Enrollment
842
Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Baltimore, MD
Southwest Academy
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 240012000411
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 48
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Academy earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Maryland schools.
- #18 of 27
- middle schools in Baltimore · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.2:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 58.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Academy has class sizes larger than 73% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Academy ranks #18 of 27 middle schools in Baltimore, MD.
School address
District: Baltimore County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240012000411 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
52.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.2:1
vs 14.5:1 Maryland avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
58.6%
vs 49.0% Maryland avg
+20% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Southwest Academy compares with Maryland and U.S. medians
What stands out at Southwest Academy
Southwest Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Baltimore, Maryland, enrolling 842 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 58.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 842 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,382 scored Maryland schools.
Against 248 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #83.
Its student body is led by African American (51%) and Hispanic or Latino (24%) (diversity index 65/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 421 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Baltimore's middle schools, it stands alongside Perry Hall Middle (1,582 students): Southwest Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.2:1 vs 14.9:1).
Baltimore County Public Schools also operates Dundalk High (2,087 students) and Perry Hall High (2,012 students) alongside Southwest Academy.
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 Southwest Academy compares
Southwest Academy on the metrics families compare, against Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.2:1 | ▲ 12% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.6% | ▲ 20% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 842 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
842
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
58.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 73% in Maryland - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
20.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$16,538
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $20,446
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 421 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 89 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.0 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 51.3%
Hispanic or Latino 24.0%
Asian 15.1%
White 7.2%
Two or More 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 51.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.1, Southwest Academy is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Baltimore County Public Schools, which includes Southwest Academy.
$16,538
Per student
-19%
vs Maryland
Avg $20,446
0%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.3%
State 40.7%
Federal 12.0%
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 Southwest Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Perry Hall High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Woodlawn High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kenwood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dulaney High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,922
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,889
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar middle schools in Baltimore
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Perry Hall Middle
Standard public school
1,582 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Dumbarton Middle
Standard public school
1,064 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Arbutus Middle
Standard public school
974 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Pikesville Middle
Standard public school
943 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Golden Ring Middle
Standard public school
903 students 17:1 students per teacher
Parkville Middle
Standard public school
900 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Similar middle 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 (~842 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Southwest Academy's federal record.
- Compare Southwest Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Baltimore County 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 Southwest Academy
How many students attend Southwest Academy?
Southwest Academy has 842 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Baltimore, MD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Academy is 16.2:1, which is 12% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest Academy?
58.6% of students at Southwest Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Academy?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Academy is African American at 51.3% of enrollment, in Baltimore, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Academy?
Southwest Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Southwest Academy rank among middle schools in Baltimore?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Academy ranks #18 of 27 middle 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 middle schools in Baltimore on the city page.
Is Southwest Academy a good school?
Southwest Academy earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% 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 County Public Schools?
Besides Southwest Academy, Baltimore County Public Schools also operates Dundalk High (2,087 students), Perry Hall High (2,012 students), and Woodlawn High (1,922 students). See the Baltimore County 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.