BCPS Central Planning Area
- Maggie Domanowski
- Nov 10
- 7 min read
By: Maggie Litz Domanowski
(Opinions are of Maggie Litz Domanowski and are not reflective of the Baltimore County Board of Education)
With 31 schools enrolling 20,794 students in 2025, the central planning area is the largest zone by land mass. High schools in the Central area also affect four other schools in surrounding areas. Some students from Franklin, Harford Hills, and Pine Grove Elementary, as well as Pine Grove Middle, are included in feeder patterns for Hereford Middle, Herford High, and Loch Raven High. Extending the Central area into the Northwest and Northeast areas and expanding it's affect on the total number of enrolled students to nearly 23,000.
The Central Area has one all Magnet, George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology. Students enrolled at this high school must complete an magnet application. Magnet programs at Carver include:
Acting (9-11)
Building & Construction Technology (9-10)
Cosmetology (9-10)
Culinary Arts (9-10)
Dance (9-11)
Design & Production (9-11)
Digital Instrumental Music (9-11)
Information Technology & Interactive Media Production (9)
Literary Arts (9-11)
Visual Arts (9-11)
Vocal Music (9-11)
George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
2025 Enrollment: 1,017
2025 English: 84.8%
2025 Math: 25.1%
2025 Science: 80.1
2025 Attendance: 94.4%
2025 Star Rating: 5 (80.7%)
2024 Graduation: 95.0% (or Greater)
Nine Elementary school's student bodies remain intact for the entirety of their BCPS careers. Allowing the opportunity for close to 4,000 central area kindergarteners to eventually wear their cap and gowns together. There are also seven central area elementary schools that are divided at least four times before they graduate. Carroll Manor (317), Hampton (555), and Oakleigh (452) are split five ways, while Jacksonville (533), Lutherville Lab (405), Riderwood (423), and Sparks (509) elementary schools are split up four different ways. This makes the central area one of the most divided student bodies of all BCPS planning areas.
Cromwell Valley Regional Magnet is the only elementary school where all students are assigned to Loch Raven Academy and Loch Raven High School.
Cromwell Valley Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 395
2025 ELA: 75.0%
2025 Math: 59.7%
2025 Science 5: 43.1%
2025 Attendance: 94.8%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (73.2%)
Loch Raven Academy Middle
2025 Enrollment: 722
Total Splits: 2 (Loch Raven & Towson High)
2025 ELA: 29.4%
2025 Math: 5.5%
2025 Science 8: 13.4%
2025 Attendance: 89.3%
2025 Star Rating: 2 (34.9%)
Loch Raven High
2025 Enrollment: 780
2025 English: 42.9%
2025 Math: 4.2%
2025 Science: 30.7%
2025 Attendance: 87.2%
2024 Graduation: 86.8%
2025 Star Rating: 3 (46.4%)
All students from Fifth District, Prettyboy, and Seventh District Elementary will also attend Hereford Middle and Hereford High schools.
Fifth District Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 262
2025 ELA: 85.3%
2025 Math: 80.0%
2025 Science 5: 50.0%
2025 Attendance: 95.0% (or Greater)
2025 Star Rating: 5 (88.0%)
Prettyboy Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 405
2025 ELA: 65.9%
2025 Math: 51.6%
2025 Science 5: 49.2%
2025 Attendance: 95.0% (or Greater)
2025 Star Rating: 4 (72.0%)
Seventh District Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 346
2025 ELA: 76.0%
2025 Math: 69.6%
2025 Science 5: 44.0%
2025 Attendance: 95.0% (or Greater)
2025 Star Rating: 4 (74.3%)
Hereford Middle
2025 Enrollment: 861
2025 ELA: 78.4%
2025 Math: 35.4%
2025 Science 8: 63.0%
2025 Attendance: 94.2%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (71.0%)
Hereford High
2025 Enrollment: 1,175
2025 English: 86.8%
2025 Math: 18.2%
2025 Science: 76.6%
2025 Attendance: 94.4%
2025 Star Rating: 5 (76.4%)
2024 Graduation: 95.0% (or Greater)
All Padonia International, Warren, and Pinewood Elementary students will also attend Dulaney High school together.
Padonia International Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 505
2025 ELA: 30.2%
2025 Math: 25.1%
2025 Science 5: 8.1%
2025 Attendance: 93.7%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (61.0%)
Warren Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 381
2025 ELA: 50.0%
2025 Math: 31.5%
2025 Science 5: 24.4%
2025 Attendance: 92.6%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (64.1%)
Cockeysville Middle
2025 Enrollment: 928
Total Splits: 3 (Dulaney, Loch Raven, & Towson High)
2025 ELA: 56.1%
2025 Math: 18.9%
2025 Science 8: 42.1%
2025 Attendance: 92.6%
2025 Star Rating: 3 (54.7%)
Pinewood Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 598
2025 ELA: 88.7%
2025 Math: 73.9%
2025 Science 5: 78.2%
2025 Attendance: 95.0% (or Greater)
2025 Star Rating: 5 (83.2%)
Ridgely Middle
2025 Enrollment: 1,039
Total Splits: 3 (Dulaney, Loch Raven, & Towson High)
2025 ELA: 76.7%
2025 Math: 40.3%
2025 Science 8: 65.9%
2025 Attendance: 94.7%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (64.2%)
Dulaney High
2025 Enrollment: 1,889
2025 English: 63.6%
2025 Math: 10.6%
2025 Science: 55.5%
2025 Attendance: 91.0%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (60.6%)
2024 Graduation: 91.1%
All Rodgers Forge, Stoneleigh, and West Towson Elementary students will also attend Dumbarton Middle and Towson High schools together.
Rodgers Forge Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 412
2025 ELA: 88.3%
2025 Math: 80.5%
2025 Science 5: 68.6%
2025 Attendance: 95.0% (or Greater)
2025 Star Rating: 5 (87.1%)
Stoneleigh Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 645
2025 ELA: 75.8%
2025 Math: 60.5%
2025 Science 5: 45.4%
2025 Attendance: 94.9%
2025 Star Rating: 5 (75.7%)
West Towson Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 445
2025 ELA: 81.6%
2025 Math: 70.6%
2025 Science 5: 72.6%
2025 Attendance: 94.5%
2025 Star Rating: 5 (85.9%)
Dumbarton Middle
2025 Enrollment: 1,064
Total Splits: 2 (Loch Raven & Towson High)
2025 ELA: 66.0%
2025 Math: 28.3%
2025 Science 8: 43.9%
2025 Attendance: 92.6%
2025 Star Rating: 3 (58.7%)
Towson High
2025 Enrollment: 1,558
2025 English: 74.3%
2025 Math: 23.1%
2025 Science: 72.4%
2025 Attendance: 92.9%
2024 Graduation: 94.2%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (68.1%)
Students who attend Carroll Manor, Hampton, Jacksonville, Lutherville Lab, Oakleigh, Riderwood, and Sparks elementary will not remain together in Middle or High school.
Carroll Manor Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 371
Total Splits: 5 (Cockeysville, Pine Grove, & Ridgely Middle, and Dulaney & Loch Raven High)
2025 ELA: 82.6%
2025 Math: 74.6%
2025 Science 5: 57.6%
2025 Attendance: 95.0% (or Greater)
2025 Star Rating: 5 (83.9%)
Hampton Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 555
Total Splits: 5 (Dumbarton, Pine Grove, & Ridgely Middle, and Loch Raven & Towson High)
2025 ELA: 64.8%
2025 Math: 54.6%
2025 Science 5: 46.6%
2025 Attendance: 93.5%
2025 Star Rating: 5 (75.5%)
Jacksonville Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 533
Total Splits: 4 (Cockeysville & Hereford Middle, and Dulaney & Hereford High)
2025 ELA: 85.5%
2025 Math: 73.0%
2025 Science 5: 51.8%
2025 Attendance: 94.8%
2025 Star Rating: 5 (82.0%)
Lutherville Laboratory Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 405
Total Splits: 4 (Dumbarton & Ridgely Middle, and Dulaney & Towson High)
2025 ELA: 59.8%
2025 Math:52.5%
2025 Science 5: 37.8%
2025 Attendance: 94.6%
2025 Star Rating: 5 (76.4%)
Oakleigh Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 452
Total Splits: 5 (Loch Raven Academy, Parkville, & Pine Grove Middle, and Loch Raven & Parkville High)
2025 ELA: 28.3%
2025 Math: 19.5%
2025 Science 5: 10.0%
2025 Attendance: 93.6%
2025 Star Rating: 3 (58.2%)
Riderwood Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 423
Total Splits: 4 (Dumbarton & Ridgely Middle, and Dulaney & Towson High)
2025 ELA: 91.8%
2025 Math: 77.9%
2025 Science 5: 83.8%
2025 Attendance: 95.0% (or Greater)
2025 Star Rating: 5 (82.7%)
Sparks Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 509
Total Splits: 4 (Cockeysville & Herford Middle, and Dulaney & Hereford High)
2025 ELA: 84.7%
2025 Math: 73.7%
2025 Science 5: 53.7%
2025 Attendance: 94.4%
2025 Star Rating: 5 (75.6%)
Students who attend Halstead Academy, Mays Chapel, Pleasant Plains, Pot Spring, Timonium, and Villa Cresta Elementary will either stay together in Middle, or meet up again together again in High school.
Halstead Academy Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 489
Total Splits: 2 (Parkville & Towson High)
2025 ELA: 17.4%
2025 Math: 8.3%
2025 Science 5: 10.0%
2025 Attendance: 91.1%
2025 Star Rating: 2 (40.5%)
Mays Chapel Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 657
Total Splits: 2 (Cockeysville & Ridgely Middle)
2025 ELA: 63.5%
2025 Math: 47.9%
2025 Science 5: 40.0%
2025 Attendance: 94.3%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (72.8%)
Pleasant Plains Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 575
Total Splits: 2 (Loch Raven and Parkville High)
2025 ELA: 26.9%
2025 Math: 14.2 %
2025 Science 5: 11.5%
2025 Attendance:90.3%
2025 Star Rating: 3 (46.9%)
Pot Spring Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 434
Total Splits: 2 (Cockeysville & Ridgely Middle)
2025 ELA: 59.4%
2025 Math: 44.3%
2025 Science 5: 36.8
2025 Attendance: 94.5%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (67.7%)
Timonium Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 445
Total Splits: 2 (Dulaney & Towson High)
2025 ELA: 81.6%
2025 Math: 75.9%
2025 Science 5: 69.7%
2025 Attendance: 95.0% (or Greater)
2025 Star Rating: 5 (83.5)
Villa Cresta Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 609
Total Splits: 2 (Loch Raven Academy & Parkville Middle)
2025 ELA: 54.4%
2025 Math: 31.0%
2025 Science 5: 14.4%
2025 Attendance: 93.4%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (66.1%)
The following schools are considered as part of the Northwest Planning Area by Central but are included as part of a Central Area High School Feeder Pattern.
Franklin Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 392
Total Splits: 5 (Hereford & Franklin Middle, and Hereford, Franklin, & Owings Mills High)
2025 ELA: 63.9%
2025 Math: 51.3%
2025 Science 5: 38.2%
2025 Attendance: 94.0%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (73.2%)
The following schools are considered as part of the Northeast Planning Area but are included as part of a Central Area High School Feeder Pattern.
Harford Hills Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 373
Total Splits: 4 (Parkville & Pine Grove Middle, and Loch Raven & Parkville High)
2025 ELA: 38.0%
2025 Math: 23.8%
2025 Science 5: 12.7%
2025 Attendance: 91.8%
2025 Star Rating: 3 (50.1%)
Pine Grove Elementary
2025 Enrollment: 418
Total Splits: 4 (Perry Hall & Pine Grove Middle, and Loch Raven & Perry Hall High)
2025 ELA: 49.5%
2025 Math: 41.8%
2025 Science 5: 21.7%
2025 Attendance: 92.7%
2025 Star Rating: 4 (62.3%)
Pine Grove Middle
2025 Enrollment: 804
Total Splits: 3 (Loch Raven, Parkville, & Perry Hall High)
2025 ELA: 36.6%
2025 Math: 12.5%
2025 Science 8: 22.7%
2025 Attendance: 804
2025 Star Rating: 3 (45.1%)