Summary:
There are two middle schools serving zip code 21227 in Baltimore, Maryland: Arbutus Middle and Lansdowne Middle, both part of the Baltimore County Public Schools district, which ranks in the bottom half of Maryland districts.
Arbutus Middle is the clear standout, ranking in the top half of Maryland middle schools (52nd percentile) with a 3-star rating, while Lansdowne Middle ranks in the bottom 10% (9th percentile) with a 0-star rating. Arbutus has significantly higher academic proficiency across all subjects: 50.2% of students are proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) compared to 24.8% at Lansdowne, and 14.9% are proficient in math versus just 3.8% at Lansdowne. Science proficiency at Arbutus is 30.5% versus 8.5% at Lansdowne. Chronic absenteeism is a key differentiator, with Arbutus at 14.9%—well below the district average of 25.6%—while Lansdowne matches that average at 25.6%. Notably, Lansdowne spends $2,924 more per student ($19,327 vs. $16,403) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (12.9 vs. 16.1), yet its outcomes are dramatically lower, suggesting the extra resources are directed toward addressing greater student needs rather than boosting test scores.
Both schools struggle with math, but the gap is extreme at Lansdowne, where 7th and 8th graders achieved 0% and 0.8% proficiency, respectively. In contrast, Arbutus excels in advanced courses, with Algebra I proficiency at 22% (district average 11%) and Geometry at 32.3% (district average 20.4%). The socioeconomic factor is a likely driver of the performance gap, with 70.2% of Lansdowne students qualifying for free/reduced lunch versus 54.62% at Arbutus. For parents, Arbutus Middle offers a stable, mid-performing environment with strong advanced programs, while Lansdowne Middle faces severe academic and attendance challenges despite higher funding.
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