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MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

EDUCATION

ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION

[photo, Young musicians, Baltimore Farmers' Market, near Holliday St., Baltimore, Maryland]
Young musicians, Baltimore Farmers' Market, near Holliday St., Baltimore, Maryland, August 2012. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
[photo, Park Elementary School, 201 East 11th Ave., Brooklyn Park, Maryland]
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    • One of the primary education journals in the nation, Education Week in 2015 ranked Maryland the number three public school system in America. One part of the ranking - the "Quality Counts" survey - ranks states based upon school financing, achievement, and "the chance of success" for children. Maryland had been ranked first from 2009 to 2013 [no rankings were made in 2014].

    Park Elementary School, 201 East 11th Ave., Brooklyn Park, Maryland, August 2010. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Margaret Brent Elementary School, 100 East 26th St., Baltimore, Maryland] Maryland also led the nation in Newsweek Magazine's 2010 "America's Best High Schools" issue. Maryland ranked first for the second year in a row, with 53% of the State's high schools making the list, up from 29.5% of schools in 2009. Ranking is based on student participation in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests.

    In addition, Maryland's high school graduation rates have been rising steadily. As of June 2014, 86.39% of high school students graduate. At the same time, the dropout rate now is the lowest on record, 8.35%.

    Margaret Brent Elementary School, 100 East 26th St., Baltimore, Maryland, July 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Annapolis Elementary School, 180 Green St., Annapolis, Maryland]

    In 2014, six Maryland public schools were selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools and two others were named National Green Ribbon Schools. Also, Maryland received $15 million in federal grant money to improve access to quality pre-kindergarten programs.

    In 2010, Maryland was one of eight states awarded additional federal grants for education in round two of the Race to the Top program.

    Annapolis Elementary School, 180 Green St., Annapolis, Maryland, November 2011. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Severna Park Elementary School, 6 Riggs Ave., Severna Park, Maryland] Maryland students have ranked first in the nation on Advanced Placement (AP) Exams since 2008. The standard is based on the percentage of students taking the AP exam, as well as the percentage of those students who scored a 3 or higher, out of 5. In Maryland, some 31.8% of the 2014 graduating class took and passed at least one content exam. This is compared to the nationwide average of 21.6%.

    Severna Park Elementary School, 6 Riggs Ave., Severna Park, Maryland, September 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Baltimore School for the Arts, 712 Cathedral St., Baltimore, Maryland] In Maryland, public education is a responsibility shared by State, county and Baltimore City government. The State Board of Education sets educational standards, certifies teachers, partially funds school construction and instruction, and monitors school performance. The Board also oversees the State Department of Education. County boards of education often set additional requirements, develop new programs, and provide substantial local funding.

    Baltimore School for the Arts, 712 Cathedral St., Baltimore, Maryland July 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School, 500 North Caroline St., Baltimore, Maryland] Federal, State and local funds combined to provide $12.18 billion for Maryland public schools with an average cost per pupil of $13,572 in Fiscal Year 2013. Of these funds, local government appropriated the greatest amount ($5,566,493,206), followed by State government ($5,788,326,383), and federal government ($805,478,144).

    The Maryland school year is a minimum of 180 days long. Schools are open for a ten-month period, from about Labor Day to mid-June. Opening and closing dates vary from county to county. Elementary and middle school students attend school at least 6 hours a day, high school students 6.5 hours a day.

    Kindergarten is mandatory for children who are five years of age by September 1. State law also requires that children, ages 5 to 16, attend school. Effective July 1, 2017, children will be required to attend school until age 18 (Chapter 494, Acts of 2012). Students may attend school up to age 21.

    Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School, 500 North Caroline St., Baltimore, Maryland, April 2008. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Prettyboy Elementary School, 19810 Middletown Road, Freeland, Maryland} In September 2013, for pre-kindergarten through high school, 866,169 students enrolled in 1,448 public schools, and 128,211 students enrolled at 1,425 private schools. Public high schools graduated 58,284 students in 2014. Those intending to continue their education: 87.2% (85.1% in a college or university, 2.1% in a trade or business school); work: 17.2%; or enter military service: 3.8%.

    Prettyboy Elementary School, 19810 Middletown Road, Freeland (Baltimore County), Maryland, July 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Brooklyn Park Middle School, 200 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, Maryland] More stringent requirements for graduation from high school were set by the State in 1992. Credits required were increased from 20 to 21. General requirements were replaced with particular courses, or courses with specific content. Fewer credits were reserved for electives (nonrequired courses chosen by students). Since the graduating class of 2009, students have been required to take and pass the Maryland High School Assessment exams in algebra and data analysis, biology, and english in order to graduate. They also must perform 75 hours of volunteer community service approved by the State.

    Brooklyn Park Middle School, 200 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park (Anne Arundel County), Maryland, January 2004. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    In June 2010, the State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards, coordinated by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. These new educational standards are set to ensure that students nationwide receive the same quality education to prepare them for higher education and the workforce. Since 2010, Maryland educators have worked to develop a State curriculum in English language arts and mathematics that adheres to the Standards. In the 2012-2013 school year, the new Maryland Common Core State Curriculum was field-tested, and for the 2013-2014 school year was implemented statewide. To evaluate its effectiveness, new assessments were needed to replace the High School Assessments. Maryland joined a consortium known as the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), that is developing a common set of tests to be used with the Common Core Standards. In the 2014-2015 school year, the Maryland School Assessments in reading and mathematics for 3rd through 8th grades will be replaced by the PARCC assessments. Also, Maryland high school students will take PARCC assessments in English language arts and mathematics, and High School Assessments in biology and government.

    Special Public School Programs. These cover pre-kindergarten for four-year olds; and career and technology education, including consumer and homemaking classes. Gifted and talented programs also are offered by the State, on a tuition basis, at summer centers for students who qualify academically, meet geographical distribution requirements, and are able to pay the cost.

    Special education services for students with disabilities range from aid for part or all of a school day to specialized services for homebound students or those in separate facilities or hospitals. Within the State Department of Education, the Division of Special Education and Early Intervention Services administers both State and federal programs for special education.

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