Baltimore City Public Schools operates 162 schools (grades PK–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Baltimore City Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 78,000 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 162 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $17,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Urban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 4/10 — Below Average | — | Below average |
- Moravia Park Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 655 students
- Northwood Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 641 students
- Arlington Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 529 students
- Medfield Heights Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 485 students
- Curtis Bay Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 470 students
- Dorothy I. Height Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 435 students
- Harford Heights Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 435 students
- Arundel Elementary — Grades PK–2 · 434 students
- Furman Templeton Preparatory Academy — Grades PK–5 · 433 students
- Mary E. Rodman Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 431 students
- William Paca Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 414 students
- Furley Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 410 students
- Govans Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 410 students
- Park Heights Academy — Grades PK–5 · 390 students
- Cecil Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 348 students
- Liberty Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 335 students
- Abbottston Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 330 students
- Frederick Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 320 students
- Dr. Bernard Harris Sr. Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 300 students
- Mary Ann Winterling Elementary at Bentalou — Grades PK–5 · 296 students
- Yorkwood Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 294 students
- Federal Hill Preparatory Academy — Grades PK–5 · 285 students
- Johnston Square Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 271 students
- Sinclair Lane Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 269 students
- Charles Carroll Barrister Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 266 students
- + 16 more elementary schools
- Vanguard Collegiate Middle — Grades 6–8 · 313 students
- Stadium School — Grades 6–8 · 259 students
- Lillie May Carroll Jackson School — Grades 5–8 · 209 students
- Booker T. Washington Middle — Grades 6–8 · 192 students
- The Crossroads School — Grades 6–8 · 162 students
- Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High — Grades 9–12 · 1,714 students
- Baltimore Polytechnic Institute — Grades 9–12 · 1,632 students
- Baltimore City College — Grades 9–12 · 1,470 students
- Digital Harbor High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,359 students
- Patterson High — Grades 9–12 · 1,330 students
- Western High — Grades 9–12 · 1,290 students
- Paul Laurence Dunbar High — Grades 9–12 · 1,087 students
- Carver Vocational-Technical High — Grades 9–12 · 1,041 students
- Forest Park High — Grades 9–12 · 1,024 students
- Edmondson-Westside High — Grades 9–12 · 910 students
- Benjamin Franklin High School at Masonville Cove — Grades 9–12 · 786 students
- The Reach! Partnership School — Grades 9–12 · 724 students
- Frederick Douglass High — Grades 9–12 · 539 students
- Reginald F. Lewis High — Grades 9–12 · 481 students
- Bard High School Early College — Grades 9–12 · 459 students
- Coppin Academy — Grades 9–12 · 450 students
- Baltimore School for the Arts — Grades 9–12 · 443 students
- City Neighbors High — Grades 9–12 · 416 students
- Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy — Grades 9–12 · 386 students
- Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts — Grades 9–12 · 337 students
- Achievement Academy at Harbor City High — Grades 9–12 · 314 students
- Excel Academy at Francis M. Wood High — Grades 9–12 · 264 students
- Renaissance Academy — Grades 9–12 · 241 students
- KIPP Harmony Academy — Grades PK–8 · 1,399 students
- Roland Park Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 1,371 students
- Lakeland Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 1,070 students
- John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 1,061 students
- Academy for College and Career Exploration — Grades 6–12 · 967 students
- Hampstead Hill Academy — Grades PK–8 · 933 students
- The Belair-Edison School — Grades PK–8 · 911 students
- Leith Walk Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 910 students
- Highlandtown Elementary/Middle #237 — Grades PK–8 · 899 students
- Walter P. Carter Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 834 students
- Graceland Park/O'Donnell Heights Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 831 students
- Green Street Academy — Grades 6–12 · 808 students
- Hamilton Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 801 students
- National Academy Foundation — Grades 6–12 · 801 students
- Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 799 students
- Mount Royal Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 786 students
- Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 774 students
- Armistead Gardens Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 773 students
- Baltimore International Academy — Grades K–8 · 749 students
- Wildwood Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 743 students
- Cross Country Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 740 students
- Pimlico Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 732 students
- Patterson Park Public Charter School — Grades PK–8 · 730 students
- Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 722 students
- Maree Garnett Farring Elementary/Middle — Grades PK–8 · 717 students
- + 57 more other schools
About Baltimore City Public Schools
ZIP 21218 in Baltimore, Maryland in Baltimore City County falls within the boundaries of Baltimore City Public Schools. Its 4/10 rating trails the Maryland average on NCES funding and enrollment measures, which is worth weighing if schools are driving your move. The district operates 162 schools and serves roughly 78,000 students (one of the larger districts in the state), covering Pre-K – 12th. Review the funding and enrollment data above, then contact the district to confirm which schools serve your exact address before you commit to a move.
Funding and Resources
According to NCES 2024–2025, Baltimore City Public Schools spends approximately $17,000 per student per year, placing it near the Maryland state average of approximately $16,500 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
At 162 schools serving grades Pre-K – 12th, Baltimore City Public Schools qualifies as a major metropolitan district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 78,000 students in total. Major metropolitan districts operate dozens to hundreds of schools across wide geographic areas. They often include magnet schools, gifted programs, dual-language academies, and career and technical education pathways not available in smaller systems. Within-district quality variation is significant: a school two miles from your address might be rated very differently from your assigned school.
Understanding the 4/10 Rating
With a rating of 4/10 (below average), Baltimore City Public Schools ranks among Maryland’s below average-rated school systems. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Baltimore City Public Schools carries a below-average rating, indicating resource levels and structural indicators below typical Maryland benchmarks. Below-average ratings primarily reflect per-pupil spending, staffing ratios, and enrollment trends — not necessarily teaching quality or school culture. Some below-average districts have schools with strong communities and dedicated staff. Families should research specific school quality, visit in person, and ask about available programs. Also ask about open enrollment and magnet options that may offer alternatives to the default attendance-zone assignment.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 21218
Children in zip code 21218 are assigned to Baltimore City Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 21218, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Baltimore City Public Schools at (443)984-2000 or visit www.baltimorecityschools.org. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Maryland districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Baltimore
For families considering a purchase in the Baltimore area, district assignment matters financially. Because Baltimore City Public Schools serves zip code 21218, buyers should factor school district quality into their overall evaluation of homes in zip code 21218. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Maryland, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Baltimore City Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 21218.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Baltimore City Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 21218 data.