The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mary Ann Winterling Elementary at Bentalou
Mary Ann Winterling Elementary at Bentalou is a regular public school in Baltimore serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It operates as part of Baltimore City Public Schools, the district that covers the city. The school is located in the western part of the city on North Bentalou Street.
The student body is almost entirely Black, with a very small number of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Enrollment skews heavily toward families with lower incomes; a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The school serves a neighborhood population within walkable reach of the building.
State testing data from the 2024-25 school year shows results that sit below what is typical for the district and well below state-level averages. In both math and English language arts, the share of students scoring at the proficient level or above was low in every tested grade. In third, fourth, and fifth grade math, the proportion of students reaching proficiency was modest. English language arts proficiency rates were somewhat higher but still low, with fourth graders posting the strongest results among the three tested grade levels. On the fifth-grade science assessment, no student scored proficient. The school’s composite proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades placed it among the lowest-performing quarter of the schools relative to other districts in Baltimore city. These are the only recent year-state test results available, and the pattern is consistent across subjects. A parent looking at these outcomes would want to ask what academic interventions and supports the school offers.
Because the school only goes through fifth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report. The profile did not include data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing ratios, so those dimensions of school life cannot be characterized here.
Baltimore itself has a strong sense of place. The city is an independent municipality with a service-oriented economy anchored by Johns Hopkins Hospital and University. Its historic neighborhoods, including Fell’s Point and Federal Hill, contribute to an urban environment that is walkable in many areas. Civic and commercial life is concentrated around the Inner Harbor. The city’s population has experienced a modest decline in recent years, but major infrastructure projects are underway, including the replacement of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The median home value in the school’s zip code is well below the state and national benchmarks, and typical rents sit at a moderate level relative to national household incomes, reflecting Baltimore’s relatively affordable housing market for the region. Even so, the economic context for families at this school is one of concentrated need, consistent with the high share of students eligible for meal assistance.
For a family considering this school, the central question is fit. The academic achievement picture is a serious one, and a parent will want to understand what the school is doing to accelerate learning. At the same time, the school is a neighborhood institution in a city with deep cultural and civic resources, and for families who live within its zone, it represents a known, grounded option for early elementary education. Without program offerings or staffing details in the record, there is not enough information to assess what enrichment, special education, or English learner supports look like. A visit and a conversation with the principal would be the natural next step.
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