Maryland Schools & Education
School quality and education data for all 24 counties.
Avg Graduation Rate
89.4%
Avg Per-Pupil Spending
$10,395
Avg School Score
61/100
Total Schools
1,410
25 districts
State Overview
About Schools in Maryland
Maryland Education Outpaces National Performance Benchmarks
Maryland achieves an impressive 89.4% average graduation rate, surpassing the national average of 87.0%. Despite spending $10,395 per pupil—roughly $2,600 less than the national median—the state maintains a 60.6 average school score, well above the 50.0 national benchmark.
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.
Worcester, Howard, and Talbot Lead the State
Worcester County claims the top spot with a 68.8 school score and a 95.0% graduation rate supported by the state's highest per-pupil investment. Howard and Talbot counties follow closely, both delivering scores above 63.0 and maintaining graduation rates of at least 93.0%.
Maryland Remains a High-Performing Hub for Families
With an average school score 20% higher than the national median, Maryland is a leading state for public education. Families prioritizing academic excellence should focus on Worcester and Howard counties, where high scores and graduation rates consistently exceed state averages.
Top Performing School Counties
All Maryland Counties
| County | School Score |
|---|---|
| Worcester County | 69/100 |
| Howard County | 65/100 |
| Talbot County | 63/100 |
| Kent County | 63/100 |
| Montgomery County | 63/100 |
| Carroll County | 63/100 |
| Allegany County | 63/100 |
| Queen Anne's County | 62/100 |
| Cecil County | 62/100 |
| Charles County | 61/100 |
| Washington County | 61/100 |
| Frederick County | 60/100 |
| Garrett County | 60/100 |
| Calvert County | 60/100 |
| Somerset County | 60/100 |
| Anne Arundel County | 60/100 |
| Baltimore County | 59/100 |
| St. Mary's County | 59/100 |
| Caroline County | 59/100 |
| Harford County | 59/100 |
| Wicomico County | 58/100 |
| Dorchester County | 56/100 |
| Prince George's County | 55/100 |
| Baltimore city | 53/100 |
— = data pending from NCES pipeline.
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Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.