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Best High Schools in Zip Code 21218

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At a glance

Schools

3,908

Students

5-star school

Top rankedBaltimore City College8^th of 227 Maryland high schools

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Biggest riser

Baltimore City College up 22 spots statewide this year

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Summary:

Zip code 21218 in Baltimore is home to three public high schools—Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High, Baltimore City College, and The Reach! Partnership School—all part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, and they offer vastly different educational experiences. The standout is Baltimore City College, a 5-star school ranked 8th out of 227 high schools in Maryland, with 85% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 46.7% in math—far exceeding state averages of 51.7% and 27.1%, respectively. In stark contrast, Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High (ranked 200th) and The Reach! Partnership School (ranked 221st) struggle significantly, with math proficiency rates of just 5.1% and 1.7%, and English proficiency rates of 27.8% and 12.8%.

Chronic absenteeism is a powerful predictor of these outcomes. Baltimore City College has a low chronic absenteeism rate of 21.7%, while Mergenthaler and Reach! Partnership face rates of 76.5% and 79.8%, respectively—far above the district average of 46.4%. Interestingly, Mergenthaler boasts a graduation rate of 81.2% (above the district’s 71.7%), despite its low test scores, suggesting a disconnect between earning a diploma and demonstrating academic skills. The Reach! Partnership School, despite having the highest per-pupil spending at $24,125, has the lowest performance and highest poverty rate (84.39% free/reduced lunch), while Baltimore City College achieves top results with the lowest spending ($18,604) and a 52.11% poverty rate.

This data reveals that within a single zip code, a student’s future can vary dramatically based on school choice. Baltimore City College proves that high-poverty schools can achieve excellence, challenging assumptions about barriers to success. For parents, the key takeaway is that school culture and attendance are critical: City College’s low absenteeism and high performance offer a clear model, while Mergenthaler and Reach! Partnership highlight the urgent need to address foundational attendance issues before academic gains can follow.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAP Mathematics (2026)	MCAP English Language Arts (2026)		MCAP Algebra I (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Baltimore City College	Public	9-12	3220 The Alameda	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 396-6557	1,470	79	18.6	52.1%	207 (14.1%)	986 (67.1%)	207 (14.1%)	23 (1.6%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	36 (2.4%)	83.9	8^th of 227 public high schools	96.5%		65.1	30^th of 220 public high schools	86.4%	22	46.7	85.0	85.0	46.7	$18,604	$4,067	$14,537
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High	Public	9-12	3500 Hillen Road	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(410) 396-6496	1,714	116	14.7	79.2%	22 (1.3%)	1,498 (87.4%)	159 (9.3%)	22 (1.3%)	5 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	5 (0.3%)	14.5	200^th of 227 public high schools	11.9%		14.9	196^th of 220 public high schools	10.9%	4	5.1	27.8	27.8	5.1	$20,324	$3,835	$16,489
The Reach! Partnership School	Public	9-12	2555 Harford Road	Baltimore	21218	Baltimore city	Baltimore City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(443) 642-2291	724	46	15.7	84.4%	12 (1.7%)	642 (88.7%)	57 (7.9%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.6%)	6 (0.8%)	8.8	221^st of 227 public high schools	2.6%		12.8	207^th of 220 public high schools	5.9%	14	1.7	12.8	12.8	1.7	$24,125	$5,014	$19,111

Cities Near Zip Code 21218

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Baltimore	0.28 mi	278	222^nd
Towson	4.53 mi	12	85^th
Parkville	5.3 mi	1
Pikesville	5.89 mi	1	160^th
Lutherville	6.32 mi	3	45^th

See the top MD Maryland cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.