Excellent
#119 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 9% in state
Matthew A. Henson Elementary
Elementary School · Baltimore City Public Schools
1600 N Payson Street, Baltimore, MD 21217
Enrollment
198
Student-Teacher
13.2:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
198
Student-Teacher
13.2:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Baltimore
#17 of 267
public schools
Maryland elementary schools
#117 of 882
In district
#10 of 149
Baltimore City Public Schools
Academic growth
9.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Matthew A. Henson Elementary
Matthew A. Henson Elementary is a public elementary school in Baltimore, MD, part of the Baltimore City Public Schools. The school serves approximately 198 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.2:1.
It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5/10, placing it in the 91.3th percentile among MD schools — an above average rating overall. Students demonstrate 11% proficiency in math, 19 points below the state average and 8% in reading/language arts, 43 points below the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.8/10).
Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $37,207, where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The school is situated in a large city setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 198 students, Matthew A. Henson Elementary is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
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Matthew A. Henson Elementary — Students at Matthew A. Henson Elementary score 26% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 16%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
90.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)
Based on 8 test records from MD state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.8/10.
How Matthew A. Henson Elementary Compares
See how Matthew A. Henson Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 2.5% (2019) to 36% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 2.5% (2019) to 16% (2025).
Location
1600 N Payson Street, Baltimore, MD 21217
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Matthew A. Henson Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Rosemont Elementary/Middle (rated 8.5/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Gwynns Falls Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Empowerment Academy (rated 7.6/10, 0.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Baltimore, see our Baltimore schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.1 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 21217 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$37,207
Median Home Value
$175,900
Median Rent
$1,065/mo
Population
31,125
College Educated
22.3%
Homeownership
32.6%
Avg Commute
32.3 min
Poverty Rate
30.5%
Median Age
40.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding Matthew A. Henson Elementary has a median household income of $37,207. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $175,900, with a median rent of $1,065/month. The area has a poverty rate of 30.5%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| J. Frank Dent Elementary Fort Washington, MD | 8.5 |
| North Chevy Chase Elementary Chevy Chase, MD | 8.5 |
| Rosemont Elementary/Middle Baltimore, MD | 8.5 |
| AL-RAHMAH SCHOOL Baltimore, MD | 8.6 |
| Forest Heights Elementary Oxon Hill, MD | 8.6 |
| New Midway/Woodsboro Elementary Keymar, MD | 8.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Matthew A. Henson Elementary
What grades does Matthew A. Henson Elementary serve?
Matthew A. Henson Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Matthew A. Henson Elementary?
Matthew A. Henson Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 198 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Matthew A. Henson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Matthew A. Henson Elementary is 13.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Matthew A. Henson Elementary rank in MD?
Matthew A. Henson Elementary is ranked #119 out of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Matthew A. Henson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Matthew A. Henson Elementary has a composite rating of 8.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Matthew A. Henson Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Matthew A. Henson Elementary has 10.9% math proficiency and 8.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Matthew A. Henson Elementary a charter school?
No, Matthew A. Henson Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Matthew A. Henson Elementary a Title I school?
No, Matthew A. Henson Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Matthew A. Henson Elementary?
90.9% of students at Matthew A. Henson Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 79 Very Walkable
- Transit Score
- 81 Excellent Transit
- Bike Score
- 52 Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (5,784/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Baltimore). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 198
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 15
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 90.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Baltimore city
- Phone
- (410) 396-0776
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Baltimore City Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 75,811
- Schools in District
- 151
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,977
- District Rank
- #10 of 149
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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