Public schools in Towson, MD
12 open public schools with an address in Towson, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,634
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.3:1
Maryland median 14.2:1
Charter schools
0
2 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Towson public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Towson, MD: 3 elementary, 8 high, 1 combined or other. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,634 students, an average of 303 per school. The largest campus is Towson High (1,558 students), and the largest elementary school is Pleasant Plains Elementary (575).
Every listed school belongs to Baltimore County Public Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17.3:1, higher than the statewide school median of 14.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 6 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 7 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 31% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Towson
Elementary schools in Towson
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Assignments-Elementary Baltimore County Public Schools · Alternative School | KG–05 | 1 | — | |
| Pleasant Plains Elementary Baltimore County Public Schools | PK–05 | 575 | 16.6:1 | |
| Riderwood Elementary Baltimore County Public Schools | KG–05 | 423 | 14.6:1 |
High schools in Towson
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCDC Educational Center Baltimore County Public Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 52 | — | |
| Central EDLP at Loch Raven High School Baltimore County Public Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| George W. Carver Center for Arts & Technology Baltimore County Public Schools · Magnet · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 1,017 | 17.9:1 | |
| Northeast EDLP at Parkville High School Baltimore County Public Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 1 | — | |
| Northwest EDLP at Milford Mill Academy Baltimore County Public Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 1 | — | |
| Southeast EDLP at Dundalk High School Baltimore County Public Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 2 | — | |
| Southwest EDLP at Woodlawn High School Baltimore County Public Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 4 | — | |
| Towson High Baltimore County Public Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,558 | 17.9:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Towson
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore County Home & Hospital Baltimore County Public Schools · Special Education School | KG–12 | 0 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White44.7%
- Hispanic10.9%
- Black31.4%
- Asian6.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial5.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Towson schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,634 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Towson
How many public schools are in Towson, MD?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Towson: 3 elementary, 8 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 3,634 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Towson?
All listed public schools with an address in Towson belong to Baltimore County Public Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Towson?
Towson High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Towson, with 1,558 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Towson?
No school with an address in Towson is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Maryland.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Towson schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Towson public schools is 17.3:1, higher than the Maryland school median of 14.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Towson guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Maryland cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Maryland cities