The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Furman Templeton Preparatory Academy
Furman Templeton Preparatory Academy is a public charter school in Baltimore that serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It operates as a regular school within the Baltimore City Public Schools system. Because it is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and the academic picture comes entirely from state assessment results for tested grades.
The student body is overwhelmingly Black, and a very large share of families qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The school’s enrollment is spread relatively evenly across the elementary grades, with a pre-kindergarten program that adds to the total. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available in the provided records.
On the Maryland state assessments, the school posted proficiency rates that are low when seen against state averages. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above declined from third to fourth to fifth grade, with each grade showing a modest percentage. In English language arts, the pattern was similar: third grade had the highest proficiency, fourth grade lower, and fifth grade lower still. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, showed a very small proportion of students reaching proficiency. These figures represent a single year of testing, so no trend over time is available. When compared against other schools in the same district universe, the school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint relative to districts in Baltimore city. That comparison is based on two district-level entities, so the gap between the highest and lowest is narrow, and the school’s position is near the middle of a small field.
The school’s charter status means it operates with some independence from the district, though it remains part of the Baltimore City Public Schools system. No information was provided about course access, staffing ratios, discipline rates, or attendance patterns; the available data set did not include those fields.
Baltimore itself is an independent city with a mix of residential neighborhoods, a large port, and a service-oriented economy that has replaced the heavy industry of earlier decades. Johns Hopkins Hospital and University are the city’s top employers. The city is known for its historic districts, a high number of public monuments per capita, and a walkable urban fabric in areas like Fell’s Point, Federal Hill, and Mount Vernon. The Inner Harbor functions as a major civic and commercial anchor, alongside Fort McHenry, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and the National Aquarium. Population has experienced a modest decline since the last census, and a major infrastructure project to replace the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is underway. The search for recent district-level changes turned up general budget and enrollment data but no specific parent-relevant changes from the last four years.
Housing in the school’s immediate ZIP code is priced well below state and national benchmarks. Median home values are moderate, and rents are also moderate relative to incomes, with estimated rent consuming about a quarter of a typical household’s monthly income. The area’s affordability stands in contrast to many other parts of the Baltimore region and to the state as a whole.
For a family considering Furman Templeton Preparatory Academy, the core takeaway is that this is a neighborhood charter elementary school serving a predominantly low-income, Black student population in an urban setting. Academic proficiency on state tests is low, though the school’s composite score places it near the middle of the small set of Baltimore city districts. A parent may want to follow up directly with the school about how it supports students who are behind grade level, what enrichment or intervention programs exist, and what the school’s charter emphasizes beyond the tested subjects. The surrounding community offers historic character and major institutions, and the housing market is relatively accessible, but the school’s academic results are a central consideration.
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