Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 21220

There are two middle schools in zip code 21220, Middle River Middle and Crossroads Center, both part of the Baltimore County Public Schools district, serving grades 6-8 in a community where about two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Middle River Middle is the area's traditional public school with 822 students and a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Its academic performance is below state averages, with 6.4% proficiency in math and 32.1% in ELA, but it shows a positive trend, climbing from the 16th to the 25th percentile in state rankings over two years. In contrast, Crossroads Center is a specialized school with only 32 students, an extremely low 1.3:1 student-teacher ratio, and per-student spending of $42,534—more than double that of Middle River Middle. Its academic proficiency rates are near zero (1.1% in math, 3.1% in ELA), and it holds the lowest possible state ranking, reflecting its mission to serve students with profound challenges.

The most critical issue for both schools is chronic absenteeism. At Crossroads Center, 89.5% of students are chronically absent, making academic progress nearly impossible. Middle River Middle has a 36.4% chronic absenteeism rate, significantly higher than the district average of 25.6%. While direct test score comparisons between the two schools are misleading due to their different missions, both are grappling with the same underlying community challenges of poverty and disengagement. For parents, Middle River Middle offers a standard middle school experience with some signs of improvement, while Crossroads Center is a high-cost intervention center for students requiring intensive support.