Summary:
In zip code 21228, there is one middle school, Catonsville Middle, serving grades 6 through 8 with 818 students in the Catonsville area, part of the Baltimore County Public Schools district.
Catonsville Middle stands out for its strong performance in English Language Arts (ELA), Science, and Social Studies, all of which exceed both district and state averages. For example, its overall ELA proficiency rate of 55.3% is notably higher than the state average of 51.7%, and its 8th-grade Science proficiency of 41.3% is 10 points above the state. The school also excels in advanced math, with an Algebra I proficiency rate of 30.5%—more than double the district rate. However, the school faces a challenge in general math, where its overall proficiency of 20.1% falls below the state average of 27.1%, creating a "math paradox" where top students thrive but the broader math curriculum struggles. A key asset is the school's low chronic absenteeism rate of 13.0%, which is nearly half the district's rate of 25.6%, indicating a positive and engaging school environment.
Despite these academic strengths, the school's state ranking has declined from the 75th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 64th percentile (3 stars) in 2025-2026, likely due to its below-average math scores and other schools improving faster. With a student-teacher ratio of 17.4:1 and per-student spending of $17,283, the school is well-funded, but the data suggests a need to refocus resources on improving general math instruction to match its success in other subjects. Overall, Catonsville Middle offers a strong foundation in most academic areas, with a clear opportunity to elevate its math program to achieve a more balanced performance.
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