Can I use Baltimore city's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Baltimore city school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Baltimore city?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Baltimore city?

Start with the 155 listed public schools and 2 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Baltimore city Schools & Education

Name: Baltimore city, Maryland Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Baltimore city, Maryland

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

48/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

70.1%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

70.1%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 89.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$11,733

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,395

School Score

48/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 72/100

State Score Position

#24

of 24 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Baltimore city

Measured School Summary

Baltimore city has midrange measured school signals (score: 48/100) with a graduation rate of 70.1%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Baltimore city spends $11,733 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 34% below the Maryland average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 19.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Baltimore city before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

155 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

48/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #24 of 24 Maryland counties with school score data.

Completion

70.1%

19.3 pts below the state average

Funding context

$11,733

$1,338 above the state average

School coverage

155

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Baltimore city has 155 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Baltimore city school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

Baltimore City Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 154 of 155 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#24

of 24 Maryland counties with school score data. The county score is 24 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Baltimore City Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

75,995 students

Elementary 111Middle 8High 34Other 1

154 listed schools in this county slice.

SEED School of Maryland

High school only in this slice

403 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Baltimore City Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 154 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Baltimore city?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Baltimore city district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Baltimore City, Maryland

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Diverse Urban Educational Landscape

Baltimore City manages 155 public schools serving a population of 76,398 students in a purely urban setting. The infrastructure is dominated by 111 elementary schools and 35 high schools, reflecting a commitment to early childhood and secondary education. Two distinct districts operate here, including the SEED School of Maryland.

A Leader in Charter Innovation

Baltimore City Public Schools is the primary district, while the SEED School of Maryland serves as a specialized statewide boarding option. The city is a hub for choice, with 31 charter schools making up 20% of all public campuses. Large vocational and technical schools like Mergenthaler (1,677 students) provide critical career-ready pathways.

Big Schools in an Urban Core

Every one of the 155 schools is classified as an urban locale, providing students with a consistent city experience. The average school size is 493 students, though specialized high schools like Digital Harbor and Baltimore Polytechnic often exceed 1,500 students. This mix of traditional and charter models creates a highly varied educational feel.

School Overview

Total Schools

155

in Baltimore city

Reported Enrollment

76,398

155 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

20% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary111

Middle8

High35

Other1

2 School Districts in Baltimore city

Baltimore City Public Schools

SEED School of Maryland

1 school

403 students

155 Public Schools in Baltimore city

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 13 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 155 matching schools

Public schools in Baltimore city, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21218City: Large	9–12	Vocational	1,677
Digital Harbor High School	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21230City: Large	9–12	Vocational	1,591
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21209City: Large	9–12	High	1,555
Baltimore City College	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21218City: Large	9–12	High	1,497
KIPP Harmony Academy	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21216City: Large	KG–8	Charter	1,480
Roland Park Elementary/Middle	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21210City: Large	PK–8	Primary	1,365
Patterson High	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21224City: Large	9–12	Vocational	1,335
Western High	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21209City: Large	9–12	High	1,262
Paul Laurence Dunbar High	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21231City: Large	9–12	High	1,067
Carver Vocational-Technical High	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21216City: Large	9–12	Vocational	1,020
The Belair-Edison School	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21213City: Large	PK–8	Charter	1,013
Lakeland Elementary/Middle	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21230City: Large	PK–8	Primary	997
Leith Walk Elementary/Middle	Profile	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21239City: Large	PK–8	Primary	967
John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle	Record	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21224City: Large	PK–8	Primary	930
Academy for College and Career Exploration	Record	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21211City: Large	6–12	High	902
Hampstead Hill Academy	Record	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21224City: Large	PK–8	Charter	861
Edmondson-Westside High	Record	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21229City: Large	9–12	Vocational	859
Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle	Record	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21231City: Large	PK–8	Primary	855
Green Street Academy	Record	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21229City: Large	6–12	Charter	854
Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary/Middle	Record	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore, 21207City: Large	PK–8	Primary	841

Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21218 / City: Large

Profile9–12Vocational1,677 students

Digital Harbor High School

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21230 / City: Large

Profile9–12Vocational1,591 students

Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21209 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,555 students

Baltimore City College

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21218 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,497 students

KIPP Harmony Academy

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21216 / City: Large

ProfileKG–8Charter1,480 students

Roland Park Elementary/Middle

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21210 / City: Large

ProfilePK–8Primary1,365 students

Patterson High

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21224 / City: Large

Profile9–12Vocational1,335 students

Western High

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21209 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,262 students

Paul Laurence Dunbar High

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21231 / City: Large

Profile9–12High1,067 students

Carver Vocational-Technical High

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21216 / City: Large

Profile9–12Vocational1,020 students

The Belair-Edison School

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21213 / City: Large

ProfilePK–8Charter1,013 students

Lakeland Elementary/Middle

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21230 / City: Large

ProfilePK–8Primary997 students

Leith Walk Elementary/Middle

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21239 / City: Large

ProfilePK–8Primary967 students

John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21224 / City: Large

RecordPK–8Primary930 students

Academy for College and Career Exploration

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21211 / City: Large

Record6–12High902 students

Hampstead Hill Academy

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21224 / City: Large

RecordPK–8Charter861 students

Edmondson-Westside High

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21229 / City: Large

Record9–12Vocational859 students

Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21231 / City: Large

RecordPK–8Primary855 students

Green Street Academy

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21229 / City: Large

Record6–12Charter854 students

Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary/Middle

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore, 21207 / City: Large

RecordPK–8Primary841 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$11,733

State avg $10,395

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Baltimore city against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Maryland counties have the highest graduation rates?

Calvert County (96.0%), Carroll County (96.0%), and Queen Anne's County (96.0%) currently lead Maryland among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Maryland?

Across Maryland counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $10,395. The highest current county values are Worcester County ($12,869), Somerset County ($11,870), and Baltimore city ($11,733). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Baltimore city?

Baltimore city has a school score of 48/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Baltimore city?

The high school graduation rate in Baltimore city is 70.1%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Baltimore city spend per student?

Baltimore city spends $11,733 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Baltimore City, Maryland — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Baltimore City, Maryland?

What are the major school districts in Baltimore City, Maryland?

What is the school experience like in Baltimore City?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Prince George's County

Maryland

+1 pts

49/100

School score

Dorchester County

Maryland

+3 pts

51/100

School score

Somerset County

Maryland

+7 pts

54/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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