Baltimore City Public Schools School District

Baltimore City Public Schools serves 75,811 students across 151 schools in Maryland, making it one of the state's largest urban districts. Of those, 149 schools carry a ranked score, averaging 6.2 out of 10 — a useful baseline when parents begin sorting options. That average masks real variation, and knowing where a specific school lands relative to that benchmark is the fastest way to sharpen a search.

The district's highest-rated school is Armistead Gardens Elementary/Middle, scoring 9.3 out of 10. That places it well above the district average and signals consistently strong academic performance at the elementary and middle levels. Close behind are Clay Hill Public Charter School at 9.2, Harford Heights Elementary at 9.1, Moravia Park Elementary at 9.0, and North Bend Elementary/Middle at 8.9. All five sit roughly three or more points above the district mean — a meaningful gap that parents researching elementary options should factor in early.

Four of the five top performers are traditional public elementary schools, with Clay Hill the lone charter in the group. That mix matters for families weighing school type alongside academic outcomes. Charter and traditional public schools in Baltimore City operate under different enrollment and application rules, so parents should confirm seat availability and any lottery deadlines directly with each school. Ratings alone don't capture those logistical differences.

With 151 total schools, Baltimore City gives families a wide range of choices — but size also means more legwork. Using the district average of 6.2 as a reference point helps parents move past raw scores and ask better questions: How far is this school above or below average? What grade levels does it serve? Is performance consistent across tested subjects? MySchoolScout's school pages include individual ratings, grade-level breakdowns, and enrollment details so families can compare specific campuses side by side. Start with the five schools above if elementary performance is the priority — each one represents the district's strongest outcomes at that level.