Maryland Graduation Rate at All-Time High, AP Scores Best in Nation

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) had some good news to announce today, as their monthly bulletin revealed that the high school graduation rate climbed to an all time high of 87% in 2015 – 5 points better than the 82% rate registered in 2010.

From the MSDE Bulletin,

A higher percentage of Maryland students are crossing the stage to receive their high school diplomas than at any other time in the State’s history, according to data released this month by the Maryland State Department of Education.  As the graduation rate sets new records, the dropout rate has reached an all-time low.

The four-year cohort graduation rate reached 87 percent in 2015 — 5 points better than the 82 percent rate registered in 2010.  The graduation rate jumped 0.6 percentage points over 2014, from 86.4 percent.

Maryland six years ago moved to the cohort graduation rate, which follows a set group of students from freshman year through their senior year.  The four-year cohort graduation rate has improved every year since.

Simultaneously, the dropout rate has been in steady decline.  The State’s dropout rate, which stood at 11.9 percent in 2010, dropped to 8.1 percent in 2015.

The State also announced that for the tenth consecutive year, Maryland students rank number one in the nation for AP test scores.

Maryland students have led the nation in success on the Advanced Placement (AP) exams for 10 consecutive years, according to new data from the College Board.

“Congratulations to Maryland students and educators for continuing to lead the nation in Advanced Placement assessment achievement,” said Governor Larry Hogan.  “AP offers our students a rich and rigorous program of study, and the success of our students will help fuel further accomplishments in college and the workplace.”

The new statistics are included in AP cohort data the College Board recently released for the class of 2015.  The data release replaced “The AP Report to the Nation” in 2014, which the organization had published for the previous decade.

Interim State Superintendent, Jack R. Smith, honored six schools with Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education (EGATE) School Awards, which recognize some of the best elementary, middle and high school programs.

The 2015 EGATE schools are:

  • Calverton Elementary School, Prince George’s County Public Schools
  • Fountaindale Elementary School for the Arts and Academic Excellence,
    Washington County Public Schools (previously a 2010 awardee)
  • Hamilton Elementary/Middle School, Baltimore City Public Schools
  • Hampstead Hill Academy, Baltimore City Public Schools
  • Kenmoor Middle School, Prince George’s County Public Schools (previously a 2010 awardee)
  • University Park Elementary School, Prince George’s County Public Schools

In the six years of the award’s existence, 39 schools from 10 school systems have earned the EGATE status. Members from the Maryland Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented Education and local school system personnel review and score the EGATE applications, which document the school’s gifted and talented program activities over a 15 month period.

To read the entire bulletin, visit the MSDE website.