Anne Arundel County Public Schools operates 121 schools (grades PK–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 83,000 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 121 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $14,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Suburban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 7/10 — Good | — | Above average |
About Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Zip code 21401 in Annapolis, Maryland is served by Anne Arundel County Public Schools for public school enrollment. The district covers grades Pre-K – 12th. This page provides a data-driven overview of Anne Arundel County Public Schools’s funding levels, size, rating, and what families should know before enrolling or making a housing decision in this area.
Funding and Resources
According to NCES 2024–2025, Anne Arundel County Public Schools spends approximately $14,000 per student per year, placing it 15% below the Maryland state average of approximately $16,500 and near the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Near-average districts typically provide core academic programs with adequate staffing, though program breadth may be more limited than in higher-funded systems. 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 121 schools serving grades Pre-K – 12th, Anne Arundel County Public Schools qualifies as a major metropolitan district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 83,000 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 7/10 Rating
With a rating of 7/10 (above average), Anne Arundel County Public Schools ranks among Maryland’s above 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.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools earns an above-average rating, reflecting stronger-than-typical resource levels and stable enrollment trends for Maryland. Above-average districts generally offer solid program variety, adequate staffing, and a track record of organizational stability. Families considering this area will find a district with meaningful strengths. Research the specific schools assigned to your address — even above-average districts have variation between individual buildings.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 21401
Children in zip code 21401 are assigned to Anne Arundel County 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 21401, 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 Anne Arundel County Public Schools at (410)222-5000 or visit www.aacps.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 Annapolis
For families considering a purchase in the Annapolis area, district assignment matters financially. Because Anne Arundel County Public Schools serves zip code 21401, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 21401 and neighboring areas. 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 Anne Arundel County 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 21401.
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 Anne Arundel County Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 21401 data.