Ranking Maryland's Public Schools

Maryland is #1 in the country in improving Advanced Placement (AP) performance and #2 in AP performance overall. Maryland is second only to New York in the percentage of graduating seniors who have taken and passed at least one AP exam. Maryland also leads the nation in improving the number of exams scored 3,4 or 5 over the last six years (2000-2006).

Maryland's SAT scores rank #1 in the College Board's Middle States region, and #5 among states with a 70% or higher test-participation rate.

Maryland is among the top 7 states in preparing students for college. The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education gives Maryland and 'A-' in college preparation, a grade bested by just three other states; an 'A' in college participation; a 'B' in college completion; and an 'A' in the economic and societal benefits of having a highly educated population.

Maryland is #2 nationwide in the number of AP exams taken per 1,000 11th- and 12th-graders, and #3 in increasing the number of exams taken over 2005. AP participation is up among minorities as well. The number of African-American students taking an AP exam has more than doubled in just four years.

Maryland ranks #5 in the U.S. in children's chances for adult success. Indicators used in the Education Week report include family income; parent education, employment, and English fluency; preschool and kindergarten enrollment; elementary school reading and middle school math scores; high school graduation rate; post-secondary participation; educational attainment; annual income; and steady employment.

Maryland ranks #3 in the U.S. for the number of nationally-accredited family child acre providers, and #3 in child care standards and oversight. Last year, Maryland sponsored the most family child care providers to earn national accreditation.

Maryland is #1 in the nation in providing supplemental educational services. In Maryland, 68% of students eligible for no-cost services such as tutoring and after-school programs receive them. The national participation rate is just 19%.

The Baltimore metro area ranks #3 for the best public secondary school systems among those enrolling 250,000+ students. Expansion Management magazine publishes its "Education Quotient," ranking 2,800 secondary school districts nationwide.

Source: Maryland State Department of Education