Baltimore Schools Hit Record Highs in New State Report Card
More than half of the district’s schools earned at least three stars, marking a sharp rise from the 25 percent recorded in 2022.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Baltimore City Public Schools reached a historic milestone in the 2026 Maryland School Report Card, released on October 29, 2026. For the first time, 53 percent of the district’s schools earned a rating of three stars or higher. This represents a record high for the city’s education system.
The new ratings mark a dramatic shift from 2022, when only 25 percent of schools achieved that level of performance. Over the past four years, the number of schools earning three to five stars has more than doubled. In the current reporting cycle, 23 schools saw their overall ratings increase. An additional five schools moved into the three to five star category. Fifteen schools in the district earned the top two ratings, which are four or five stars.
District leaders pointed to two specific areas of growth. Middle school absentee rates declined across all student groups. Math scores for students with disabilities also improved in middle school classrooms. These metrics contributed to the higher star ratings for many institutions within the district.
Dr. Jermaine Dawson, the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, credited the community for the results. In a statement, he said, “Strong school ratings are only possible when every student, each family, and all of our staff commit to academic excellence.” Dawson added that the district aims to build on this foundation to create career ready, future ready, and world ready students. He emphasized that teaching and learning happen daily across the city.
Robert Salley, the Chair of the Board of Education, noted that the district is moving toward its recently announced focus areas. The board aims to increase the number of high-performing schools. Salley thanked the community for providing feedback that shaped these priorities. He said the support helps raise achievement for students in all neighborhoods.
The state report card evaluates more than 1,400 public schools serving 880,231 students. These schools are located across 23 counties and Baltimore City. The system uses six specific indicators to calculate scores. These include academic achievement on state tests in English and math. It also measures academic progress compared to previous years. The report tracks progress for English learners toward proficiency. It includes data on chronic absence, student surveys, and curriculum enrollment. High schools are also assessed on graduation rates and readiness for postsecondary success.
Schools receive a total earned points percent, a star rating, and a percentile rank. The star rating provides a concise view of a school’s total earned points. The percentile rank compares a school’s performance against other schools in the state. Parents and educators can use these figures to track year-over-year progress. The data allows for direct comparisons between different schools in Maryland.
