The top reported proficiency rate is 8% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Frederick Elementary
Frederick Elementary is a charter school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in Baltimore City Public Schools. It is a regular public school operating under a charter, which means it is publicly funded and accountable to the district but has its own governance structure. The school sits on Frederick Avenue in a residential part of Baltimore, a city with a deep history, a major port, and a service economy now anchored by Johns Hopkins Hospital and University as its top employers. The city offers walkable historic districts, many cultural anchors like the Inner Harbor and the National Aquarium, and professional sports teams. But Baltimore has also seen a modest population decline in recent years, and a major infrastructure project to replace the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is underway.
The school itself enrolls a small student body, with the largest grade levels in kindergarten through fourth grade. Enrollment drops off sharply after fifth grade, with only a handful of students in sixth and eighth grades, suggesting that most families transition elsewhere for middle school. The student population is predominantly Black, with a Hispanic share and smaller groups of White students and students of two or more races. A very high share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with considerable economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available; a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
State assessment results for the 2024-25 school year show very low proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science across the tested grades. In math, performance was in the low single digits, and in some grades no student reached the proficient level. English language arts rates were somewhat higher, still below a typical range, and science results showed no students scoring proficient. The school’s overall proficiency across subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile relative to the districts within Baltimore city, though this comparison is limited because it uses district-level figures for a single school. No trend data is available beyond a single year, so it is not possible to say whether these scores represent a change.
The housing market in the school’s immediate area is quite affordable compared to the state and national averages, with home values and rents that are modest. For a family considering the neighborhood, the price-to-income ratio and rent-to-income share suggest that housing costs are accessible for many households.
There is no information available about course offerings, extracurricular programs, or staffing. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data is also absent, and discipline data was not provided. Because the school is a charter, its program may differ from other Baltimore City schools, but the available data does not describe its curriculum or instructional approach.
A parent considering Frederick Elementary will want to look closely at what academic supports the school offers given the very low test scores. The high concentration of students from low-income households means the school likely receives supplemental funding and may offer wraparound services, but that is not confirmed in the data. The student body is small and primarily in the elementary grades, with a peer environment that reflects the surrounding community. The city context provides many assets, but also persistent economic challenges. The school’s charter status may mean it has flexibility in programming, but the data does not reveal what that looks like in practice. Without more information on special education, English learner support, attendance, and school climate, a family would benefit from a direct visit and conversation with the school leadership.
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