The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 3% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pikesville Middle
Pikesville Middle is a regular public school in Baltimore County, serving grades six through eight. It sits within the Baltimore County Public Schools system, a large district that has recently adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading, implemented a district-wide cell phone policy restricting use during instructional time, and approved boundary changes affecting several high school feeder systems. The district is also implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a multi-year state plan that is expanding pre-K, raising teacher salaries, and increasing college and career readiness programming. Voters have approved a bond issue for school safety and security upgrades across the district.
The school itself is located in Baltimore, an independent city with a mix of residential neighborhoods, a major port, and a service-oriented economy anchored by Johns Hopkins Hospital and University. The city has numerous historic districts and a walkable urban fabric, with civic life concentrated around the Inner Harbor. Its population has seen a slight decline in recent years.
Pikesville Middle serves grades six through eight and enrolls a large student body for a middle school. The student population is diverse, with the largest group being Black students, followed by White, Hispanic, and Asian students, and smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
State assessment results from the most recent school year show that proficiency rates in English language arts were similar across all three grade levels, with roughly a quarter of students scoring at the proficient level or above. In math, the rates were much lower, with a very small share of students meeting the proficiency bar in sixth grade, and even smaller shares in seventh and eighth grades. In eighth-grade science, about one in six students scored proficient or above. In eighth-grade social studies, about one in five students met that bar. These results represent a single year of data, and no prior-year comparison is available in the data provided.
The school is part of Baltimore County Public Schools, a district that has recently adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading, implemented a district-wide cell phone policy restricting use during instructional time, and approved boundary changes for several high school feeder systems. The district is also implementing the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a multi-year state plan that is expanding pre-K, increasing teacher salaries, and improving college and career readiness. Voters have approved a bond issue for school safety and security improvements.
The school's location in Baltimore places it in a city with a mix of residential neighborhoods, a major port, and a service-oriented economy. The city has numerous historic districts and a walkable urban fabric, with civic life concentrated around the Inner Harbor. Its population has seen a slight decline in recent years.
For a parent or resident considering Pikesville Middle, the academic picture is one where English language arts proficiency is at a moderate level, while math proficiency is very low across all three grades. Science and social studies proficiency in eighth grade are also low. The school serves a diverse student body, with a majority of students from low-income households. The district is in the midst of several changes, including new literacy instruction, cell phone restrictions, and boundary adjustments, which may affect the school experience. A parent may want to look into the school's math instruction and support structures further, as the proficiency rates in that subject are particularly low.
See more original research from School Decision →