The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Social studies. The lowest is 3% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Stemmers Run Middle
Stemmers Run Middle is a regular public school in Baltimore, Maryland, serving grades six through eight. It is part of the Baltimore County Public Schools district. The school sits within the city of Baltimore, a place that has moved from heavy industry to a service-based economy, with Johns Hopkins Hospital and University now the top employers. The city offers walkable historic districts such as Fell’s Point and Federal Hill, a concentration of civic life around the Inner Harbor, and a population that has seen a slight decline in recent years. A major bridge replacement project is underway, and the city retains a large stock of historic buildings.
The school enrolls a student body that is roughly evenly split between white students and Black students, with a substantial share of Hispanic students and a smaller number of students who identify as two or more races, Asian, or American Indian or Alaska Native. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a high level of economic need. The school does not have a charter or magnet designation; it operates as a traditional neighborhood middle school.
On the Maryland state assessments (MCAP) from the 2024-2025 school year, the school’s overall academic performance falls well below statewide proficiency rates. In mathematics, proficiency rates across all three grade levels are very low, with sixth grade showing a small fraction of students reaching the proficient level, and seventh and eighth grades even lower. English language arts proficiency is higher than math but still well below the statewide average; seventh grade had the highest ELA rate among the grades, while sixth and eighth grades posted lower rates. In science, tested only in eighth grade, the share of students scoring proficient is again low. Social studies, also tested in eighth grade, showed the highest proficiency rate of any subject tested, though still below the state average. A parent considering this school will want to look into the specific academic support programs and interventions in place, particularly in math, and ask how the school addresses the gap between current performance and grade-level expectations.
The school offers no high school courses, so there is no graduation rate to report. The data did not include information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, or staffing. A parent may wish to ask the school directly about those areas.
The surrounding district, Baltimore County Public Schools, has made several changes in recent years that affect Stemmers Run Middle. The district adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, which will eventually affect middle school students as they move up. Starting in 2024-2025, a district-wide cell phone policy requires middle school students to keep phones stored and silenced during the entire school day, a change that shapes the daily classroom environment. The district is also implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a multi-year state plan that brings increased funding and higher standards, including expanded pre-K and teacher salary increases; this has added state education funding that may affect programs and resources at the school level. Baltimore County voters approved a bond issue for school safety and security improvements, which has funded secure entrance vestibules and security cameras across district schools, including this one.
Housing in the school’s zip code is moderately priced compared to the state as a whole. Home values have remained relatively stable, and rents have seen a modest increase. The national mortgage rate environment and unemployment rate are at levels that may influence a family’s housing decisions.
Stemmers Run Middle serves a diverse, economically challenged student body in a city with a strong sense of history and a changing economy. Its test results point to significant academic challenges, especially in math, that families will want to explore directly with the school. The district has been active in adopting new policies and receiving additional state funding, which may lead to shifts in resources and programming in the coming years.
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