Summary:
The two public high schools in zip code 21222, Dundalk High and Patapsco High and Center for Arts, serve a combined 3,472 students in the Baltimore County Public Schools district, an area where over 64% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Patapsco High and Center for Arts stands out as the higher-performing school, with a stronger state ranking (15th percentile), a higher graduation rate of 83.6%, and notably better English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency at 35.6%. Its arts-focused magnet program appears to foster a more engaged student body. In contrast, Dundalk High faces severe challenges, including the lowest state ranking in the area (7th percentile), a 72.7% graduation rate, and a 24.3% dropout rate—double the district average. Both schools share a critical weakness in mathematics, with proficiency rates near zero (1.2% at Dundalk, 0.6% at Patapsco), far below the state average of 27.1%.
Chronic absenteeism is a core issue, affecting 49.4% of students at Dundalk and 40% at Patapsco, both well above the district average of 25.6%. Interestingly, Patapsco receives $2,433 more per student ($18,523 vs. $16,090) than Dundalk, yet this extra spending has not improved math outcomes. Patapsco is showing an upward trend in rankings, while Dundalk is declining, suggesting that Patapsco's arts-focused model may be creating a more positive school culture. For parents, the key takeaway is that Patapsco offers a stronger academic environment, particularly in ELA, but both schools struggle significantly with math proficiency and student attendance.
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