The brief
The top-rated middle schools in Baltimore for 2026 are The Crossroads School (8.1/10), Dumbarton Middle (7.8/10), and Sudbrook Magnet Middle (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 30 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Baltimore's middle school landscape spans 30 ranked schools, with performance varying considerably across the metro. The Crossroads School leads the field with a composite score of 7.3/10, followed closely by Booker T. Washington Middle and Woodlawn Middle, both at 7.1/10. Only 3 schools — 10% of the ranked total — clear the 7/10 threshold, signaling that strong options exist but are concentrated at the top. The average composite score sits at 5.3/10, which means the gap between the highest and lowest performers is meaningful. Parents willing to sort by specific metrics — academics, environment, or extracurriculars — will find the table below surfaces differences that a simple list can't. Whether you're prioritizing proximity, program type, or overall quality, the spread here rewards careful comparison rather than defaulting to the top name alone.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 18.1
- 27.8
- 37.6
- 47.5
- 57.1
- 66.1
- 76.0
- 85.6
- 95.5
- 105.4
All 30 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 30
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1The Crossroads SchoolcharterBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 163student-teacher ratio 12.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 2Dumbarton MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 1,071student-teacher ratio 16.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 3Sudbrook Magnet MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 847student-teacher ratio 13.4:1grades 6th–8th
- 4Lillie May Carroll Jackson SchoolcharterBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 204student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades 5th–8th
- 5Perry Hall MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 1,694student-teacher ratio 16.9:1grades 6th–8th
- 6Brooklyn Park MiddleAnne Arundel County Public Schoolsstudents 744student-teacher ratio 12.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 7Southwest AcademyBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 813student-teacher ratio 14.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 8Arbutus MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 983student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 9Windsor Mill MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 609student-teacher ratio 16.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 10Parkville MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 1,022student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 11Baltimore Collegiate School for BoyscharterBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 279student-teacher ratio 16.4:1grades 4th–8th
- 12Dundalk MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 775student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades 6th–8th
- 13Lansdowne MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 739student-teacher ratio 12.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 14Loch Raven Technical AcademyBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 778student-teacher ratio 15.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 15Northwest Academy of Health SciencesBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 843student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades 6th–8th
- 16Katherine Johnson Global AcademyBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 505student-teacher ratio 15.8:1grades 3rd–8th
- 17Woodlawn MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 563student-teacher ratio 12.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 18Booker T. Washington MiddleBaltimore City Public Schoolsstudents 177student-teacher ratio 9.3:1grades 6th–8th
- 19Holabird MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 993student-teacher ratio 15.5:1grades 4th–8th
- 20Pikesville MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 905student-teacher ratio 15.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 21General John Stricker MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 700student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades 6th–8th
- 22Deep Creek MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 728student-teacher ratio 14.0:1grades 6th–8th
- 23Pine Grove MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 853student-teacher ratio 15.2:1grades 6th–8th
- 24Sparrows Point MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 553student-teacher ratio 14.6:1grades 6th–8th
- 25Stemmers Run MiddleBaltimore County Public Schoolsstudents 812student-teacher ratio 14.2:1grades 6th–8th
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Maryland education department. Rankings are relative to all public middle 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
The Crossroads School
Baltimore City Public Schools
163 students · 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 13% in Maryland · charter
- Academics
- 6.3
- Growth
- 8.6
- Environment
- 9.9
- 2
Dumbarton Middle
Baltimore County Public Schools
1,071 students · 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 19% in Maryland
- Academics
- 7.8
- Growth
- 9.8
- Environment
- 4.6
- 3
Sudbrook Magnet Middle
Baltimore County Public Schools
847 students · 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 23% in Maryland
- Academics
- 5.4
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 8.0
- 4
Lillie May Carroll Jackson School
Baltimore City Public Schools
204 students · 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–8th
Top 25% in Maryland · charter
- Academics
- 4.5
- Growth
- 8.5
- Environment
- 10.0
- 5
Perry Hall Middle
Baltimore County Public Schools
1,694 students · 16.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 34% in Maryland
- Academics
- 6.9
- Growth
- 8.7
- Environment
- 4.7
- 6
Brooklyn Park Middle
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
744 students · 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 58% in Maryland
- Academics
- 5.4
- Growth
- 5.8
- Environment
- 7.6
- 7
Southwest Academy
Baltimore County Public Schools
813 students · 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 61% in Maryland
- Academics
- 3.5
- Growth
- 8.2
- Environment
- 6.1
- 8
Arbutus Middle
Baltimore County Public Schools
983 students · 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 69% in Maryland
- Academics
- 5.3
- Growth
- 6.8
- Environment
- 4.1
- 9
Windsor Mill Middle
Baltimore County Public Schools
609 students · 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 72% in Maryland
- Academics
- 4.1
- Growth
- 7.3
- Environment
- 4.5
- 10
Parkville Middle
Baltimore County Public Schools
1,022 students · 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 73% in Maryland
- Academics
- 5.2
- Growth
- 6.2
- Environment
- 4.4
Questions
What is the best middle school in Baltimore, Maryland?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, The Crossroads School is the top-rated middle school in Baltimore with a composite score of 8.1/10. 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 middle schools are in Baltimore, Maryland?
Baltimore has 37 middle schools, including 3 charter schools. Of these, 33 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average middle school rating in Baltimore?
Among 33 Baltimore middle schools with a composite score, the average is 5.0/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Maryland).
How does MySchoolScout rate middle 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 middle school rankings?
Baltimore has 3 charter middle 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 high schools in Baltimore2026 rankings and ratings
- All 365 schools in BaltimoreElementary, middle and high
- Maryland schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings