MD's Best Middle Schools Ranked In New Analysis

South Dorchester School in Church Creek is the best public middle school in Maryland, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

U.S. News researchers based the 2027 ranking of the nation's best public middle schools on the latest publicly available data from state education agencies by RTI International, alongside data from the U.S. Department of Education. In the past, the state reports weren't part of the methodology.

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State agency data offers a more thorough evaluation of student achievement in math and reading across every proficiency level, all while taking student background and overall performance on state assessments into consideration.

This year's ranking includes 24,000 public middle schools.

The top 25 public middle schools in Maryland are:

1. South Dorchester School, Church Creek, Pre-K-8th
2. Hampstead Hill Academy, Baltimore, Pre-K-8th
3. Stephen Decatur Middle School, Berlin, 7th-8th
4. Thomas W. Pyle Middle School, Bethesda, 6th-8th
5. Dora Kennedy French Immersion, Greenbelt, K-8th
6. Clarksville Middle School, Clarksville, 6th-8th
7. Chesapeake Science Point, Hanover, Pre-K-12th
8. Berlin Intermediate School, Berlin, 5th-6th
9. Frederick Classical Charter, Frederick, K-8th
10. Cabin John Middle School, Potomac, 6th-8th
11. Urbana Middle School, Ijamsville, 6th-8th
12. Severna Park Middle School, Severna Park, 6th-8th
13. Chesapeake Charter School, Lexington Park, K-8th
14. Herbert Hoover Middle School, Potomac, 6th-8th
15. Robert Goddard Montessori, Seabrook, Pre-K-8th
16. Benjamin D. Foulois Academy, Morningside, K-8th
17. Thomas G. Pullen, Landover, K-8th
18. Tunbridge Public Charter School, Baltimore, Pre-K-8th
19. Mount View Middle School, Marriottsville, 6th-8th
20. Takoma Park Middle School, Silver Spring, 6th-8th
21. Folly Quarter Middle School, Ellicott City, 6th-8th
22. Smithsburg Middle School, Smithsburg, 6th-8th
23. Burleigh Manor Middle School, Ellicott City, 6th-8th
24. Pocomoke Middle School, Pocomoke City, 4th-8th
25. Robert Frost Middle School, Rockville, 6th-8th

The rankings are intended as an evaluation tool to give parents a snapshot of how well schools provide a high-quality education and prepare students for a successful future.