Best Public Schools in Zip Code 21220

The nine public schools in zip code 21220 (Baltimore, MD), all part of the Baltimore County Public Schools district, serve primarily elementary students with seven elementary schools (PK-5) and two middle schools (6-8), and no high schools, in an area where the district itself holds a 2-star rating and ranks 18th out of 25 in Maryland.

The standout performer is Oliver Beach Elementary, the only 4-star school in the zip code, ranking in the 84th percentile statewide with math proficiency (55.9%) and ELA proficiency (70.7%) that are 2-3 times higher than the next best school, Chase Elementary. In stark contrast, Crossroads Center, a specialized middle school with only 32 students, faces extreme challenges with a 0th percentile ranking, 89.5% chronic absenteeism, and near-zero test scores. The two middle schools, Middle River Middle and Crossroads Center, are the lowest-performing schools overall, with Middle River Middle's math proficiency at just 6.4%, a dramatic drop from the elementary schools. Martin Boulevard Elementary stands out as a resilient school, improving its state ranking and achieving math scores (25.3%) above the district average despite a 67.19% poverty rate, likely due to its low chronic absenteeism of 17.6%.

Key metrics reveal a strong link between poverty, attendance, and performance: the zip code average for free/reduced lunch is 65.8%, with Hawthorne Elementary at the highest (83.17%) and Oliver Beach at the lowest (40%). Chronic absenteeism ranges from Oliver Beach's exceptional 6.4% to Crossroads Center's 89.5%, with most schools above the district average of 25.6%. Per-student spending varies widely from $16,410 at Middle River Middle to $28,220 at Oliver Beach, but spending alone does not guarantee success, as Hawthorne spends $22,100 per student yet remains one of the lowest-performing schools. Overall, the data shows a clear divide, with Oliver Beach as a high-performing outlier and the middle schools facing systemic challenges that parents should consider when evaluating school options in this area.