Summary:
Zip code 21225 in Baltimore, Maryland, is home to two middle schools serving grades 6-8: Brooklyn Park Middle and The Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle, which are part of different school districts—Anne Arundel County Public Schools and Baltimore City Public Schools, respectively—and show a dramatic performance gap.
Brooklyn Park Middle is the stronger school in the area, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 40th percentile statewide. It significantly outperforms The Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle in every academic subject. For example, Brooklyn Park’s English Language Arts proficiency (41.2%) is nearly five times higher than Cherry Hill’s (8.6%), and its math proficiency (12.3%) is six times higher. A standout feature is Brooklyn Park’s Algebra I program, where 71.9% of students are proficient—far exceeding the state average of 21.3%. In contrast, The Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle is a 0-star school ranking in the bottom 2nd percentile, with single-digit proficiency rates in nearly every subject and a chronic absenteeism rate of 57.7%—nearly double Brooklyn Park’s 29.3%.
Despite spending $4,055 more per student ($24,985 vs. $20,930), The Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle achieves far lower outcomes, highlighting how challenges like high poverty (92.59% free/reduced lunch) and absenteeism can outweigh increased funding. The gap between these two schools is widening, as Brooklyn Park has held steady while Cherry Hill has dropped from the 6th to the 2nd percentile over recent years. For parents, Brooklyn Park Middle offers a much stronger academic environment, particularly in advanced math, while The Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle faces severe challenges that require significant support to address.
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