Harford Heights Elementary vs Clay Hill Public Charter School

Clay Hill Public Charter School edges out Harford Heights Elementary by just 0.1 points overall — 9.2 versus 9.1 out of 10 — but both schools rank among Maryland's elite. Clay Hill sits at #25 of 1,363 schools statewide while Harford Heights Elementary lands at #31 of 1,363, putting both institutions firmly in the top 3 percent of all Maryland elementary schools despite sitting just 3.3 miles apart in Baltimore.

On academic proficiency, Clay Hill Public Charter School holds a measurable edge: an 8.1 academic score versus Harford Heights Elementary's 7.8, a gap of 0.3 points. Growth scores, however, are virtually identical — Clay Hill at 10.0 and Harford Heights Elementary at 9.9 — meaning both schools accelerate student learning at an exceptional rate regardless of where children start. Neither school meaningfully separates itself on this dimension.

The most concrete difference between these two schools is economic composition. Harford Heights Elementary serves a population where 91 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to 61 percent at Clay Hill Public Charter School — a 30-percentage-point gap that reflects meaningfully different community contexts. Harford Heights also enrolls 404 students against Clay Hill's 293, though classroom density is nearly equivalent: student-teacher ratios of 12.6:1 and 12.7:1 respectively. Both schools offer small-class environments by Maryland standards.

Structurally, the schools differ in type and grade coverage. Harford Heights Elementary is a traditional public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade, giving families an entry point as early as PK. Clay Hill Public Charter School is a charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade, so families seeking a public pre-K seat will not find one there. Charter enrollment typically involves an application or lottery process, while Harford Heights Elementary follows standard district assignment.