The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bluford Drew Jemison Stem Academy West
Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy West is a regular public school in Baltimore serving grades six through twelve with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math. It is a small school, with enrollment that is modest for a combined middle and high school program. The student body is overwhelmingly Black, and the vast majority of students come from low-income households, as reflected in the share qualifying for free or reduced-price meals.
The school is part of the Baltimore City Public Schools system, which operates in an independent city that has shifted from an industrial past to a service-oriented economy anchored by Johns Hopkins Hospital and University, the Port of Baltimore, and other major employers. Baltimore’s historic neighborhoods give much of the city a walkable character, though the school itself sits in the western part of the city. The city’s population has experienced a period of slight decline in recent years, while a major infrastructure project to replace the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is underway. Housing in the school’s zip code is notably affordable, with home values well below state and national averages, and rents also below typical levels. This means families may find relatively low-cost housing options in the area compared to much of the rest of the state.
On state assessments, the academic picture is mixed, with data that is limited by very small class sizes. In math, sixth grade results were extremely low, while seventh grade posted a small share of students reaching proficiency. Eighth grade math results were suppressed, which can happen in a setting with a very small number of test-takers. In English language arts, sixth graders scored below typical levels districtwide, and seventh grade results fell within a range that suggests a modest proportion of students met the bar. Eighth grade English results were also suppressed. Science and social studies results were suppressed entirely for eighth grade, which is typical at a small school where the number of students tested is too small to report. Across the subjects and grades where results were available, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Baltimore city, which is just two districts. A parent reviewing these results will want to discuss directly with the school how instruction and support are structured for students who need to build foundational skills.
No graduation rate data was available for the school, so it is not possible to characterize how many students stay through to a diploma. The school offers seventh through twelfth grade, so a family considering it for middle school should know that the high school portion is on the same campus, and they may want to ask about retention, postsecondary planning, and any STEM pathways or partnerships that are part of the program. The school does not appear to be a charter or magnet school, though its STEM focus is evident from the name. The data did not include information on course access, staffing levels, discipline rates, or attendance patterns, so these aspects of day-to-day school life are not available to describe. Anyone considering the school should visit and ask about these directly.
Baltimore City Public Schools did not surface specific recent changes of the kind that would affect a parent’s decision, such as school closures, boundary changes, or programming overhauls. The district operates in a large urban environment with many school options, so this is one of the possibilities within a system where families often need to be proactive about finding a good fit. For a family that values a STEM identity and a small, close-knit school setting, this is a place worth visiting. The academic numbers are a clear concern, and a family should expect to investigate how the school is working to move those numbers and what the daily experience looks like for students.
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