The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in English language arts. The lowest is 3% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mary E. Rodman Elementary
Mary E. Rodman Elementary is a regular public school in Baltimore, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits on West Mulberry Street in the western part of the city, a neighborhood that is part of Baltimore’s dense residential fabric. Like many city schools, it operates within the Baltimore City Public Schools district, which covers the entire independent city. No recent district-level changes of lasting parent impact were identified in publicly available information.
The student body is relatively small for a city elementary school. The large majority of students identify as Black, with very small shares identifying as Hispanic, two or more races, or White. A very high proportion of families qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting concentrated poverty in the attendance zone. No data on students with disabilities or English learners was available for the school; a parent may want to ask the school for this information directly.
Academic performance on Maryland’s state assessments (MCAP for math and English language arts, MISA for science) shows low proficiency rates across tested grades. In math, third-grade proficiency is notably higher than in fourth and fifth grades, but still below half of students. Fourth- and fifth-grade math proficiency is very low. In English language arts, third graders perform better than fourth and fifth graders, but again at modest levels. Science proficiency in fifth grade is extremely low. Only one year of data was available, so no trend can be assessed. Compared to other districts within Baltimore city, the school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint. This likely reflects better performance in the early grades relative to some peers, but the raw numbers indicate that a large majority of students at Rodman are not reaching the state’s proficiency bar in any subject. A parent considering this school should look closely at the school’s own improvement plans and what supports are in place for students who are below grade level.
The school’s setting is urban. Baltimore is an independent city with a mix of residential neighborhoods and a large service-oriented economy anchored by Johns Hopkins Hospital and University, as publicly reported. The city has many historic districts and a dense walkable core, though the immediate area around the school may vary. The city’s population has seen a modest decline in recent years, and a major infrastructure project is underway to replace the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. Housing in the school’s zip code is less expensive than the state average, and rental costs have been rising.
Rodman Elementary does not offer any specialized programs that are captured in the data, and no information was available on course access, staffing ratios, or school climate metrics such as discipline or attendance. A family that values a neighborhood school with a familiar community feel may find it a potential fit, but should be prepared to inquire directly about academic intervention, enrichment opportunities, and the school’s approach to supporting students who need extra help. The low proficiency rates and high poverty concentration suggest that the school faces significant challenges, and the available data does not provide a full picture of what a child would experience day to day. Visiting the school and talking with current families would be essential to understanding whether it aligns with a family’s expectations and needs.
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