Summary:
In zip code 21076 (Hanover, MD), there is one middle school, Thomas Viaduct Middle, serving grades 6 through 8 as part of the highly-rated Howard County Public Schools district.
Thomas Viaduct Middle has 758 students and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1, with per-student spending of $19,005. However, the school consistently underperforms relative to its high-achieving district. Its state ranking has remained in the lower half of Maryland middle schools (41st to 46th percentile) over the last three years, earning a 2-star rating. A significant 47.49% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and the chronic absenteeism rate of 23.4% is notably higher than the district average of 17.4%, which likely contributes to academic challenges.
Academically, the school shows a stark contrast in math performance. Overall math proficiency is very low at 14.6%, with 8th graders at just 2.4% proficient, yet students in advanced Algebra I courses perform nearly on par with the district average (40.2% vs. 41.2%). English Language Arts proficiency is a relative strength at 43.5%, though still below the district (65.9%) and state (51.7%) averages. Science proficiency for 8th graders is 18.7%, well below the district's 44%. The combination of high spending, low overall test scores, and a high rate of chronic absenteeism suggests that addressing attendance and supporting the majority of students struggling with grade-level math are critical priorities for the school.
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