Perry Hall Elementary, Baltimore MD

Original Research by School Decision on Perry Hall Elementary

Perry Hall Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the Baltimore County Public Schools system. Although the school’s address lists Baltimore, the campus sits within Baltimore County, not the independent city. The surrounding area blends suburban residential streets with access to the larger Baltimore region’s employers and cultural anchors, including Johns Hopkins Hospital and University, the Inner Harbor, and professional sports venues.

Academically, the picture varies by grade and subject. On Maryland’s state assessments, third and fourth graders show notably strong reading proficiency, while fifth grade reading sits at a more moderate level. Math proficiency is solid in third grade, dips in fourth, and drops more sharply in fifth. Science proficiency in fifth grade is low. A parent may want to ask the school about what happens in fifth grade, particularly in math and science, and whether there are supports in place for students who begin to struggle. The school also has only one year of assessment data available, so it is not possible to see whether these results reflect a long-term trend or a single year’s picture.

The student body is diverse and moderately large for an elementary school. Just under half of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. White students are the largest group, followed closely by Asian students, then Black students, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, students of two or more races, and a very small number of Native American students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so it is unclear what share of the school receives special education or language support services.

The housing market in the area is expensive relative to national averages, though home values are somewhat below the statewide benchmark. Rents are moderate compared to local incomes, and the area has seen modest appreciation. Families moving here should expect a competitive market, especially given the broader Baltimore County growth context.

Baltimore County Public Schools has made several recent changes that affect this school. A new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading launched in the 2023-2024 school year, so the instruction students receive in reading has shifted toward explicit phonics and comprehension skills. A district-wide cell phone policy now keeps phones stored and silenced during the school day for elementary students. The district is also implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a multi-year state plan that is expanding pre-K access, raising teacher salaries, and increasing college and career readiness funding. These changes are still rolling out and may influence the school’s programming and resources in the coming years.

Perry Hall Elementary is not a magnet or charter school, and its Title I status was not available from the data. There are no boundary changes currently affecting this school’s attendance zone, though the district has approved changes for some high school feeder systems elsewhere that could affect families planning for middle and high school.

For a family considering this school, the standout strength is the strong early reading performance in third and fourth grade. The drop in fifth grade across subjects is a soft spot worth investigating directly with the school. The diverse student body and moderate size may appeal to families looking for a broad mix of peers. The broader district context of curriculum reform and facility investments suggests a system that is actively changing, but that also carries uncertainty about how those changes will settle.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 358%

School 58% · district not reported

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 451%

School 51% · district not reported

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 528%

School 28% · district not reported

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 368%

School 68% · district not reported

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 478%

School 78% · district not reported

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

Grade 555%

School 55% · district not reported

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Science

Grade 530%

School 30% · district not reported

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

This schoolBaltimore County Public Schools, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income19%Higher-income35%16 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income30%Higher-income28%2 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income20%Higher-income28%8 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income8%Higher-income22%14 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income13%Higher-income34%21 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income9%Higher-income31%22 pp gap