Best High Schools in Zip Code 21146

Zip code 21146 in Severna Park, Maryland, is home to two high schools within the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district, serving grades 9-12, and presents a stark contrast in educational experiences. The standout is Severna Park High, a large school of 1,842 students that consistently ranks in the top 5% of Maryland high schools, earning a 5-star rating. It excels academically, with 89.3% of students proficient in English Language Arts—far above the state average of 51.7%—and a low chronic absenteeism rate of 11.1%. In contrast, Anne Arundel Evening High is a smaller alternative program serving 439 students, ranking in the bottom 5% of the state with a 0-star rating. Its graduation rate is just 23.3%, and chronic absenteeism is a critical 71.0%, highlighting that it serves a non-traditional student population facing significant challenges beyond economic disadvantage.

Key metrics reveal a tale of two extremes. Severna Park High boasts a 97th percentile state ranking and a low economic disadvantage rate of 9.66%, while Anne Arundel Evening High ranks in the 4th percentile with an even lower economic disadvantage rate of 3.87%, suggesting its students face non-economic hurdles like credit recovery or work schedules. Despite these differences, both schools spend nearly the same per student—$15,963 at Severna Park High and $16,051 at Anne Arundel Evening High—demonstrating that spending alone does not determine outcomes. Severna Park High also shows a notable gap between its ELA proficiency (89.3%) and math proficiency (40.4%), indicating math as a relative area for improvement even at this elite school.

For parents, the key takeaway is that zip code 21146 offers vastly different educational realities. Severna Park High is an exceptional choice for a traditional, high-achieving academic environment with strong outcomes and low absenteeism. Meanwhile, Anne Arundel Evening High serves a specific need for students who require a flexible, alternative setting, but its low graduation and high dropout rates indicate it is not a typical comprehensive high school. The district overall ranks 13th out of 25 in Maryland, but the schools within this zip code highlight how local performance can vary dramatically.