Below Average
#1133 of 1,363 schools in MD
Paul Laurence Dunbar High
High School · Baltimore City Public Schools · Baltimore, MD
A Baltimore City Public Schools high school where students score 13 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1400 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231
- Math 10% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 63% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 87.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Paul Laurence Dunbar High score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 23%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 24 points since 2020, reaching 37% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 59% (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
74.8%
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 Paul Laurence Dunbar High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 89Very Walkable
- Transit 98Rider’s Paradise
- Bike 75Very Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,784/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Baltimore), 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
$85,382
Median home value
$336,500
Median rent
$1,710/mo
College educated
65.9%
Homeownership
35%
Poverty rate
19.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21231; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Academy FoundationEnrollment path unverified | 3.2 | 6–12 | 0.1 mi | 753 | Compare → |
| Eager Street AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | 7–12 | 0.6 mi | 59 | Compare → |
| St Frances AcademyPrivate · tuition | 4.3private | 9–12 | 0.7 mi | 207 | Compare → |
| Cristo Rey Jesuit High SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | 9–12 | 0.9 mi | 352 | 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.
Baltimore City Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 151
- Rank in district
- #95 of 149
- District spending per student
- $22,977NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 22.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Paul Laurence Dunbar High is listed in Baltimore City Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Paul Laurence Dunbar High
Paul Laurence Dunbar High is a public high school in Baltimore, MD, part of Baltimore City Public Schools, serving approximately 1,101 students in grades 9th-12th with a 22.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,133 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Paul Laurence Dunbar High
What grades does Paul Laurence Dunbar High serve?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Paul Laurence Dunbar High?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High has an enrollment of approximately 1,101 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar High?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul Laurence Dunbar High is 22.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Paul Laurence Dunbar High rank in MD?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High ranks #1,133 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Paul Laurence Dunbar High's MySchoolScout rating?
Paul Laurence Dunbar High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 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 Paul Laurence Dunbar High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Paul Laurence Dunbar High has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Paul Laurence Dunbar High a charter school?
No, Paul Laurence Dunbar High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Paul Laurence Dunbar High a Title I school?
No, Paul Laurence Dunbar High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Paul Laurence Dunbar High?
74.8% of students at Paul Laurence Dunbar High 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,101
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 48
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Baltimore city
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 55.1%
- Phone
- (443) 642-4478
- 4-Year Graduation
- 87.0%
- Area population (ZIP 21231)
- 14,556
- Area average commute
- 26.3 min
- Area median age
- 32.4
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 21231; 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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