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C+
Schools in Bel Air · Allegany County Public Schools

Bel Air’s public schools score below 56% of Maryland districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Bel Air, 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Maryland state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
44%
▼ 1 pts vs MD 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
25%
▲ 0 pts vs MD 25%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▲ 1 pts vs MD 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.3K
▼ 5% vs MD $20.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.1
MD 14.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
4,112 students on the public path
In brief

Bel Air’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 197 Maryland towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bel Air’s, its schools beat 49%, higher than their 44% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in math, below in reading

Reading proficiency is 44% and math 25% in spring 2022, against 45% and 25% statewide; 87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $19,329 per student, against $20,258 across Maryland (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then four middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

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 Bel Air’s grade

B− Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 44% of Maryland school districts. Graduation is above the Maryland average; test scores are below it.

Maryland school districts we grade (25)Better than 44%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maryland towns with similar household incomes (197)Better than 49%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,002 test results and a graduating class of 548 could put Bel Air anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Bel Air’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,917 in math, 4,088 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Bel Air ElementaryAllegany County Public SchoolsC+
6–84 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressA

Bel Air’s public schools are run by Allegany County Public Schools, which also serves Barton, Cumberland, Frostburg and Lonaconing 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.

Allegany County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 22 schools · 8,113 students · 13.1 per teacher (MD 14.5)
$19,329MD $20,258 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading44%
State average 45.1% · 4088 students tested
Math25%
State average 24.6% · 3917 students tested

Bel Air vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Maryland towns that share Bel Air’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Bel AirC+Allegany County

Every school in Bel Air

8 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 Bel Airby address
Bel Air Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cumberland
C+
216 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving Bel Airin other towns
Washington Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cumberland
C+
577 students14:1Rate it →
Braddock Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cumberland
B
536 students13:1Rate it →
Mount Savage Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Mount Savage
B
408 students12:1Rate it →
Westmar Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Lonaconing
C+
258 students10:1Rate it →
Mountain Ridge High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Frostburg
A
743 students17:1Rate it →
Allegany High
High · Grades 9–12 · Cumberland
A
719 students16:1Rate it →
Fort Hill High
High · Grades 9–12 · Cumberland
A
655 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Bel Air’s schools

Are Bel Air’s schools good?

On Maryland’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bel Air children attend score below 56% of Maryland’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 49%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bel Air in?

Allegany County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,113 students in 22 schools (2024–25).

Where do Bel Air kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Mountain Ridge High School, Allegany High and Fort Hill High.

What is Bel Air’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Allegany County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across Maryland.

How much does Bel Air spend per student?

$19,329 in Allegany County Public Schools (FY2024), against $20,258 across Maryland. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Bel Air families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bel Air → 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.