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#835 of 1,363 schools in MD

Tuscarora High

High School · Frederick County Public Schools · Frederick, MD

A Frederick County Public Schools high school where students score 16 points below what's typical for similar communities.

5312 Ballenger Creek Pk, Frederick, MD 21703

  • Math 7% vs MD 30% (2025)
  • Reading 56% vs MD 51% (2025)
  • 93.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.73 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.6Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency6.5% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency55.7% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg-23.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+4.6 pts
Overall Proficiency31% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-15.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile27th
College Readiness7.0Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate93%
AP Participation19.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.9Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.9:1
District spending per student$16,233
Chronic Absenteeism27.1%

Students at Tuscarora High score 31% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 MCAP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.

Math Proficiency7%(2025 MCAP)
School
State
30%(2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency56%(2025 MCAP)
School
State
51%(2025 MCAP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 36 points since 2020, to 31% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
89%
ELA
84%
2010
Math
92%
ELA
90%
2011
Math
96%
ELA
91%
2012
Math
94%
ELA
92%
2013
Math
94%
ELA
91%
2014
Math
93%
ELA
89%
2015
Math
91%
ELA
86%
2016
Math
83%
ELA
45%
2018
Math
59%
ELA
75%
2019
Math
59%
ELA
75%
2020*
Math
58%
ELA
76%
2021*
Math
58%
ELA
76%
2022
Math
34%
ELA
59%
2025
Math
7%
ELA
56%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 78% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

39.3%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Tuscarora High 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 7Car-Dependent
  • Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,084/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
19.4% participation·State avg: 3.1 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics19sports offered
8 boys'·11 girls'·27 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Laurel Hall SchoolPrivate · tuition6.71–121.6 mi54Compare →
Laurel Hall School - FrederickPrivate · tuition7.23–121.6 mi38Compare →
Frederick Baptist AcademyPrivate · tuition5.91–122.2 mi35Compare →
St John's Catholic PrepPrivate · tuition6.29–122.7 mi275Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Frederick County Public Schools

Schools in district
69
Rank in district
#57 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

Tuscarora High is listed in Frederick County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Tuscarora High

Tuscarora High is a public high school in Frederick, MD, part of Frederick County Public Schools, serving approximately 1,719 students in grades 9th-12th with a 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #835 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Tuscarora High

What grades does Tuscarora High serve?

Tuscarora High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Tuscarora High?

Tuscarora High has an enrollment of approximately 1,719 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Tuscarora High?

The student-teacher ratio at Tuscarora High is 17.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Tuscarora High rank in MD?

Tuscarora High ranks #835 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Tuscarora High's MySchoolScout rating?

Tuscarora High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 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 Tuscarora High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Tuscarora High has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Tuscarora High a charter school?

No, Tuscarora High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Tuscarora High a Title I school?

No, Tuscarora High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Tuscarora High?

39.3% of students at Tuscarora 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
1,719
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
96
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Frederick County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.1%
4-Year Graduation
93.0%
Area population (ZIP 21703)
41,766
Area average commute
33.5 min
Area median age
34.8
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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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