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E. Russell Hicks Middle

Q: Is E. Russell Hicks Middle a good school?

E. Russell Hicks Middle ranks 108 th of 337 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

108^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 337 Maryland Middle Schools

Better than 68% of Maryland middle schools

Summary

E. Russell Hicks Middle is a public magnet middle school in Hagerstown, Maryland, serving 827 students in grades 6-8 and part of the Washington County Public Schools district.

While E. Russell Hicks Middle has consistently ranked in the middle to upper-middle range of Maryland middle schools over the past decade, the school faces several challenges. It struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 26.9% to 37.1% in recent years, significantly higher than the state average and nearby schools like Clear Spring Middle and Smithsburg Middle. The school's test scores, particularly in mathematics, are also below the state and district averages, with proficiency rates ranging from 16.8% to 28.7% across grade levels, compared to the state averages of 8.7% and 22.6%. However, the school's English Language Arts proficiency rates are closer to the state and district averages.

E. Russell Hicks Middle has a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 73.76% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, significantly higher than the rates at nearby schools. The school's per-student spending has increased in recent years, reaching $19,017 in 2023-2024, higher than the state average and the spending levels at some nearby schools. While E. Russell Hicks Middle is designated as a public magnet school, its performance metrics do not appear to be significantly better than the nearby traditional public middle schools, raising questions about the effectiveness of the magnet program.

841

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,017

Per pupil spending ?

68.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1321 S Potomac St
Hagerstown, MD 21740-7326

(301) 766-8110

District: Washington County Public Schools

Students who attend E. Russell Hicks Middle usually attend:

High:

South Hagerstown High

Feeder schools for E. Russell Hicks Middle:

Elementary:	Bester Elementary
	Eastern Elementary
	Emma K. Doub Elementary
	Ruth Ann Monroe Primary

Racial breakdown:

White:

35.3%

Hispanic:

25.2%

African American:

22.6%

See top rated Maryland middle schools

Compare E. Russell Hicks Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 61st percentile in 2015 → 68th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Maryland median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg38%

Maryland avg37%

108^th of 337

Maryland public middle schools ?

Top 32%▲ up 7 pts since 2015

From top 39% (2015) to top 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 7Middle Schools in the Washington County Public Schools

11^th of 25Washington 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
2025	65.4	108 of 337	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.4	128 of 328	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.6	126 of 322	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.2	109 of 333	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	35.9	185 of 303	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.7	118 of 316	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.5	114 of 328	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	56.5	131 of 317	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	56.1	120 of 314	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.6	124 of 315	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	68.0	119 of 339	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.5	121 of 316	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	68.2	110 of 314	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	69.1	102 of 309	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	68.7	118 of 324	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	70.1	104 of 301	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	60.9	130 of 283	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	46.7	141 of 264	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	49.4	131 of 254	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2005	45.3	146 of 255	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2004	48.3	132 of 252	47.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	37.1	170 of 259	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	29.1	92 of 116	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	34.3	192 of 303	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	35.7	132 of 207	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	44.5	157 of 273	42.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	32.0	193 of 288	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	31.5	85 of 136	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	17.8	180 of 210	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)42nd percentile+4 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)38th percentile~ school

Female (2021)37th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2021)36th percentile-3 vs school

African American (2021)34th percentile-5 vs school

Male (2021)33rd percentile-6 vs school

Asian (2021)21st percentile-18 vs school

White (2021)14th percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2024-2025) ?

Algebra I70%+49 vs state

English Language Arts54%+4 vs state

Social Studies35%-5 vs state

Science34%+3 vs state

Mathematics27%~ state avg

2.3

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★2

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, August 8, 2013

Horrible school ! So many bullies and their system to deal with them is ridiculous. Principles wont even provide the proper assistance that disabled students need until threatened with a law suit. Close Quote

by a student
Thursday, February 11, 2010

This school is excellent I'm in the magnet program there and teachers are there to help you understand and get better at what you are learning Close Quote

Schools Near E. Russell Hicks Middle

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAP Mathematics (2025)				MCAP English Language Arts (2025)				MCAP Algebra I (2025)	MCAP Geometry (2025)	MCAP Science (2025)	MCAP Social Studies (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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	MCAP Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
E. Russell Hicks Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	1321 S Potomac St	Hagerstown	21740	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 766-8110	841	61	13.7	68.8%	297 (35.3%)	190 (22.6%)	212 (25.2%)	19 (2.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	120 (14.3%)	65.4	108^th of 337 public middle schools	68.0%		52.4	128^th of 328 public middle schools	61.0%	20	28.7	24.0	16.8	27.2	54.7	59.5	48.4	54.4	70.0		34.4	34.6	$19,017	$3,782	$15,236
Western Heights Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	1300 Marshall St	Hagerstown	21740	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 766-8403	883	73	12.0	69.9%	303 (34.3%)	224 (25.4%)	194 (22.0%)	20 (2.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	140 (15.9%)	43.7	179^th of 337 public middle schools	46.9%		30.4	203^rd of 328 public middle schools	38.1%	24	12.5	12.6	14.7	15.2	43.5	44.5	43.1	43.7	82.6		23.2	27.4	$19,257	$3,485	$15,772
Northern Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	701 Northern Ave	Hagerstown	21742	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 766-8258	841	62	13.6	61.2%	335 (39.8%)	189 (22.5%)	186 (22.1%)	38 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	92 (10.9%)	65.8	107^th of 337 public middle schools	68.2%		52.3	129^th of 328 public middle schools	60.7%	22	23.9	26.1	19.5	29.9	49.3	55.2	48.2	50.7	82.6	90.9	36.8	44.7	$19,574	$4,635	$14,939
Springfield Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	334 Sunset Ave	Williamsport	21795	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 766-8389	808	52	15.5	64.1%	471 (58.3%)	83 (10.3%)	163 (20.2%)	20 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (8.8%)	55	140^th of 337 public middle schools	58.5%		43.8	150^th of 328 public middle schools	54.3%	10	16.1	18.9	13.8	24.2	44.2	50.4	52.5	48.9	86.2	100.0	33.1	37.6	$17,901	$3,005	$14,896
Boonsboro Middle	Public, Magnet	6-8	1 J-H Wade Dr	Boonsboro	21713	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 766-8038	673	40	16.7	33.4%	567 (84.2%)	22 (3.3%)	47 (7.0%)	8 (1.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	27 (4.0%)	90.8	35^th of 337 public middle schools	89.6%		84.8	41^st of 328 public middle schools	87.5%	6	44.4	41.0	27.3	44.3	64.8	71.6	74.9	70.3	88.1		50.5	67.8	$17,110	$2,706	$14,404
Smithsburg Middle	Public	6-8	68 N Main St	Smithsburg	21783	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 766-8353	554	36	15.5	46.4%	415 (74.9%)	39 (7.0%)	61 (11.0%)	9 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (5.2%)	90.8	34^th of 337 public middle schools	89.9%		89.3	29^th of 328 public middle schools	91.2%	5	40.7	42.4	37.8	45.8	71.6	71.6	77.7	73.7	94.5		51.9	54.4	$16,462	$1,005	$15,457
Clear Spring Middle	Public	6-8	12628 Broadfording Rd	Clear Spring	21722	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 766-8094	301	24	12.6	52.2%	262 (87.0%)	7 (2.3%)	22 (7.3%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	74.8	76^th of 337 public middle schools	77.4%		78.1	56^th of 328 public middle schools	82.9%	20	35.1	34.0	26.7	36.2	62.8	61.0	53.6	58.8	90.9		40.7	32.1	$21,956	$3,795	$18,162
Middletown Middle	Public	6-8	100 Martha Mason St	Middletown	21769	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-2300	784	43	18.2	19.9%	619 (79.0%)	18 (2.3%)	83 (10.6%)	10 (1.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (6.5%)	86.9	43^rd of 337 public middle schools	87.2%		82	48^th of 328 public middle schools	85.4%	5	34.5	40.7	16.2	38.3	77.3	70.0	71.1	72.8	69.0		49.6	52.9	$16,490	$873	$15,617
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%)	44.4	174^th of 337 public middle schools	48.4%		39.9	165^th of 328 public middle schools	49.7%	9	16.3	14.7	4.3	16.6	48.0	47.1	41.4	45.4	72.2		25.4	33.9	$19,223	$977	$18,246

Frequently Asked Questions about E. Russell Hicks Middle

What is the racial makeup of E. Russell Hicks Middle?

Students at E. Russell Hicks Middle are 35% White, 25% Hispanic, 23% African American, 14% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend E. Russell Hicks Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 841 students attended E. Russell Hicks Middle.

What high school do graduates of E. Russell Hicks Middle attend?

Students who attend E. Russell Hicks Middle usually go on to attend South Hagerstown High

What district is E. Russell Hicks Middle in?

Washington County Public Schools

Is E. Russell Hicks Middle a good school?

E. Russell Hicks Middle ranks 108^th of 337 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate E. Russell Hicks Middle!

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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.