Summary:
Zip code 21209 in Baltimore, Maryland, is home to two elementary schools serving grades PK-5 and PK-8, offering a unique comparison between a suburban county school and an urban city school within the same geographic area.
Summit Park Elementary, part of Baltimore County Public Schools, stands out as the higher-performing school overall, particularly in mathematics, where 34.1% of students are proficient compared to 25.5% at The Mount Washington School, which belongs to Baltimore City Public Schools. Summit Park also boasts a lower student-teacher ratio (15.5 vs. 20.2), lower chronic absenteeism (21.7% vs. 25.4%), and higher per-student spending ($24,560 vs. $17,685). However, The Mount Washington School excels in English Language Arts, with 52.9% proficiency—above the state average of 51.7%—while Summit Park trails at 49.5%. Despite being in a low-performing district, The Mount Washington School is a bright spot, achieving competitive scores.
Key findings reveal notable challenges. Summit Park experiences a dramatic drop in math proficiency from 46.3% in 3rd grade to just 15.4% in 5th grade, far below the state average of 30.2%, suggesting a need for curriculum review. The Mount Washington School shows volatility in middle school math, with proficiency ranging from 7% in 6th grade to 30% in 7th grade. Both schools have similar socioeconomic profiles, with about 41.5% of students receiving free or reduced lunch, making the differences in attendance and performance particularly striking. For parents, Summit Park offers stronger math outcomes and resources, while The Mount Washington School provides a competitive ELA program and serves as a standout within its district.
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