Ridgely Middle School

121 Ridgely Road

School District

Baltimore County Public Schools
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Baltimore County Public Schools

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 25, 2024

Look. I feel like every middle school is given poor ratings by kids and families in part because middle school is simply a hard part of life, both socially and cognitively. So, all things considered, this is a fantastic middle school. I have two kids here and the teachers have been responsive, almost surprisingly so, and will email us with concerns pronto. The school provides a very rich sports and after/before school club scene and they have a GT program and a range of classes for varying levels of mathematic ability. My kids feel safe going to school every day and their academic achievements are steadily growing.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2024

Ridgely is a wonderful school to have in our community. The school is large, but the kids seem to adapt to the crowding. The administration spends a good amount of time preparing parents and students for the school year.The school seems capable of teaching to all levels of student from special services through GT.What really stands out is the community build around the school. There are over 30 clubs and teams associated w/ Ridgely, so really something for everyone.Glad to be sending my 2 daughters here.
Submitted by student on April 27, 2024

Don’t send your kids to this disgusting school and here’s why:First of all, the thing i am most concerned about is the amount if bullying. Kids make unfunny and racist jokes all the time. All they do is call each other racail and homophobic slurs, and make fun of people’s insecurities, as well as making fun of special ed kids and not taking autism and other mental disabilities seriously. Me and my friend got bullied on our bus just because we looked “gay”. The same person that bullied us also took a picture of us thinking we wouldn’t notice. Another kid also called my friend the n word. These kids are also concerningly violent. I overheard one kid talk about how they “got banned from a Skyzone” for fighting somebody, despite ONLY being in 6th grade.Second, the principal is always trying to push us beyond our limits. He always expects us to be at school every day, but I don’t think he realizes that KIDS CAN GET SICK OR HAVE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN. If we are missing from school for a couple days, teachers will mark the work as “missing”, which piled on alot of stress for students, it’s not even their fault they didn’t go to school for a few days. Teacher’s expect us to finish an essay for homework. It’s too much for these kids. A teacher themself even confirmed that they had less homework in highschool than we do now.And last but not least, the hygenic condition of this school. This school appearently is the cleanest in Baltimore County, but the bathrooms are always dirty, and if you take a look at the floor, it is covered in dust. How is this clean?This school doesn’t deserve to be the best in Baltimore county, and if it is, then I’m concerned for other schools in the county.
Submitted by student on April 11, 2023

It's disappointing that this school is the highest rated one in the area. The kids are cruel, some of the teachers are blatantly sexist and "too uncomfortable" to teach certain topics, and the cafeteria chicken has given some kids food poisoning. The environment is okay, and sure some of the teachers care, but the principal is very ineffective, and the asst. principal does more than he does to be honest. The new counselors aren't very helpful, and there isn't enough work given to challenge the students. If you REALLY want your kids to be high school ready, or even remotely college ready, enroll your kid in private school.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2022

GT program was incredible and teachers cared
Submitted by student on February 05, 2022

I hate this school. I had a whole breakdown because of this school. I haven’t even been there for a full year yet I still despise it. Teachers give WAY too much homework, they expect me to fill a whole chart for a class at home when I have homework in four other classes. Then when I don’t turn some of it in because I need to take care of myself, They blame ME for it. The counselors do nothing, I reached out to one in September and now it’s February and still not one reply. And not to mention the kids hate diversity, Some kids are racist. I know staff can’t control that, but the least they could do is prevent racist comments.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2021

My daughter’s experience at Ridgely Middle School helped us to see how clickish and unaccepting of diversity the students can be. Beyond the normal middle school behaviors of students choosing to associate with friends, the students choose regularly exclude other students that do not look like them. My daughter was a transfer African-American student, who came in with an A and B average, never had discipline problems or issues making friends. When she got to Ridgely however she experienced routine exclusion. During gym, she was the last to be picked for team sports. During lunch, she would approach a table and was told that students were saving the seat for a friend - often times no one ever took the seat. She ended up eating with teachers in class to spare the feeling of not being accepted. When she rode the bus, students would place book bags on the seat to prevent her from choosing the seat - despite it being a crowded bus. I have taken these situations to school teachers and others only to have them dismissed as it takes time to make friends and perhaps she should ask nicely if she could sit with someone. When I asked the gym teacher if he could choose teams to not make any student feel excluded, he responded with he didn’t want to take the student’s choice away. After a yer of that treatment, we were happy to move on to a new school. My advice to Black parent with a child that is new to the area, this school is not the one to send your child to. The blue ribbon education and the great neighborhood is potentially a draw, but they have a great deal of work in the space of DEI.
Submitted by student on May 25, 2021

Ive gone here for all 3 years of middle school, and its horrible. ive been assulted at school 2 times, some kid fell through the ceiling of the bathrrom, and some days im scared to go. for reference im in my 8th grade year here, and im failing school due to the pandemic and stuff. teachers dont help they just give us more work. i hate it.
Submitted by other on November 13, 2020

This is an amazing school with teachers that care for the students. My only complaint would be the amount of homework and the amount of students that are depressed.
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2020

Ridgely continues to be one of the best middle schools in the county. I found it weird that the review was a 6 for academic progress when the test scores continue to be way above the state average. There are excellent opportunities to participate in the arts, robotics or sports at Ridgely. The students generally are well behaved and the teachers are generally well-liked. It's a great school! I have already been a parent of a child there for 5 years and will do 3 more after this.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2020

Way too much homework for a 6th grade child. Not realistic in ANY ways. Teachers do not interact. If one gives an essay, others can pile up as much more work as they want without caring about the student at all. MY child has been getting flu over cold because of the uncleanliness. The kids aren't even allowed to use the bathroom without a "Pass" that must be signed and verified. There are passes with time limits, special passes, etc. It is a huge waste of time. Oh, and if you are going to pick your child up early- don't count on it- your child will not be called to the office due to "safety reasons."
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2019

I really couldn't ask for a better school. The staff do a fantastic job of meeting students' needs even with such a big population of 1200+ students. There is a good sense of community considering it is a large school.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2019

My experience as a parent of an everyday, non-GT student is easily ONE star. If I'd known Ridgely was going to be like this before my child started there, I would have done everything I could to enroll my child in a private school starting in 6th grade.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2018

My daughter loves it at Ridgely. Most of the teachers are very supportive by offering lunch help assistance. There have a variety of after school clubs & activities. The curriculum is challenging.
Submitted by parent on July 31, 2013

I went to this middle school more than 30 years ago- not much has changed. You've got some awesome, devoted teachers who want to see the student grow and succeed. Then you have the ones who are so unprofessional- they speak harshly about other teachers ( 1 teacher went so far as to call another teacher " a stupid man !"- to the students . Some have made inappropriate comments to/ about a student in front of an entire class. These teachers are supposed to be role models. I was not impressed. The guidance counselor for the 7th grade was the BEST ever !
Submitted by other on June 27, 2012

This is a very amazing school, I went here and I definitely came out a better student, and person as a whole