Summary:
The five public schools in zip code 21403 (Annapolis, MD) serve one middle school and four elementary schools within the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district, revealing a deeply divided educational landscape where a child's academic experience is heavily tied to their school's socioeconomic profile.
Hillsmere Elementary is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 84th percentile statewide with 54.9% math proficiency and 68.1% English proficiency—far exceeding district averages. In stark contrast, Georgetown East Elementary is the lowest-performing school, with a 0-star rating, just 6.1% math proficiency, and the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 21.6%. Annapolis Middle presents a paradox: while its overall math proficiency is only 7.3%, it achieves an exceptional 63.3% proficiency in Algebra I, suggesting a small group of advanced students excels while the majority struggles. Eastport Elementary shows a glimmer of improvement, rising from the 19th to the 36th percentile over two years, while Tyler Heights Elementary has the highest poverty rate (96.88%) yet the lowest chronic absenteeism (9.9%), indicating effective engagement strategies.
A key finding is the inverse relationship between spending and performance: the highest-spending schools—Eastport ($27,656/student), Georgetown East ($27,181), and Tyler Heights ($26,430)—are among the lowest-performing, while Hillsmere spends the least ($19,635) but achieves the best results. This suggests higher spending addresses greater student needs rather than driving success. Overall, the average free/reduced lunch rate across the five schools is 80.2%, with Hillsmere at 40% and the other four averaging 90.25%, making socioeconomic status the dominant factor in academic outcomes within this single zip code.
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