Maryland Schools & Education
Public school metrics and education data for all 24 counties.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataAvg Graduation Rate
89.4%
Avg Per-Pupil Spending
$10,395
Avg School Score
72/100
Total Schools
1,410
25 districts
State Overview
About Schools in Maryland
This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.
A Wide Performance Gap Across 24 Districts
While Maryland's 24 school districts average a high score, significant disparities exist between the highest and lowest performers. Graduation rates fluctuate from a peak of 96.0% in Calvert County to a low of 70.1% in Baltimore City, illustrating a 25.9-point gap in student outcomes.
High Efficiency and Strong Returns on Investment
Maryland yields strong academic results relative to its $10,395 average per-pupil expenditure. Calvert County stands out for its efficiency, securing the state's highest graduation rate of 96.0% despite having the lowest spending per student at just $8,446.
State Score Context
How Maryland Counties Are Distributed
24 of 24 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.
Scored county coverage
Counties with complete enough data for the composite score
100%
Higher measured signal
Score range 70-100
14
Midrange measured signal
Score range 40-69
10
Lower measured signal
Score range 0-39
0
Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.
Best school counties
Best Counties for Public School Research in Maryland
For a first-pass answer to parent searches about where the best schools are in Maryland, start with county-level evidence, then open individual school and district records. SchoolsByCounty ranks counties by public education signals, not by private opinions or paid school ratings.
Short answer for Maryland
Worcester County is the strongest county-level starting point in Maryland by the current SchoolsByCounty score, with a measured school signal of 92/100. This is a county comparison signal, not a promise that every school in the county is the best fit for every family.
Ranking methodology
24 of 24 counties have enough federal education data for a county school score. The ranking favors counties with stronger available graduation-rate and school-finance signals, then asks parents to verify individual school fit locally. The table below should help parents choose what to compare next; it should not replace attendance-boundary checks, program eligibility, commute, services, or direct district confirmation.
State average per-pupil spending in this dataset: $10,395.
Top measured county school signals
Ranked by the county school score where enough federal data is available.
Talbot County
96.0%
Talbot County has the strongest reported county graduation-rate signal in Maryland. Use this as a broad county context, then review individual high-school records.
Worcester County
$12,869
Worcester County reports the highest per-pupil spending among counties with available data. Higher spending is context, not a guarantee of student fit.
Baltimore city
48/100
Baltimore city has one of the lowest measured county school signals in Maryland. Review missing data, district context, and individual school records before drawing conclusions.
District research
Compare Maryland public school districts before narrowing by address
Maryland has 25 public school district records and 1,410 school records in the NCES file. Use the district hub to sort large district systems by enrollment, school count, county context, and generated district-guide coverage.
Regional comparison guides
Compare Maryland Counties in Real Relocation Shortlists
These static guides connect Maryland county profiles to common metro-area school decisions. Each guide gives a direct answer, side-by-side NCES metrics, and links back into county profiles for deeper school and district research.
How do Fairfax, Loudoun, and Montgomery County compare for public school research?
Compare three major DC-area school markets across Northern Virginia and Maryland using county-level school outcomes and spending.
Open guideBuild a three-county school comparison
Compare any Maryland county with other county profiles using the same school score, graduation-rate, and spending fields.
Open compare toolAll Maryland Counties
| County | School Score |
|---|---|
Worcester County
| 92/100 |
Talbot County
| 90/100 |
Carroll County
| 90/100 |
Queen Anne's County
| 88/100 |
Howard County
| 85/100 |
Charles County
| 83/100 |
Cecil County
| 82/100 |
Calvert County
| 82/100 |
Kent County
| 79/100 |
Allegany County
| 79/100 |
Frederick County
| 75/100 |
Garrett County
| 75/100 |
Washington County
| 73/100 |
St. Mary's County
| 73/100 |
Montgomery County
| 69/100 |
Harford County
| 66/100 |
Anne Arundel County
| 66/100 |
Baltimore County
| 65/100 |
Caroline County
| 63/100 |
Wicomico County
| 55/100 |
Somerset County
| 54/100 |
Dorchester County
| 51/100 |
Prince George's County
| 49/100 |
Baltimore city
| 48/100 |
— = data not available for this county.
Compare county school profiles in Maryland
Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maryland Schools
Which Maryland counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Maryland?
Which regional school comparisons include Maryland counties?
What are the best school counties in Maryland?
Which Maryland county has the strongest measured school score?
What is the average graduation rate in Maryland?
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.