Summary:
There are two elementary schools serving grades PK-8 in Baltimore's 21202 zip code: Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School and Johnston Square Elementary, both part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, which ranks in the 4th percentile statewide.
These two schools present a stark contrast in performance and challenges. Baltimore Montessori is the stronger performer, ranking in the 36th percentile statewide with 604 students. It exceeds district averages in both math (18.8% proficient vs. 13.3%) and English Language Arts (39.8% vs. 32.9%), and boasts a standout Algebra I proficiency rate of 61.5%—far above the state average of 21.3%. In contrast, Johnston Square Elementary is ranked in the 0th percentile (862 out of 864 schools), with alarmingly low proficiency rates of just 1.7% in math and 4.2% in ELA. Despite spending $4,509 more per student ($25,290 vs. $20,781) and having a lower student-to-teacher ratio (16.4 vs. 19.4), Johnston Square's outcomes are dramatically worse, largely due to a chronic absenteeism rate of 59.6%—nearly three times higher than Baltimore Montessori's 20.4% and well above the district average of 46.4%.
Key takeaways for parents include the critical role of chronic absenteeism in driving academic outcomes, as Johnston Square's high-needs population (94.46% free/reduced lunch) struggles to benefit from additional resources. Baltimore Montessori shows a "leaky pipeline" effect, with strong early grades (e.g., 34.7% math proficiency in 3rd grade) declining to 0% by 8th grade, suggesting challenges in maintaining momentum through middle school. However, its advanced math program is a unique strength. Overall, zip code 21202 offers a clear choice between a relatively high-performing charter school and a school facing severe challenges, highlighting that school quality varies significantly even within the same neighborhood.
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