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Patterson Mill Middle School

Q: Is Patterson Mill Middle School a good school?

Patterson Mill Middle School ranks 63 rd of 339 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

63^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 339 Maryland Middle Schools

Better than 81% of Maryland middle schools

Summary

Patterson Mill Middle School in Bel Air, MD, is a high-performing school serving 716 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Harford County Public Schools district, known for its strong academic reputation and efficient use of resources.

Patterson Mill stands out for its exceptional English Language Arts (ELA) program, with 73.4% of students proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—well above the district average of 61.1% and the state average of 51.7%. The school also excels in advanced math, with 49.1% of students proficient in Algebra I and 41.1% in Geometry, more than double the district averages. Additionally, chronic absenteeism is notably low at 10.3%, the lowest among nearby schools like Fallston Middle School (12.0%) and Bel Air Middle (11.7%), indicating a highly engaged student body. While general math proficiency is more moderate at 31.5%, the school’s overall performance is impressive, especially given its spending of $14,947 per student—the lowest among all Harford County middle schools listed—demonstrating cost-effective education.

Compared to nearby schools, Patterson Mill shows a stark contrast in outcomes. For instance, Aberdeen Middle and Edgewood Middle have math proficiency rates below 10% and ELA proficiency below 50%, with chronic absenteeism rates of 27-35%. Patterson Mill’s success, however, is not solely about test scores; it also supports diverse student groups effectively, ranking in the 95th percentile for Hispanic students and the 90th percentile for low socio-economic status students. While its state ranking has slightly declined from a historic peak in the mid-2010s, it remains a top-tier choice for families seeking a strong academic foundation in a supportive environment.

716

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,947

Per pupil spending ?

21.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

85 Patterson Mill Rd
Bel Air, MD 21015

(410) 638-4640

District: Harford County Public Schools

Students who attend Patterson Mill Middle School usually attend:

High:

Patterson Mill High School

Feeder schools for Patterson Mill Middle School:

Elementary:

Ring Factory Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.9%

African American:

9.8%

Hispanic:

6.7%

See top rated Maryland middle schools

Compare Patterson Mill Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 90th percentile in 2016 → 81st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (51% vs 37% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 19% of Maryland middle schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school51%

District avg41%

Maryland avg37%

63^rd of 339

Maryland public middle schools ?

Top 19%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From top 10% (2016) to top 19% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^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	80.9	63 of 339	81.4%	★★★★☆
2025	79.3	64 of 337	81.0%	★★★★☆
2024	66.2	88 of 328	73.2%	★★★★☆
2023	74.8	64 of 322	80.1%	★★★★☆
2022	74.8	77 of 333	76.9%	★★★★☆
2021	73.2	67 of 303	77.9%	★★★★☆
2019	80.5	62 of 316	80.4%	★★★★☆
2018	88.4	42 of 328	87.2%	★★★★☆
2017	88.4	37 of 317	88.3%	★★★★☆
2016	85.6	31 of 314	90.1%	★★★★★
2015	95.1	12 of 315	96.2%	★★★★★
2014	89.2	19 of 339	94.4%	★★★★★
2013	86.4	30 of 316	90.5%	★★★★★
2012	81.6	52 of 314	83.4%	★★★★☆
2011	79.0	61 of 309	80.3%	★★★★☆
2010	80.9	52 of 324	84.0%	★★★★☆
2009	79.9	51 of 301	83.1%	★★★★☆
2008	79.1	60 of 283	78.8%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	56.3	99 of 259	61.8%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	69.0	32 of 116	72.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	69.4	67 of 303	77.9%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	82.4	11 of 207	94.7%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	74.1	26 of 273	90.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	85.0	29 of 288	89.9%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	65.3	39 of 136	71.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	53.6	41 of 120	65.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	48.5	110 of 210	47.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2021)95th percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)90th percentile+13 vs school

Male (2021)90th percentile+12 vs school

Female (2021)78th percentile~ school

Asian (2021)72nd percentile-5 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)71st percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2021)66th percentile-12 vs school

African American (2021)62nd percentile-16 vs school

White (2021)48th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts73%+22 vs state

Algebra I49%+28 vs state

Science48%+17 vs state

Geometry41%-3 vs state

Mathematics32%+4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Patterson Mill Middle School

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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
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
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
Southampton Middle	Public	6-8	1200 Moores Mill Rd	Bel Air	21014	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 638-4150	1,192	79	15.1	22.8%	868 (72.8%)	105 (8.8%)	78 (6.5%)	67 (5.6%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	71 (6.0%)	86.3	44^th of 339 public middle schools	87.0%		80.6	61^st of 337 public middle schools	81.9%	17	42.8	28.1	4.9	34.9	80.7	76.5	71.7	76.2	47.6	30.9	50.1	$16,207	$1,306	$14,901
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
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
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
Aberdeen Middle	Public	6-8	111 Mount Royal Ave	Aberdeen	21001	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 273-5510	1,071	88	12.2	61.4%	301 (28.1%)	501 (46.8%)	147 (13.7%)	13 (1.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	107 (10.0%)	40	191^st of 339 public middle schools	43.7%		34.5	205^th of 337 public middle schools	39.2%	14	14.2	2.2	1.9	9.1	53.4	46.4	42.7	47.5	15.5	20.0	24.8	$18,715	$1,929	$16,785
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
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
Havre de Grace Middle	Public	6-8	445 Lewis Lane	Havre de Grace	21078	Harford County	Harford County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 939-6608	617	47	13.2	46.0%	347 (56.2%)	137 (22.2%)	56 (9.1%)	8 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	66 (10.7%)	47.3	167^th of 339 public middle schools	50.7%		48.6	160^th of 337 public middle schools	52.5%	7	17.1	11.7	1.8	15.4	52.1	56.5	42.7	50.5	29.3	36.4	28.4	$17,132	$1,039	$16,093

Frequently Asked Questions about Patterson Mill Middle School

What high school do graduates of Patterson Mill Middle School attend?

Students who attend Patterson Mill Middle School usually go on to attend Patterson Mill High School

What district is Patterson Mill Middle School in?

Harford County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Patterson Mill Middle School?

Students at Patterson Mill Middle School are 71% White, 10% African American, 7% Hispanic, 7% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

How many students attend Patterson Mill Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 716 students attended Patterson Mill Middle School.

Is Patterson Mill Middle School a good school?

Patterson Mill Middle School ranks 63^rd of 339 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Patterson Mill Middle School!

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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.