Summary:
This analysis examines nine elementary schools in Baltimore's 21215 zip code, serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th or 8th grade, and reveals a stark divide between the struggling Baltimore City Public Schools and the higher-performing Baltimore County Public Schools district.
Cross Country Elementary/Middle is the clear standout, earning a 2-star rating and ranking in the 44th percentile statewide, with 3rd-grade ELA proficiency exceeding the state average. In contrast, Milbrook Elementary, the only Baltimore County school in the zip code, benefits from its district's stronger performance and boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 29.2%. The remaining schools face significant challenges, with a median state percentile rank of just 8th. Callaway Elementary reported a shocking 0% math proficiency, while Park Heights Academy and Pimlico Elementary/Middle have chronic absenteeism rates above 69%, directly correlating with their very low test scores. Creative City Public Charter School is a rare positive trend, showing consistent improvement from the 7th to the 15th percentile over three years.
Key metrics highlight systemic issues: average math proficiency is just 10.9% (state average 27.1%), and ELA proficiency is 26.6% (state average 51.7%). Chronic absenteeism averages 48%, far above typical state levels, and 78.7% of students receive free or reduced-price lunch. Per-student spending averages $25,152, yet the highest-spending schools—Park Heights Academy ($29,127), Pimlico ($28,032), and Callaway ($27,955)—are among the lowest-performing, while Cross Country ($22,981) and Milbrook ($20,786) spend less and achieve more. The data strongly suggests that addressing chronic absenteeism and the district-level divide, rather than simply increasing funding, is the most critical path to improvement for families in this area.
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