Summary:
The 11 schools in Baltimore's 21217 zip code, part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, serve a predominantly elementary-aged population of 3,801 students in a community facing significant socioeconomic challenges, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 87.2%.
Mount Royal Elementary/Middle is the clear standout, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 53rd percentile statewide—the only school in the zip code above the 50th percentile. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (32%) and the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (63.49%). In contrast, Sandtown-Winchester Achievement Academy faces the most extreme challenges, ranking in the 0th percentile with a 0.5% math proficiency rate and a 72% chronic absenteeism rate. Matthew A. Henson Elementary shows promise as an improver, more than doubling its math proficiency from 18.3% to 31.4% year-over-year, exceeding the state average. At the high school level, Renaissance Academy has the highest per-student spending ($38,693) but the lowest graduation rate (33.3%) and a 56.4% dropout rate, while Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts also struggles with near-zero math proficiency.
Overall, the average school ranks in the 9th percentile statewide, with math proficiency at 8.1% and ELA at 19.6%—far below district and state averages. Chronic absenteeism is the defining challenge, averaging 55.3% across all schools, and is strongly linked to lower test scores. While high spending does not guarantee success, schools like Midtown Academy (with ELA proficiency matching the district average) and Matthew A. Henson Elementary demonstrate that improvement is possible, offering hope in a landscape where most schools are struggling to build foundational skills, especially as students enter middle and high school.
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