Public School Review - Established 2003

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School vs. Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

Should you attend Paul Laurence Dunbar High School or Baltimore Polytechnic Institute? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.

School Overview

School
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
1400 Orleans Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
: 
3/
10
Bottom 50%
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
1400 W Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21209
: 
10/
10
Top 5%
Top Rankings

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Maryland for:

Category
Attribute
Percent Eligible For Free Lunch
Largest percent of students eligible for free lunch (Top 20%)

Baltimore Polytechnic Institute ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Maryland for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 10%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Overview
Serving 1,067 students in grades 9-12, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Maryland for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 6-9% (which is lower than the Maryland state average of 25%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 30-34% (which is lower than the Maryland state average of 45%).
The student:teacher ratio of 25:1 is higher than the Maryland state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Maryland state average of 67% (majority Black).
Serving 1,555 students in grades 9-12, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute ranks in the top 5% of all schools in Maryland for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 58% (which is higher than the Maryland state average of 25%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 81% (which is higher than the Maryland state average of 45%).
The student:teacher ratio of 20:1 is higher than the Maryland state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 81% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the Maryland state average of 67% (majority Black).
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
Total Students
1,067 students
1,555 students
This chart displays total students of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays total students of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Male | % Female
58% | 42%
51% | 49%
This chart displays gender of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
This chart displays gender of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
Total Classroom Teachers
43 teachers
78 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the total teachers of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
25:1
20:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the public school average student teacher ratio of Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Test Scores

#1009 out of 1347 schools in MD
(Bottom 50%)
#65 out of 1347 schools in MD
(Top 5%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the overall school rank of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
6-9%
(Bottom 50% in MD)
58%
(Top 10% in MD)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
30-34%
(Bottom 50% in MD)
81%
(Top 5% in MD)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
≤20%
(Bottom 50% in MD)
<50%
(Top 20% in MD)
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
81%
(Bottom 50% in MD)
98%
(Top 5% in MD)
This chart displays graduation rate of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and public school graduation rate of Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays graduation rate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and public school graduation rate of Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Grade

Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School by grade.
This chart displays the students of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute by grade.
Grade 9 Students
361
407
Grade 10 Students
262
371
Grade 11 Students
189
395
Grade 12 Students
255
382

Students by Ethnicity

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
5%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of Asian public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
13%
14%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
85%
60%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of Black public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of Black public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
2%
19%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of White public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of White public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
n/a
2%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
0.26
0.59
This chart displays the diversity score of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the public school average diversity score of Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the diversity score of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the public school average diversity score of Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Additional Information

Eligible for Free Lunch
73%
43%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Maryland by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
12%
(14-15 School Year Data)
15%
(14-15 School Year Data)
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Maryland by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Maryland by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
 
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