Maryland’s Best Schools: Find the best public schools in every county

The quality of Maryland’s public schools has improved slightly last school year, according to the latest star ratings the state released Tuesday.

This is the fifth year that the Maryland State Department of Education has rated schools on a 5-star scale for what is known as the Maryland School Report Card. Schools receive ratings based on their students’ academic performance, progress toward English proficiency, graduation rates, and more.

Geoff Sanderson, the state’s assistant superintendent for accountability, said 83% of schools achieved 3 stars or higher based on data from the 2023-24 school year, up from 80% the school year before. He said an increase in student achievement was likely the catalyst for the improvement.

A Baltimore Banner analysis found that for the second year in a row, Howard County schools have the highest average star rating in the Baltimore region. Baltimore County has the most 5-star schools, although it also has more schools than any other district in the region.

Howard County maintains the highest average star rating

Use the arrows to see how star ratings have changed since last school year.

Source: Maryland State Department of Education • Greg Morton/The Baltimore Banner

One-star schools in Baltimore fell by nine, while three-star schools rose by 10. Baltimore County had 10 fewer schools with 2-star ratings and 16 more schools with 4-star ratings.

This year, for the first time, 32 elementary schools that only serve students in kindergarten through second grade will be evaluated. The state Department of Education had not assessed them in previous years because children don’t take Maryland’s standardized tests – a major part of the assessment system – until third grade.

The U.S. Department of Education recently ordered the state to add those schools anyway. These schools share a rating with the elementary school their students typically attend starting in third grade.

See how your school performed on the Maryland School Report Card with this searchable database. Click the headings to sort lists by school district, star rating and more.

About the Education Hub

This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that empowers parents with the resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more.