Tuscarora High

Summary:

Tuscarora High is a public high school in Frederick, Maryland, serving 1,717 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Frederick County Public Schools district, which is ranked 6th out of 25 districts in Maryland and has a 4-star rating.

Tuscarora High stands out for its higher racial diversity compared to nearby schools, with a student population that is 35.59% White, 24.17% African American, 26.79% Hispanic, and 6.93% Asian. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by MCAP test scores, is generally lower than the nearby schools and the county/state averages. For example, only 47.1% of Tuscarora High students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 60.6% in the Frederick County Public Schools and 55.3% statewide. The school also has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 38.73%, and a higher student-teacher ratio of 19.2 compared to the nearby schools.

Tuscarora High's statewide ranking has been declining over the years, from a high of 32nd out of 180 Maryland high schools in the 2016-2017 school year to 124th out of 146 schools in the 2023-2024 school year. This suggests that the school's academic performance has been declining relative to other high schools in the state. When compared to nearby schools like Damascus High, Linganore High, and Brunswick High, Tuscarora High stands out as having lower academic performance, higher free and reduced lunch rates, and a higher student-teacher ratio, indicating that the school may face unique challenges in terms of student demographics and resource allocation.

Detail:

Public 9-12

5312 Ballenger Creek Pk
Frederick, MD 21703

(240) 236-6400

District: Frederick County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
124^th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,779

Feeder schools for Tuscarora High:

Elementary:	Ballenger Creek Elementary
	Carroll Manor Elementary
	Tuscarora Elementary
Middle:	Ballenger Creek Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 19.2

Number of students: 1,717

Racial breakdown:

White:

35.6%

Hispanic:

26.8%

African American:

24.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 38.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Tuscarora High ranks worse than 84.9% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks 8^th among 10 ranked high schools in the Frederick County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.88. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Tuscarora High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Tuscarora High is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (35.6%), Hispanic (26.8%), African American (24.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 38.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Tuscarora High is 19.2. 6 high schools in the Frederick County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Tuscarora High employs 89 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Tuscarora High is $14,779. 6 high schools in the Frederick County Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Tuscarora High was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Tuscarora High 124^th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See Tuscarora High in the ranking list.)

Frederick County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Frederick County Public Schools 6^th of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Tuscarora High

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Rank History for all students at Tuscarora High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	46.59	104^th	201	48.3%
2005	55.86	77^th	204	62.3%
2006	61.16	74^th	204	63.7%
2007	60.55	83^rd	209	60.3%
2008	67.25	95^th	214	55.6%
2009	65.84	99^th	213	53.5%
2010	68.87	88^th	220	60.0%
2011	68.62	66^th	183	63.9%
2012	73.16	57^th	187	69.5%
2013	70.59	64^th	185	65.4%
2014	74.40	71^st	231	69.3%
2015	59.84	79^th	233	66.1%
2016	59.93	81^st	233	65.2%
2017	68.25	32^nd	180	82.2%
2018	61.77	49^th	197	75.1%
2019	57.15	51^st	138	63.0%
2022	48.93	73^rd	225	67.6%
2023	37.13	92^nd	127	27.6%
2024	26.88	124^th	146	15.1%

See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

Rank History for Asian students at Tuscarora High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	27.79	21^st	25	16.0%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for Asian Students!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Tuscarora High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2004	497	118	33	41	4	n/a	n/a	693
2005	787	213	57	77	5	n/a	n/a	1139
2006	1040	270	72	107	7	n/a	n/a	1496
2007	1024	292	75	131	7	n/a	n/a	1529
2008	983	314	70	140	6	n/a	n/a	1513
2009	946	327	79	154	5	n/a	n/a	1511
2010	924	323	89	155	4	n/a	n/a	1495
2011	855	291	82	204	6	1	103	1542
2012	811	279	84	199	5	2	104	1484
2013	787	284	89	227	6	1	106	1500
2014	770	288	92	233	6	2	99	1490
2015	762	301	94	229	3	2	98	1489
2016	737	274	101	239	4	1	97	1453
2017	725	324	108	261	9	1	111	1539
2018	706	358	107	262	6	1	110	1550
2019	704	351	112	306	6	1	100	1580
2020	701	340	112	338	4	3	92	1590
2021	690	356	125	379	4	4	87	1645
2022	651	399	121	412	5	3	91	1682
2023	611	415	119	460	7	4	101	1717

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Tuscarora High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	693	36.5	19.0	13
2005	1139	56.0	20.3	14.5
2006	1496	79.0	18.9	10.9
2007	1529	84.5	18.1	12.2
2008	1513	85.0	17.8	14.6
2009	1511	84.0	18.0	18.7
2010	1495	87.0	17.1	21.1
2011	1542	93.5	16.4	22.2
2012	1484	85.0	17.4	23.1
2013	1500	86.5	17.3	24.4
2014	1490	84.5	17.6	25.4
2015	1489	82.0	18.1	27.2
2016	1453	82.0	17.7	26.1
2017	1539	76.0	20.2	26.4
2018	1550	87.0	17.8	25.8
2019	1580	89.5	17.6	25.8
2020	1590	95.0	16.7	27.9
2021	1645	97.5	16.8	31.5
2022	1682	99.0	16.9	33
2023	1717	89.0	19.2	38.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Tuscarora High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2004	693	36.5	19.0	13
2005	1139	56.0	20.3	14.5
2006	1496	79.0	18.9	10.9
2007	1529	84.5	18.1	12.2
2008	1513	85.0	17.8	14.6
2009	1511	84.0	18.0	18.7
2010	1495	87.0	17.1	21.1
2011	1542	93.5	16.4	22.2
2012	1484	85.0	17.4	23.1
2013	1500	86.5	17.3	24.4
2014	1490	84.5	17.6	25.4
2015	1489	82.0	18.1	27.2
2016	1453	82.0	17.7	26.1
2017	1539	76.0	20.2	26.4
2018	1550	87.0	17.8	25.8
2019	1580	89.5	17.6	25.8
2020	1590	95.0	16.7	27.9
2021	1645	97.5	16.8	31.5
2022	1682	99.0	16.9	33
2023	1717	89.0	19.2	38.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Tuscarora High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$560 (4.5%)	$11,950 (95.5%)	$12,510
2020	$493 (3.8%)	$12,327 (96.2%)	$12,820
2021	$853 (6.4%)	$12,444 (93.6%)	$13,297
2022	$1,426 (9.9%)	$13,000 (90.1%)	$14,426
2023	$899 (6.1%)	$13,879 (93.9%)	$14,779

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Tuscarora High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 51^st of 138 High schools	Ranks 92^nd of 127 High schools	35.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1580	1717	8.7%
African American	351	415	18.2%
American Indian	6	7	16.7%
Asian	112	119	6.3%
Hispanic	306	460	50.3%
Pacific Islander	1	4	300%
White	704	611	13.2%
Two or More Races	100	101	1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	25.8%	38.7%	13%

Schools Near Tuscarora High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCAP Mathematics (2024)	MCAP English Language Arts (2024)		MCAP Algebra I (2024)	MCAP Algebra II (2024)	MCAP Geometry (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	MCAP Geometry End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Tuscarora High	Public	9-12	5312 Ballenger Creek Pk	Frederick	21703	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 236-6400	1,717	89	19.2	38.7%	611 (35.6%)	415 (24.2%)	460 (26.8%)	119 (6.9%)	7 (0.4%)	4 (0.2%)	101 (5.9%)	26.9	124^th of 146 public high schools	15.1%		37.1	92^nd of 127 public high schools	27.6%	32		47.1	47.1	7.7			$14,779	$899	$13,879
Frederick High	Public	9-12	650 Carroll Pky	Frederick	21701	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 236-7000	1,829	102	17.9	50.8%	411 (22.5%)	463 (25.3%)	759 (41.5%)	97 (5.3%)	2 (0.1%)	6 (0.3%)	91 (5.0%)	19.5	134^th of 146 public high schools	8.2%		28.9	107^th of 127 public high schools	15.7%	27	7.2	39.5	39.5	8.1	14.3		$14,891	$818	$14,072
Gov. Thomas Johnson High	Public	9-12	1501 N Market St	Frederick	21701	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 236-8200	1,962	107	18.4	51.5%	558 (28.4%)	462 (23.5%)	724 (36.9%)	100 (5.1%)	9 (0.5%)	8 (0.4%)	101 (5.1%)	26.7	125^th of 146 public high schools	14.4%		37.9	88^th of 127 public high schools	30.7%	37	7.2	54.8	54.8	5.8	13.4	7.4	$15,897	$967	$14,929
Heather Ridge	Public	6-12	1445 Taney Ave	Frederick	21702	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 236-8000	45	16	2.9	77.8%	7 (15.6%)	21 (46.7%)	14 (31.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (6.7%)								(n/a)
Urbana High	Public	9-12	3471 Campus Dr	Ijamsville	21754	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 236-7600	1,940	90	21.5	13.8%	983 (50.7%)	198 (10.2%)	249 (12.8%)	369 (19.0%)	7 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	132 (6.8%)	71.6	13^th of 146 public high schools	91.1%		72.4	13^th of 127 public high schools	89.8%		41.9	85.4	85.4	40.8	44.9	41.8	$13,148	$758	$12,390
Middletown High	Public	9-12	200 Schoolhouse Dr	Middletown	21769	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 236-7400	1,097	54	20.3	17.0%	884 (80.6%)	33 (3.0%)	105 (9.6%)	19 (1.7%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	52 (4.7%)	43.5	77^th of 146 public high schools	47.3%		46.7	66^th of 127 public high schools	48.0%	11	19.1	67.5	67.5	12.3	78.6	25.5	$15,015	$786	$14,229
Oakdale High	Public	9-12	5850 Eaglehead Drive	Ijamsville	21754	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 566-9400	1,622	78	20.7	14.5%	1,051 (64.8%)	155 (9.6%)	186 (11.5%)	130 (8.0%)	7 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	91 (5.6%)	51.3	53^rd of 146 public high schools	63.7%		55.8	40^th of 127 public high schools	68.5%	13	23.0	77.4	77.4	24.9	59.1	16.1	$13,681	$728	$12,953
Walkersville High	Public	9-12	81 W Frederick Street	Walkersville	21793	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 236-7200	1,213	65	18.6	33.1%	719 (59.3%)	188 (15.5%)	197 (16.2%)	30 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	78 (6.4%)	33.7	111^th of 146 public high schools	24.0%		41.5	76^th of 127 public high schools	40.2%	35	10.6	61.9	61.9	10.8	60.0	7.9	$15,957	$950	$15,007
Brunswick High	Public	9-12	101 Cummings Dr	Brunswick	21716	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 236-8600	862	44	19.5	24.4%	584 (67.7%)	89 (10.3%)	115 (13.3%)	18 (2.1%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (6.3%)	42.7	79^th of 146 public high schools	45.9%		55.4	42^nd of 127 public high schools	66.9%	37	12.5	68.3	68.3	9.8	46.2	16.2	$15,766	$857	$14,909
Linganore High	Public	9-12	12013 Old Annapolis Rd	Frederick	21701	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 566-9700	1,572	83	19.0	13.2%	1,199 (76.3%)	78 (5.0%)	164 (10.4%)	55 (3.5%)	2 (0.1%)	5 (0.3%)	69 (4.4%)	46.9	63^rd of 146 public high schools	56.8%		52.6	50^th of 127 public high schools	60.6%	13	19.5	70.8	70.8	23.6	39.4	12.2	$14,586	$836	$13,750

Frequently Asked Questions about Tuscarora High

What is the racial makeup of Tuscarora High?

Students at Tuscarora High are 36% White, 27% Hispanic, 24% African American, 7% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Tuscarora High?

Tuscarora High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Ballenger Creek Elementary
Elementary : Carroll Manor Elementary
Elementary : Tuscarora Elementary
Middle : Ballenger Creek Middle

Is Tuscarora High a good school?

Tuscarora High ranks in the bottom 15.1% of Maryland high schools.

What district is Tuscarora High in?

Frederick County Public Schools

How many students attend Tuscarora High?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,717 students attended Tuscarora High.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.