The reported proficiency rate for Science is 29%.
Original Research by School Decision on Glen Burnie High
Glen Burnie High is a large, comprehensive public high school serving a diverse student body in a suburban community south of Baltimore. The school is part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system, the same district that recently opened Severn Run High School to accommodate growth in the western part of the county.
The student population is substantial for a high school, drawing from the Glen Burnie area. It is racially and ethnically diverse, with no single group forming a majority. Black and Hispanic students each make up roughly three out of every ten students, and White students account for a similar share. A little more than one in twenty students identify as two or more races, and Asian students represent a smaller but visible share. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating that a significant portion of the student body comes from lower-income households. This economic context is part of the school’s profile, and families considering the school may want to understand how the school supports students facing economic challenges. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support were not available.
State testing results are limited in what they reveal. Because Glen Burnie High serves grades nine through twelve, and state assessments in Maryland are administered at specific grade levels, the data on hand comes from a single year with known limitations. In math, the proficiency rate for eighth-grade students was reported within a very low range, but this information comes from an assessment taken in fall 2021, an unusual testing period following the disruption of the prior school year, and the state changed both the test name and the cut scores that year, making comparisons to other years unreliable. In science, about one in four eighth-grade students scored at the proficient level or above on the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment, also taken in fall 2021. For English language arts, the school’s most recent data, from the 2024-25 school year, shows that a little more than half of tested students met proficiency standards. This single point of data gives a baseline, but a parent would need more years of consistent testing to see a clear trajectory.
The comparison to other schools in Anne Arundel County was not possible based on the available metrics, because the proficiency index and other measures used for comparison could not be calculated with the data on hand. This means a parent cannot easily place Glen Burnie High’s performance relative to nearby high schools from this information alone.
The school is located in Glen Burnie, an unincorporated suburban area that has grown steadily over recent decades. It is a car-dependent community with major commercial corridors along Ritchie Highway and Crain Highway, lined with shopping centers and mid-rise office buildings. The residential areas are typical suburban subdivisions. The Baltimore & Annapolis Trail provides a bike and pedestrian connection, and the Glen Burnie light rail station offers transit access to Baltimore with a park-and-ride. The area’s economy is anchored by BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, a University of Maryland Medical System hospital, and retail centers. Housing values in the surrounding zip code are near the statewide median, and rents have been rising at a modest pace, reflecting the area’s continued demand.
For a family, Glen Burnie High offers a large, diverse public high school environment in a growing suburban setting. The school lacks recent, stable state testing data in math and science from standard conditions, and the English language arts proficiency sits at roughly half of students meeting the mark, leaving room for a parent to investigate academic support programs and course offerings directly. The absence of a comparison with other county high schools also means a family would need to look more closely at how this school’s academic profile and pathways align with their student’s needs. The school’s size means it likely offers a range of programs, but specific course access data was not available to confirm. The community context is one of steady growth, suburban convenience, and reasonable access to Baltimore, making it a functional choice for families who work in the region.
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