Summary:
The zip code 21209 in Baltimore, Maryland, is home to five schools spanning elementary through high school, split between the Baltimore City Public Schools and Baltimore County Public Schools districts, offering a diverse range of academic environments for families.
The standout school in the area is Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, a high school ranked #1 in Maryland with exceptional English Language Arts (95.8% proficient) and strong math scores (43% proficient), far outpacing its peers. In contrast, Western High shows remarkable improvement, jumping from the 35th to the 86th percentile in state rankings, with a high graduation rate (93.4%) but a very high chronic absenteeism rate (52.4%). Among elementary schools, Summit Park Elementary has declined from the 81st to the 52nd percentile despite spending the most per student ($24,560), while The Mount Washington School (PK-8) is a hidden gem for ELA, with proficiency rates (52.9%) matching the state average and exceeding its district. Windsor Mill Middle struggles the most academically, with only 10.6% math proficiency and 39.7% ELA proficiency, despite low chronic absenteeism (18.6%).
Key takeaways include that chronic absenteeism is a strong predictor of performance, though Western High defies this trend with strong test scores despite high absenteeism. Math proficiency is a universal challenge, with only Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Summit Park Elementary exceeding state averages. The district divide is nuanced: Baltimore City schools show a wider performance range, from elite to average, while Baltimore County schools are more consistently mid-tier. For parents, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute is the top choice for high school, while The Mount Washington School offers strong literacy focus for younger grades, and Summit Park Elementary raises questions about spending efficiency.
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