Baltimore County Public Schools operates 173 schools (grades PK–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Baltimore County Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 116,000 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 173 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $13,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Public School District | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 3/10 — Below Average | — | Above average |
- Vincent Farm Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 776 students
- New Town Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 772 students
- Dundalk Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 757 students
- Rossville Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 726 students
- Honeygo Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 698 students
- Red House Run Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 694 students
- Woodholme Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 685 students
- Hillcrest Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 678 students
- Lyons Mill Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 671 students
- Owings Mills Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 666 students
- Westchester Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 662 students
- Mays Chapel Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 657 students
- Catonsville Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 653 students
- Stoneleigh Elementary — Grades K–5 · 645 students
- Westowne Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 635 students
- Victory Villa Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 612 students
- Villa Cresta Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 609 students
- Timber Grove Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 608 students
- Chadwick Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 603 students
- Lansdowne Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 603 students
- Pinewood Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 598 students
- Johnnycake Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 592 students
- Bedford Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 586 students
- Relay Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 581 students
- Sandy Plains Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 580 students
- + 85 more elementary schools
- Perry Hall Middle — Grades 6–8 · 1,582 students
- Nottingham Middle — Grades 6–8 · 1,279 students
- Franklin Middle — Grades 6–8 · 1,150 students
- Deer Park Middle Magnet School — Grades 6–8 · 1,127 students
- Dumbarton Middle — Grades 6–8 · 1,064 students
- Ridgely Middle — Grades 6–8 · 1,039 students
- Arbutus Middle — Grades 6–8 · 974 students
- Pikesville Middle — Grades 6–8 · 943 students
- Cockeysville Middle — Grades 6–8 · 928 students
- Parkville Middle — Grades 6–8 · 900 students
- Hereford Middle — Grades 6–8 · 861 students
- Southwest Academy — Grades 6–8 · 842 students
- Stemmers Run Middle — Grades 6–8 · 831 students
- Middle River Middle — Grades 6–8 · 822 students
- Sudbrook Magnet Middle — Grades 6–8 · 821 students
- Catonsville Middle — Grades 6–8 · 818 students
- Northwest Academy of Health Sciences — Grades 6–8 · 808 students
- Pine Grove Middle — Grades 6–8 · 804 students
- Loch Raven Technical Academy — Grades 6–8 · 722 students
- General John Stricker Middle — Grades 6–8 · 713 students
- Deep Creek Middle — Grades 6–8 · 670 students
- Lansdowne Middle — Grades 6–8 · 661 students
- Windsor Mill Middle — Grades 6–8 · 606 students
- Dundalk Middle — Grades 6–8 · 598 students
- Sparrows Point Middle — Grades 6–8 · 555 students
- + 3 more middle schools
- Dundalk High — Grades 9–12 · 2,087 students
- Perry Hall High — Grades 9–12 · 2,012 students
- Woodlawn High — Grades 9–12 · 1,922 students
- Kenwood High — Grades 9–12 · 1,900 students
- Dulaney High — Grades 9–12 · 1,889 students
- Parkville High — Grades 9–12 · 1,877 students
- Catonsville High — Grades 9–12 · 1,735 students
- Towson High — Grades 9–12 · 1,558 students
- Franklin High — Grades 9–12 · 1,481 students
- Overlea High — Grades 9–12 · 1,474 students
- Milford Mill Academy — Grades 9–12 · 1,471 students
- New Town High — Grades 9–12 · 1,414 students
- Patapsco High and Center for Arts — Grades 9–12 · 1,385 students
- Eastern Technical High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,330 students
- Lansdowne High — Grades 9–12 · 1,313 students
- Hereford High — Grades 9–12 · 1,175 students
- Sparrows Point High — Grades 9–12 · 1,095 students
- Randallstown High — Grades 9–12 · 1,091 students
- Chesapeake High — Grades 9–12 · 1,052 students
- Owings Mills High — Grades 9–12 · 1,040 students
- George W. Carver Center for Arts & Technology — Grades 9–12 · 1,017 students
- Western School of Technology — Grades 9–12 · 942 students
- Pikesville High — Grades 9–12 · 908 students
- Loch Raven High — Grades 9–12 · 780 students
- Rosedale Center — Grades 9–12 · 108 students
- + 5 more high schools
- Holabird Middle — Grades 4–8 · 1,027 students
- Watershed Public Charter — Grades K–6 · 366 students
- Wellwood International School — Grades PK–7 · 316 students
- Maiden Choice School — Grades PK–12 · 118 students
- Ridge/Ruxton School — Grades PK–12 · 101 students
- Battle Monument School — Grades PK–12 · 63 students
- BCDC Educational Center — Grades 8–12 · 52 students
About Baltimore County Public Schools
Families in zip code 21234 (Baltimore, Maryland) are assigned to Baltimore County Public Schools for public education through 12th. This overview covers the district’s funding levels, scale, rating, and what to expect from the enrollment process if you’re moving to or within this zip code.
Funding and Resources
Baltimore County Public Schools reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $13,000 per year, placing it 21% below the Maryland state average of approximately $16,500 and near the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Near-average districts typically provide core academic programs with adequate staffing, though program breadth may be more limited than in higher-funded systems. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With 173 schools, Baltimore County Public Schools operates as a major metropolitan district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 116,000 students in total. Major metropolitan districts operate dozens to hundreds of schools across wide geographic areas. They often include magnet schools, gifted programs, dual-language academies, and career and technical education pathways not available in smaller systems. Within-district quality variation is significant: a school two miles from your address might be rated very differently from your assigned school.
Understanding the 3/10 Rating
Baltimore County Public Schools has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 3/10, placing it in the below average tier. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in the U.S. Department of Education’s EDFacts collection (2017–18 school year). We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Maryland is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Baltimore County Public Schools carries a below-average rating, with reading and math proficiency rates below typical Maryland benchmarks on state assessments. A below-average score reflects test performance relative to other districts — not necessarily teaching quality or school culture, and some of these districts have schools with strong communities and dedicated staff. Families should research specific school quality, visit in person, and ask about available programs. Also ask about open enrollment and magnet options that may offer alternatives to the default attendance-zone assignment.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 21234
Children in zip code 21234 are assigned to Baltimore County Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 21234, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Baltimore County Public Schools at (443)809-4554 or visit www.bcps.org. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Maryland districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Baltimore
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Baltimore County Public Schools serves zip code 21234, buyers should factor school district quality into their overall evaluation of homes in zip code 21234. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Maryland, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Baltimore County Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 21234.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Baltimore County Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 21234 data.