Navigating poor performing schools in Baltimore COUNTY (Ellicott City, Catonsville: transfer to, purchase)

[BusyRN4211]

Hello,

I'm looking to purchase around Catonsville, but I'm generally open to most areas in the County that are west of the city but an easy commute (downtown Baltimore City for my partner and me). However, outside of Catonsville, the public schools can be a bit dicey, per the ratings on Redfin. For instance, I wouldn't mind parts of Woodlawn --but Woodlawn High has a terrible rating (which is confusing because isn't it a magnet school?). It's a similar scenario in Pikesville.

I came across an old thread on here from someone who was asking about schools (I think). Another poster gave a very detailed response about looking at schools AYP (annual yearly progress) on the County website and this person stated that if a student was zoned for a school with a poor AYP then he or she could potentially transfer to another school in the county. Does that still exist? The thread was over 5 years old and a current search of school ratings by the County seems to not use AYPs anymore.

Besides saving up for private school--are there any suggestions or resources for how to make sure your kid gets a quality education in Baltimore County?

Thank you in advance!

[james777]

Public schools a bit dicey? They were forty years ago. Now they are hopeless. Save your money and send your kids to private school. They will thank you for the rest of their lives.

[Digger 68]

^
That is area specific.

Your location choice is the problem. As long as it has to be west then you will have issues. As well as on the eastern side of the county.

[santafe400]

I'll be blunt.

Baltimore County maybe 20 years ago had some of the best performing schools in the state. Except for a slither on the west and east sides, most schools were satisfactory even in the most blue collar of areas. (ie. Sparrows Point, Halethrope, etc.)

Nowadays, anything below the Hereford zone is a cr*ap shoot. Anything inside 695 is a lost cause.

[Digger 68]

The OP wants to be West, well be.........

Also, I dug and found some higher ranking schools on the west side, right near Catonsville.

https://www.usnews.com/education/bes...ience-9044/map

The list https://www.usnews.com/education/bes...yland/rankings.

No mention of children's ages.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by james777

Public schools a bit dicey? They were forty years ago. Now they are hopeless. Save your money and send your kids to private school. They will thank you for the rest of their lives.

Ehh, the education is really the same. its just different set of parents and students with a different mindset. Sometimes the teachers are worse because the qualifications are strict. The money you spend could be put towards other enriching experiences for your child.

[pappjohn]

Woodlawn is pretty crappy, do not kid yourself.

Baltimore County schools grow worse every year.

[santafe400]

Schools aside, if you focus on the Woodlawn area - there are some pretty nice rural/semi-rural areas just to the west of Rolling Rd., but most of Woodlawn (particularly inside 695) is just an extension of West Baltimore nowadays.

[Rufus Clay Banger]

Originally Posted by BusyRN4211

Hello,

I'm looking to purchase around Catonsville, but I'm generally open to most areas in the County that are west of the city but an easy commute (downtown Baltimore City for my partner and me). However, outside of Catonsville, the public schools can be a bit dicey, per the ratings on Redfin. For instance, I wouldn't mind parts of Woodlawn --but Woodlawn High has a terrible rating (which is confusing because isn't it a magnet school?). It's a similar scenario in Pikesville.

I came across an old thread on here from someone who was asking about schools (I think). Another poster gave a very detailed response about looking at schools AYP (annual yearly progress) on the County website and this person stated that if a student was zoned for a school with a poor AYP then he or she could potentially transfer to another school in the county. Does that still exist? The thread was over 5 years old and a current search of school ratings by the County seems to not use AYPs anymore.

Besides saving up for private school--are there any suggestions or resources for how to make sure your kid gets a quality education in Baltimore County?

Thank you in advance!

Why not live in Ellicott City in the very good Howard County school system and ditch Baltimore County completely? Doesn't seem like it's worth putting the effort in anything associated with Baltimore. City..County...doesn't matter. There are better places not that far away.