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Monocacy National BattlefieldMonocacy National Battlefield · Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Schools in Ballenger Creek · Frederick County Public Schools

Ballenger Creek’s public schools outscore 76% of Maryland districts

Math proficiency in Ballenger Creek’s districts is 34%, above the Maryland average (25%). The grade covers the public school district serving Ballenger Creek, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Maryland, not nationally.

#32of 261 Maryland townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Maryland state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
54%
▲ 9 pts vs MD 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
34%
▲ 9 pts vs MD 25%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 7 pts vs MD 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.2K
▼ 15% vs MD $20.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.2
MD 14.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
9
5,629 students on the public path
In brief

Ballenger Creek’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 210 Maryland towns with household incomes within a quarter of Ballenger Creek’s, its schools beat 81%, higher than their 76% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 54% and math 34% in spring 2022, against 45% and 25% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,172 per student, against $20,258 across Maryland (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then two middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 11% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter, Laurel Hall School (private) and Laurel Hall School - Frederick (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Ballenger Creek’s grade

A− Test scoresB+ Graduation

A−: better than 76% of Maryland school districts, #32 of 261 Maryland towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Maryland average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Maryland school districts we grade (25)Better than 76%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maryland towns with similar household incomes (210)Better than 81%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 23,294 test results and a graduating class of 3,424 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Ballenger Creek’s students in the tested grades sat them (23,288 in math, 23,301 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Ballenger Creek, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B+
9–12Tuscarora HighFrederick County Public SchoolsA+

Ballenger Creek’s public schools are run by Frederick County Public Schools, which also serves Brunswick, Burkittsville, Emmitsburg and Frederick and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Frederick County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 67 schools · 48,054 students, up 11% since 2020–21 · 16.2 per teacher (MD 14.5)
$17,172MD $20,258 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading54%
State average 45.1% · 23301 students tested
Math34%
State average 24.6% · 23288 students tested

Ballenger Creek vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Maryland towns that share Ballenger Creek’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Ballenger CreekA−Frederick County
FrederickA−Frederick County

Every school in Ballenger Creek

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Maryland’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Ballenger Creekby address
Tuscarora Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Frederick
B
793 students15:1Rate it →
Ballenger Creek Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Frederick
B
715 students14:1Rate it →
Orchard Grove Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Frederick
B
613 students16:1Rate it →
Crestwood Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Frederick
B−
996 students15:1Rate it →
Ballenger Creek Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Frederick
B+
777 students16:1Rate it →
Tuscarora High
High · Grades 9–12 · Frederick
A+
1,735 students19:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Frederick
B
Charter
317 students18:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Laurel Hall School
Grades 2–12 · Frederick
Private · Special education
51 students4:1Rate it →
Laurel Hall School - Frederick
Grades 4–12 · Frederick
Private · Special education
36 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Ballenger Creek’s schools

Are Ballenger Creek’s schools good?

By Maryland’s own tests, yes: the public schools Ballenger Creek children attend outscore 76% of Maryland’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #32 of 261 Maryland towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 81%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Ballenger Creek in?

Frederick County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 48,054 students in 67 schools (2024–25).

Where do Ballenger Creek kids go to high school?

Tuscarora High in Frederick, with 1,735 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Ballenger Creek’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Frederick County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across Maryland.

How much does Ballenger Creek spend per student?

$17,172 in Frederick County Public Schools (FY2024), against $20,258 across Maryland. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Ballenger Creek?

Yes: Laurel Hall School (special education, grades 2–12, 51 students) and Laurel Hall School - Frederick (special education, grades 4–12, 36 students). Ballenger Creek also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Ballenger Creek families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Ballenger Creek → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Maryland. Stars are from neighbors.