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Northern Middle

Q: Is Northern Middle a good school?

Northern Middle ranks 103 rd of 339 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-8

103^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 339 Maryland Middle Schools

Better than 70% of Maryland middle schools

Summary

Northern Middle in Hagerstown, MD, is a mid-sized public school serving 841 students in grades 6-8 within the Washington County Public Schools district, and it has shown a remarkable upward trajectory over the past decade, climbing from the bottom third to the top third of Maryland middle schools despite serving a community where over 61% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

The school's standout strength is its exceptional advanced math program. In the 2025-2026 school year, an impressive 83.3% of students were proficient in Algebra I and 96.1% in Geometry—rates that dramatically exceed district and state averages. This success is consistent over several years, suggesting a highly effective program that prepares many 8th graders for high school-level coursework. Additionally, Northern Middle's English Language Arts (ELA) performance is a clear bright spot, with 57.1% of all students proficient, outperforming both the district (55%) and state (51.7%) averages. However, the school presents a unique dichotomy in math: while advanced courses thrive, standard grade-level math proficiency in 6th and 8th grades lags behind the district, indicating an area needing attention.

A major challenge is chronic absenteeism, which affected 29.9% of students in 2024-2025—a rate significantly higher than nearby higher-performing schools like Smithsburg Middle (16.0%) and Boonsboro Middle (21.6%). The school's per-student spending has also increased to $19,574, which is higher than both Smithsburg and Boonsboro, yet overall academic performance hasn't yet reached top-tier levels. This suggests that resource allocation may need to be re-evaluated to better address weaknesses like standard math proficiency and absenteeism. Despite these hurdles, Northern Middle's sustained improvement in advanced math and ELA, coupled with its upward state ranking, points to strong leadership and effective programming in key areas.

841

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,574

Per pupil spending ?

61.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

701 Northern Ave
Hagerstown, MD 21742-2723

(301) 766-8258

District: Washington County Public Schools

Students who attend Northern Middle usually attend:

High:

North Hagerstown High

Feeder schools for Northern Middle:

Elementary:	Pangborn Elementary
	Paramount Elementary
	Potomac Heights Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

39.8%

African American:

22.5%

Hispanic:

22.1%

See top rated Maryland middle schools

Compare Northern Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 37th percentile in 2016 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (44% vs 37% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 33 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Maryland median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school44%

District avg40%

Maryland avg37%

103^rd of 339

Maryland public middle schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 32 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to top 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

10^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
2026	67.0	103 of 339	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.8	107 of 337	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.3	129 of 328	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.3	142 of 322	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.4	137 of 333	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	40.6	167 of 303	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.6	163 of 316	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.9	220 of 328	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	30.9	216 of 317	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	36.3	197 of 314	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	41.4	187 of 315	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	57.9	161 of 339	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	57.1	142 of 316	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	64.0	124 of 314	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	49.8	168 of 309	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	55.1	171 of 324	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	67.9	110 of 301	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	65.8	113 of 283	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	24.7	202 of 264	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	23.5	197 of 254	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	24.9	194 of 255	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	22.6	203 of 252	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	22.9	216 of 259	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	44.1	158 of 303	47.9%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	39.3	116 of 207	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	33.0	203 of 273	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	32.1	192 of 288	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	15.9	125 of 136	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	22.8	169 of 210	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Female (2021)48th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2021)44th percentile~ school

Male (2021)33rd percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)26th percentile-19 vs school

White (2021)20th percentile-25 vs school

African American (2021)17th percentile-28 vs school

Multi-racial (2021)8th percentile-37 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

Geometry96%+52 vs state

Algebra I83%+62 vs state

English Language Arts57%+5 vs state

Science39%+8 vs state

Mathematics29%~ state avg

3.7

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a student
Monday, November 19, 2018

I went there for 2 years and got beat up twice and was randomly cornered in the hallways. There were so many fights that it was scary to walk through the halls. But I lived and now I'm in Waynesboro. Please pick Pa over Md. Close Quote

by a principal
Saturday, April 7, 2018

Great school culture and students!! Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, March 8, 2012

Nothing but good things to say about Northern Middle. Our daughter is excelling there. She has had many "favorite" teachers who are each devoted to their students' success and acheievement. They have made learning fun. Our daughter is academically gifted, and the curriculum for merit students is challenging and stimulating. Close Quote

Schools Near Northern 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
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%)	67	103^rd of 339 public middle schools	69.6%		65.8	107^th of 337 public middle schools	68.2%	4	19.4	25.9	17.9	28.7	53.0	57.6	61.5	57.1	83.3	96.1	38.7	$19,574	$4,635	$14,939
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%)	43.2	179^th of 339 public middle schools	47.2%		43.7	179^th of 337 public middle schools	46.9%		15.8	20.4	8.0	16.7	43.0	50.9	36.8	43.9	68.2		17.3	$19,257	$3,485	$15,772
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%)	67.8	101^st of 339 public middle schools	70.2%		65.4	108^th of 337 public middle schools	68.0%	7	27.2	27.8	17.0	28.5	48.9	64.0	57.1	56.5	85.7		30.0	$19,017	$3,782	$15,236
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 339 public middle schools	58.7%		55	140^th of 337 public middle schools	58.5%		19.3	15.8	13.3	23.4	48.7	52.4	51.4	50.8	84.7	94.4	32.0	$17,901	$3,005	$14,896
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%)	88.2	36^th of 339 public middle schools	89.4%		90.8	34^th of 337 public middle schools	89.9%	2	32.3	42.6	51.2	46.1	61.1	70.2	80.8	70.8	97.8		50.3	$16,462	$1,005	$15,457
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%)	84.4	52^nd of 339 public middle schools	84.7%		90.8	35^th of 337 public middle schools	89.6%	17	33.8	46.0	13.9	38.9	66.8	68.4	67.3	67.5	77.5		50.0	$17,110	$2,706	$14,404
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%)	82.3	61^st of 339 public middle schools	82.0%		74.8	76^th of 337 public middle schools	77.4%	15	36.2	37.2	42.0	43.3	53.7	60.5	64.4	59.6	100.0		49.0	$21,956	$3,795	$18,162
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
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%)	88.8	33^rd of 339 public middle schools	90.3%		86.9	43^rd of 337 public middle schools	87.2%	10	35.7	28.8	21.9	36.2	80.7	82.3	74.3	79.1	67.2		47.7	$16,490	$873	$15,617

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Middle

What is the racial makeup of Northern Middle?

Students at Northern Middle are 40% White, 22% African American, 22% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Northern Middle attend?

Students who attend Northern Middle usually go on to attend North Hagerstown High

How many students attend Northern Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 841 students attended Northern Middle.

Is Northern Middle a good school?

Northern Middle ranks 103^rd of 339 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Northern Middle in?

Washington 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.