Press Release: Maryland Remains Among Top States In Latest Education Study

National Publication Ranks Maryland's System Fourth Overall

For Immediate Release                                        Contact: William Reinhard, 410.767.0486

Baltimore, MD (January 7, 2016)

Maryland public schools remains among the nation’s highest rated school systems, according to an independent national report released today.

Education Week, a national education newspaper, ranks Maryland fourth among 50 states and the District of Columbia in its latest “Quality Counts” report. The State received a “B” grade for the second straight year, although its ranking fell slightly from third place in 2015.

Massachusetts held on to the top spot in the rankings, with a B+ (86.8 overall score), followed by New Jersey and Vermont.

Now in its 20th year, the Quality Counts report ranks states in a variety of indicators in three broad categories: Chance for Success Index, K-12 Achievement Index, and School Finance.  Education Week has regularly altered its rubric, and cut two broad categories last year (Transitions and Alignment, focusing on State policies; and the Teaching Profession, focusing on teacher training, tenure, and other policies). As a result of that change, Maryland was knocked out of the top spot in the rankings -- a position it had held from 2009 to 2013.

Maryland remains a consistent top performer in Education Week’s annual study.  The State is one of only three to rank in the top 10 in all three general categories that comprise the Quality Counts formula (New Jersey and Vermont are the others).  Maryland ranks 9th in Chance for Success with a B; fourth in school finance with a B, and fifth in K-12 Achievement with a C+. 

For more information, see the Education Week website, www.edweek.org.

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