Below Average
#1065 of 1,363 schools in MD
Southern Middle School
Middle School · Garrett County Public Schools · Oakland, MD
A Garrett County Public Schools middle school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
605 Harvey Winters Road, Oakland, MD 21550
- Math 19% proficient (2022)
- Reading 39% proficient (2022)
- 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southern Middle School score 29% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 60 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 29% recently.
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 26 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
56.5%
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 Southern Middle School 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 8Car-Dependent
- Bike 20Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Average387/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Oakland), 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
$65,302
Median home value
$210,300
Median rent
$724/mo
College educated
25.7%
Homeownership
77.8%
Poverty rate
11.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21550; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 in Garrett County Public Schools
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.3 | 6–8 | Not available | 315 | 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.
Garrett County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 12
- Rank in district
- #12 of 12
- District spending per student
- $19,520NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southern Middle School is listed in Garrett County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern Middle School
Southern Middle School is a public middle school in Oakland, MD, part of Garrett County Public Schools, serving approximately 448 students in grades 6th-8th with a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,065 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern Middle School
What grades does Southern Middle School serve?
Southern Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Southern Middle School?
Southern Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 448 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Middle School is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern Middle School rank in MD?
Southern Middle School ranks #1,065 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Southern Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 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 Southern Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern Middle School has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Southern Middle School a charter school?
No, Southern Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southern Middle School a Title I school?
No, Southern Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern Middle School?
56.5% of students at Southern Middle School 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
- 448
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Garrett County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.9%
- Phone
- (301) 334-8881
- Area population (ZIP 21550)
- 13,469
- Area average commute
- 20 min
- Area median age
- 48.5
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 · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- 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 · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- 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 21550; 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, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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