The brief
The top-rated high schools in Baltimore for 2026 are Western School of Technology (8.8/10), Eastern Technical High School (8.8/10), and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 58 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Baltimore's 50 ranked high schools span a meaningful range of performance, with an average composite score of 5.2/10 across the metro. Western High leads the list at 6.8/10, tied with Eager Street Academy and closely followed by Achievement Academy at Harbor City High and Eastern Technical High School. That cluster at the top reflects a competitive upper tier worth examining closely. Charter schools make up 10% of the ranked pool — five schools total — so the landscape skews heavily toward traditional public options. Scores, student-to-teacher ratios, and other key metrics vary considerably from school to school, which is why sorting the table below by the factors that matter most to your family will get you further than any single ranking. Use the columns to cut through the noise and zero in on the schools that fit your student's needs.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.8
- 28.8
- 38.4
- 48.0
- 57.9
- 67.6
- 77.3
- 87.2
- 97.0
- 106.8
All 58 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 58
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Western School of TechnologyBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 953student-teacher ratio 15.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 2Eastern Technical High SchoolBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 1,276student-teacher ratio 18.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 3Baltimore Polytechnic InstituteBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 1,580student-teacher ratio 19.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 4Baltimore School for the ArtsBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 431student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 9th–12th
- 5Baltimore City CollegeBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 1,421student-teacher ratio 17.3:1grades 9th–12th
- 6Bard High School Early CollegeBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 482student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 7Baltimore Design SchoolBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 504student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades 6th–12th
- 8Mercy High Schoolstudents 446student-teacher ratio 9.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 9Western HighBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 1,328student-teacher ratio 17.9:1grades 9th–12th
- 10Reginald F. Lewis HighBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 444student-teacher ratio 13.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 11The Catholic High School of Baltimorestudents 287student-teacher ratio 9.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 12Cristo Rey Jesuit High Schoolstudents 352student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 13Israel Henry Beren High Schoolstudents 240student-teacher ratio 9.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 14Catonsville HighBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 1,733student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 15The Seed School of MarylandSeed School of Marylandstudents 394student-teacher ratio 9.8:1grades 6th–12th
- 16Claremont SchoolBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 47student-teacher ratio 3.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 17Achievement Academy at Harbor City HighBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 202student-teacher ratio 12.6:1grades 9th–12th
- 18Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual ArtsBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 296student-teacher ratio 14.1:1grades 9th–12th
- 19City Neighbors HighcharterBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 419student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades 9th–12th
- 20Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts AcademyBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 378student-teacher ratio 17.2:1grades 9th–12th
- 21Rosedale CenterBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 58student-teacher ratio 1.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 22Pikesville HighBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 901student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 23Excel Academy at Francis M. Wood HighBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 284student-teacher ratio 17.8:1grades 9th–12th
- 24Mount De Sales Academystudents 485student-teacher ratio 10.0:1grades 9th–12th
- 25Baltimore Leadership School for Young WomencharterBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 470student-teacher ratio 11.2:1grades 6th–12th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Maryland education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in Maryland. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Western School of Technology
Baltimore County Public Schools
953 students · 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 8% in Maryland
- Academics
- 9.0
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 7.8
- 2
Eastern Technical High School
Baltimore County Public Schools
1,276 students · 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 8% in Maryland
- Academics
- 9.5
- Growth
- 9.6
- Environment
- 5.4
- 3
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
Baltimore City Public Schools
1,580 students · 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 13% in Maryland
- Academics
- 9.3
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 4.7
- 4
Baltimore School for the Arts
Baltimore City Public Schools
431 students · 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 20% in Maryland
- Academics
- 7.2
- Growth
- 7.3
- Environment
- 9.2
- 5
Baltimore City College
Baltimore City Public Schools
1,421 students · 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 21% in Maryland
- Academics
- 8.4
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 4.0
- 6
Bard High School Early College
Baltimore City Public Schools
482 students · 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 26% in Maryland
- Academics
- 6.9
- Growth
- 8.3
- Environment
- 4.1
- 7
Baltimore Design School
Baltimore City Public Schools
504 students · 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th
Top 32% in Maryland
- Academics
- 6.7
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 4.9
- 8
- Academics
- not scored
- Growth
- not scored
- Environment
- not scored
- 9
Western High
Baltimore City Public Schools
1,328 students · 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 37% in Maryland
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 3.9
- Environment
- 6.1
- 10
Reginald F. Lewis High
Baltimore City Public Schools
444 students · 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th
Top 41% in Maryland
- Academics
- 5.5
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 10.0
Questions
What is the best high school in Baltimore, Maryland?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Western School of Technology is the top-rated high school in Baltimore with a composite score of 8.8/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many high schools are in Baltimore, Maryland?
Baltimore has 65 high schools, including 5 charter schools. Of these, 59 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average high school rating in Baltimore?
Among 59 Baltimore high schools with a composite score, the average is 5.3/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Maryland).
How does MySchoolScout rate high schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Maryland, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Maryland, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Baltimore high school rankings?
Baltimore has 5 charter high schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best elementary schools in Baltimore2026 rankings and ratings
- Best middle schools in Baltimore2026 rankings and ratings
- All 350 schools in BaltimoreElementary, middle and high
- Maryland schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings