Enrollment
443
Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Baltimore, MD
Baltimore School for the Arts
Federal NCES profile for Baltimore School for the Arts, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240009001391
👥 S:T ratio 29
📚 AP courses 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Baltimore School for the Arts earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Maryland schools.
- #20 of 42
- high schools in Baltimore · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.7:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 25.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Baltimore School for the Arts has class sizes larger than 87% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Baltimore School for the Arts ranks #20 of 42 high schools in Baltimore, MD.
School address
District: Baltimore City Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240009001391 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.7:1
vs 14.5:1 Maryland avg
+22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
25.4%
vs 49.0% Maryland avg
-48% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Baltimore School for the Arts compares with Maryland and U.S. medians
What stands out at Baltimore School for the Arts
Baltimore School for the Arts is a mid-sized high school in Baltimore, Maryland, enrolling 443 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.7:1 is larger than about 87% of Maryland schools and 22% above the 14.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 25.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 443 puts it in the smaller third of Maryland schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,382 scored Maryland schools.
Against 221 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #130.
Its student body is led by African American (56%) and White (34%) (diversity index 57/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 9 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 443 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
15.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Baltimore's high schools, it stands alongside Dundalk High (2,087 students): Baltimore School for the Arts is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.7:1 vs 15.5:1).
Baltimore City Public Schools also operates Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High (1,714 students) and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (1,632 students) alongside Baltimore School for the Arts.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Baltimore School for the Arts compares
Baltimore School for the Arts on the metrics families compare, against Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.7:1 | ▲ 22% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.4% | ▼ 48% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 443 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
443
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
25.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 87% in Maryland - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
15.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$18,272
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $20,446
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 443 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 55.8%
White 34.0%
Hispanic or Latino 5.7%
Asian 1.8%
Two or More 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 55.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.9, Baltimore School for the Arts is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 9
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Baltimore City Public Schools, which includes Baltimore School for the Arts.
$18,272
Per student
-11%
vs Maryland
Avg $20,446
+10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.3%
State 51.4%
Federal 15.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Baltimore School for the Arts Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Baltimore Polytechnic Institute | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Baltimore City College | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kipp Harmony Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Roland Park Elementary/Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Baltimore School for the Arts's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,714
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,632
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,470
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,399
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,371
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Baltimore
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Dundalk High
Standard public school
2,087 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Perry Hall High
Standard public school
2,012 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Woodlawn High
Standard public school
1,922 students 17:1 students per teacher
Kenwood High
Standard public school
1,900 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Parkville High
Standard public school
1,877 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Catonsville High
Standard public school
1,735 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Maryland, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~443 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Baltimore School for the Arts's federal record.
- Compare Baltimore School for the Arts against another school. Compare schools
- Baltimore City Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Baltimore School for the Arts
How many students attend Baltimore School for the Arts?
Baltimore School for the Arts has 443 students enrolled. It is a high school in Baltimore, MD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Baltimore School for the Arts?
The student-teacher ratio at Baltimore School for the Arts is 17.7:1, which is 22% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Baltimore School for the Arts?
25.4% of students at Baltimore School for the Arts are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Baltimore School for the Arts?
The largest demographic group at Baltimore School for the Arts is African American at 55.8% of enrollment, in Baltimore, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Baltimore School for the Arts?
Baltimore School for the Arts has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Baltimore School for the Arts rank among high schools in Baltimore?
By Resource Investment Index, Baltimore School for the Arts ranks #20 of 42 high schools in Baltimore, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Baltimore on the city page.
Is Baltimore School for the Arts a good school?
Baltimore School for the Arts earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Maryland schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Baltimore City Public Schools?
Besides Baltimore School for the Arts, Baltimore City Public Schools also operates Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High (1,714 students), Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (1,632 students), and Baltimore City College (1,470 students). See the Baltimore City Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.