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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Maryland Alternative Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 38 alternative public schools serving 2,351 students in Maryland.
The top-ranked alternative public schools in Maryland are Post Secondary Program, Frederick County Virtual and Catonsville Center For Alternative Studies. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Maryland alternative public schools have an average math proficiency score of 15% (versus the Maryland public school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 29% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Maryland public school average of 69% (majority Black).

Best Alternative Public Schools in Maryland (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Post Secondary Program
Alternative School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79% )
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
495 South Center Street
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 751-3620
Gr: 12 | 36 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #22.
Frederick County Virtual
Alternative School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1799 Schifferstadt Blvd
Frederick, MD 21701
(227) 203-3780
Gr: 9-12
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Catonsville Center For Alternative Studies
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
901 S Rolling Rd
Catonsville, MD 21228
(443) 809-0934
Gr: 9-12 | 68 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Robert D. Stethem Educational Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
7775 Marshall Corner Rd
Pomfret, MD 20675
(301) 932-1003
Gr: 5-12
Rank: #55.
Gateway School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
45 Kate Wagner Road
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 751-3691
Gr: 9-12 | 80 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #66.
Wicomico County Evening High School
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
916 S. Schumaker Dr
Salisbury, MD 21804
(410) 677-4537
Gr: 9-12 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #77.
Pride School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1100 Gist Road
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 751-3653
Gr: K-5 | 6 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #88.
Bcdc Educational Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
105 W. Chesapeake Avenue
Towson, MD 21204
(410) 887-4360
Gr: 8-12 | 52 students Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #99.
Maya Angelou Academy At New Beginnings Formerly Oak Hill
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
8400 River Rd
Laurel, MD 20724
(202) 299-3227
Gr: 7-12 | 41 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Flexible Student Support
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
45 Kate Wagner Road
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 751-3691
Gr: 9-12 | 44 students Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Homewood School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
10914 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7081
Gr: 6-12 | 109 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1212.
F. B. Gwynn Educational Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5998 Radio Station Rd
La Plata, MD 20646
(301) 934-3884
Gr: PK
Rank: #1313.
Center For Educational Opportunity
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
253 Paradise Rd
Aberdeen, MD 21001
(410) 273-5594
Gr: 6-12 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1414.
Aacps Virtual Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
241 Peninsula Farm Road
Arnold, MD 21012
(410) 544-1082
Gr: 3-12 | 384 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1515.
Anne Arundel Evening High School
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
60 Robinson Road
Severna Park, MD 21146
(410) 544-0182
Gr: 9-12 | 439 students Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Crossroads Middle School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
45 Kate Wagner Road
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 751-3691
Gr: 6-8 | 13 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Heather Ridge
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1445 Taney Ave
Frederick, MD 21702
(227) 203-3880
Gr: 6-12 | 50 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1818.
Phoenix Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
245 Clay Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 222-1650
Gr: 6-12 | 64 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1919.
Alternative Programs
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 11-19% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
14501 Avery Road
Rockville, MD 20853
(240) 740-5000
Gr: 6-12
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Achievement Academy At Harbor City High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2201 Pinewood Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21214
(410) 396-6241
Gr: 9-12 | 314 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Excel Academy At Francis M. Wood High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1001 W Saratoga Street
Baltimore, MD 21223
(410) 396-1290
Gr: 9-12 | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2222.
Rosedale Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7090 Golden Ring Road Suite 10
Rosedale, MD 21237
(443) 809-0133
Gr: 9-12 | 108 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Crossroads Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
11640 Crossroads Circle
Middle River, MD 21220
(443) 809-2275
Gr: 6-8 | 32 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Meadowood Education Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1849 Gywnn Oak Ave
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207
(443) 809-6888
Gr: 6-8 | 29 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: n/an/a
Applications And Research Laboratory
Alternative School
10920 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-6698
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Calvert County Alternative School
Alternative School
330 Dorsey Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
(443) 550-7164
Gr: 6-12 | 7 students Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: n/an/a
Central Edlp At Loch Raven High School
Alternative School
105 W Chesapeake Ave
Towson, MD 21204
(443) 809-2270
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Eager Street Academy
Alternative School
926 Greenmount Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 234-1815
Gr: 6-12 | 45 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: n/an/a
Evening High School
Alternative School
40 W. Oak Ridge Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(301) 766-8460
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Home Assignments-elementary
Alternative School
105 W. Chesapeake Avenue
Towson, MD 21204
(410) 887-3222
Gr: PK-5 | 1 student
Rank: n/an/a
Howard B. Owens Science Center
Alternative School
9601 Greenbelt Rd
Lanham, MD 20706
(301) 918-8750
Gr: K-8
Rank: n/an/a
Judith P. Hoyer Early Childhood Center
Alternative School
1405 Glasgow Road
Cambridge, MD 21613
(410) 221-5268
Gr: PK-5
Rank: n/an/a
Northeast Edlp At Parkville High School
Alternative School
105 W Chesapeake Ave
Towson, MD 21204
(443) 809-2270
Gr: 9-12 | 1 student
Rank: n/an/a
Northwest Edlp At Milford Mill Academy
Alternative School
105 W Chesapeake Ave
Towson, MD 21204
(443) 809-2270
Gr: 9-12 | 1 student
Rank: n/an/a
Southeast Edlp At Dundalk High School
Alternative School
105 W Chesapeake Ave
Towson, MD 21204
(443) 809-2270
Gr: 9-12 | 2 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Show 3 more Alternative public schools in Maryland (out of 38 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked alternative public schools in Maryland?
The top-ranked alternative public schools in Maryland include Post Secondary Program, Frederick County Virtual and Catonsville Center For Alternative Studies.
How many alternative public schools are located in Maryland?
38 alternative public schools are located in Maryland.
What is the racial composition of students in Maryland?
Maryland alternative public schools minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Maryland public schools average of 69% (majority Black).

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