936	81	11.5	69.2%	224 (23.9%)	427 (45.6%)	173 (18.5%)	29 (3.1%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	79 (8.4%)	25.9	249^th of 339 public middle schools	26.5%		29.1	227^th of 337 public middle schools	32.6%	22	6.8	2.5	1.2	5.0	40.6	42.4	32.6	38.5	9.8	25.0	13.4	$18,776	$2,062	$16,714
Crossroads Center	Public	6-8	11640 Crossroads Circle	Baltimore	21220	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 809-2275	32	24	1.3	65.6%	5 (15.6%)	18 (56.3%)	8 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.1%)	6.5	338^th of 339 public middle schools	0.3%		8	336^th of 337 public middle schools	0.3%	2	0.0	2.7		1.1	5.9	2.8	2.2	3.1			0.0
Patterson Mill Middle School	Public	6-8	85 Patterson Mill Rd	Bel Air	21015	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-4640	716	49	14.5	21.2%	508 (70.9%)	70 (9.8%)	48 (6.7%)	47 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (5.9%)	80.9	63^rd of 339 public middle schools	81.4%		79.3	64^th of 337 public middle schools	81.0%	1	35.3	22.3	6.9	31.5	78.5	78.9	63.7	73.4	49.1	41.1	47.6	$14,947	$983	$13,963
Perry Hall Middle	Public	6-8	4300 Ebenezer Rd	Baltimore	21236	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(443) 809-5100	1,582	96	16.5	36.6%	655 (41.4%)	422 (26.7%)	82 (5.2%)	335 (21.2%)	7 (0.4%)	3 (0.2%)	78 (4.9%)	70.2	93^rd of 339 public middle schools	72.6%		71	91^st of 337 public middle schools	73.0%	2	29.4	10.6	4.6	27.0	61.3	65.9	65.7	64.3	40.4	38.1	39.8	$16,070	$1,103	$14,967
Middle River Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	800 Middle River Rd	Baltimore	21220	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(410) 887-0165	822	50	16.4	66.1%	182 (22.1%)	371 (45.1%)	176 (21.4%)	31 (3.8%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	59 (7.2%)	24.7	254^th of 339 public middle schools	25.1%		19.5	284^th of 337 public middle schools	15.7%	30	7.9	3.4	2.2	6.4	30.0	30.7	35.0	32.1	7.2	24.5	21.5	$16,410	$1,385	$15,025
Bel Air Middle	Public	6-8	99 Idlewild Street	Bel Air	21014	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-4140	1,080	77	14.1	24.1%	751 (69.5%)	74 (6.9%)	106 (9.8%)	66 (6.1%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	77 (7.1%)	86.1	45^th of 339 public middle schools	86.7%		83.4	53^rd of 337 public middle schools	84.3%	8	37.7	22.5	16.2	35.7	75.7	75.1	75.9	75.6	62.2	50.0	53.1	$17,162	$1,271	$15,891
Nottingham Middle	Public	6-8	5210 King Ave	Rosedale	21237	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(443) 809-8900	1,279	74	17.2	26.5%	201 (15.7%)	708 (55.4%)	238 (18.6%)	68 (5.3%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (4.8%)	24.6	255^th of 339 public middle schools	24.8%					(n/a)	9.7	0.8	2.1	6.2	36.3	35.9	34.8	35.7	13.8	25.6	15.6
Fallston Middle School	Public	6-8	2303 Carrs Mill Rd	Fallston	21047	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-4129	1,068	69	15.5	12.1%	896 (83.9%)	45 (4.2%)	49 (4.6%)	25 (2.3%)	5 (0.5%)	4 (0.4%)	44 (4.1%)	91	26^th of 339 public middle schools	92.3%		91.4	30^th of 337 public middle schools	91.1%	4	45.6	32.5	9.0	41.8	85.5	84.7	75.5	81.9	53.2	65.7	56.9	$14,427	$925	$13,502
Stemmers Run Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	201 Stemmers Run Rd	Baltimore	21221	Baltimore County	Baltimore County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(410) 887-0177	831	55	15.1	70.2%	275 (33.1%)	301 (36.2%)	176 (21.2%)	17 (2.0%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	55 (6.6%)	17.8	294^th of 339 public middle schools	13.3%		20.9	273^rd of 337 public middle schools	19.0%	21	7.3	1.1	0.6	5.3	24.4	22.5	29.0	25.3	20.0	10.0	15.9	$19,926	$2,668	$17,259

Frequently Asked Questions about Magnolia Middle

Is Magnolia Middle a good school?

Magnolia Middle ranks in the bottom 20.4% of Maryland middle schools.

How many students attend Magnolia Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 689 students attended Magnolia Middle.

What is the racial makeup of Magnolia Middle?

Students at Magnolia Middle are 52% African American, 22% White, 12% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Magnolia Middle attend?

Students who attend Magnolia Middle usually go on to attend Joppatowne High

What district is Magnolia Middle in?

Harford 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.