Summary:
There are five elementary schools serving grades PK-8 in Baltimore, MD zip code 21223, all part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district, which serves a high-needs population with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 87.6%.
James McHenry Elementary/Middle is the standout school in the area, consistently outperforming the district average in both Math and English Language Arts (ELA). In the 2025-2026 school year, its overall Math proficiency (20.2%) was 52% higher than the district average (13.3%), and its overall ELA proficiency (42.3%) was 29% higher than the district average (32.9%). It is the only school showing a clear upward trajectory in its state ranking, moving from the 9th percentile to the 41st percentile over two years. In contrast, Frederick Elementary is the most challenged school, with the lowest state ranking (1st percentile), the highest chronic absenteeism rate (73.0%), and the lowest overall Math proficiency (3.5%). The average chronic absenteeism rate across all five schools is a very high 54.4%, significantly exceeding the district average of 46.4%.
A critical finding is that spending does not correlate with performance. Frederick Elementary spends the most per student ($30,078) but has the lowest academic performance, while James McHenry spends significantly less ($22,282) and achieves the highest scores. Chronic absenteeism is the most impactful challenge; the two schools with the lowest absenteeism—James McHenry (40.5%) and Southwest Baltimore Charter School (39.0%)—are also the highest-performing. James McHenry is a unique success in middle grades, with its 6th-grade ELA proficiency (55.6%) exceeding the state average (50.7%).
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