Average
#918 of 1,363 schools in MD
Ballenger Creek Middle
Middle School · Frederick County Public Schools · Frederick, MD
A Frederick County Public Schools middle school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
5525 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick, MD 21703
- Math 24% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 56% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ballenger Creek Middle score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 40% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 48% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
35%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Ballenger Creek Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Washington DC map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 25Car-Dependent
- Bike 33Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,084/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Frederick), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$105,293
Median home value
$364,300
Median rent
$1,887/mo
College educated
42.9%
Homeownership
68.5%
Poverty rate
9.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21703; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestwood MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | 6–8 | 1.1 mi | 747 | Compare → |
| Laurel Hall SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.7private | 1–12 | 2.0 mi | 54 | Compare → |
| Laurel Hall School - FrederickPrivate · tuition | 7.2private | 3–12 | 2.0 mi | 38 | Compare → |
| West Frederick MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | 6–8 | 2.2 mi | 770 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Frederick County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 69
- Rank in district
- #60 of 67
- District spending per student
- $16,233NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 4.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ballenger Creek Middle is listed in Frederick County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ballenger Creek Middle
Ballenger Creek Middle is a public middle school in Frederick, MD, part of Frederick County Public Schools, serving approximately 792 students in grades 6th-8th with a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #918 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ballenger Creek Middle
What grades does Ballenger Creek Middle serve?
Ballenger Creek Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Ballenger Creek Middle?
Ballenger Creek Middle has an enrollment of approximately 792 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ballenger Creek Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Ballenger Creek Middle is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ballenger Creek Middle rank in MD?
Ballenger Creek Middle ranks #918 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Ballenger Creek Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Ballenger Creek Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Ballenger Creek Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ballenger Creek Middle has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Ballenger Creek Middle a charter school?
No, Ballenger Creek Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ballenger Creek Middle a Title I school?
No, Ballenger Creek Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ballenger Creek Middle?
35.0% of students at Ballenger Creek Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 792
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 48
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Frederick County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 24.4%
- Phone
- (240) 236-5700
- Area population (ZIP 21703)
- 41,766
- Area average commute
- 33.5 min
- Area median age
- 34.8
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 21703; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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