The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on The Historic Samuel Coleridge-taylor Elementary
The Historic Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Elementary is a regular public school in Baltimore serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Baltimore City Public Schools district. The school shares a name with a notable Black composer and conductor, reflecting the city’s deep cultural history.
The school is located in the city’s downtown area, on West Preston Street near the Mount Vernon cultural district. Baltimore itself has a mix of walkable historic neighborhoods and a service-oriented economy anchored by Johns Hopkins Hospital and University, the city’s top employer. The Inner Harbor and major sports venues are nearby. The city’s population has seen a modest decline in recent years, but a major infrastructure project to replace the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is underway.
Enrollment at Coleridge-Taylor is small for a public elementary school. The student body is predominantly Black, with a very small number of white, Hispanic, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a community with significant economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available.
State testing results from the 2024-25 school year show that proficiency rates in math and English language arts were low across all tested grades. In third-grade math, roughly one in ten students scored proficient or above. In fourth grade, the share was smaller, and in fifth grade, it was modestly higher but still low. English language arts results followed a similar pattern across grades, with proficiency rates under one-quarter in every tested grade. Fifth-grade science results showed no students reaching the proficient level. Compared to other school districts in Baltimore city, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed in the bottom quartile.
The school serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. There is no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline. Information about programs such as art, music, or after-school activities was not available. A search for recent district-level changes that would directly affect families found no specific four-year updates to share.
Housing in the area around the school is moderately priced relative to the rest of the state. Typical home values in the neighborhood are below the Maryland statewide benchmark, and typical rents are similarly positioned. For a family considering this school, the neighborhood offers a mix of older rowhouses and apartments within walking distance of downtown Baltimore’s amenities.
This is a school where academic performance on state assessments is a clear area of concern. Families considering Coleridge-Taylor may want to ask the school directly about how it supports students who are behind grade level, what interventions are in place, and what enrichment opportunities exist. The school’s small size and central location may appeal to families who want a neighborhood school within walking distance of downtown, but the testing data suggests that many students are not meeting grade-level benchmarks.
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