Half of Maryland schools earn 4 or 5 stars in latest report card

The Maryland State Department of Education released the 2026 School Report Card showing that 50% of schools across the state earned four or five stars, a 7% increase from last year, according to WYPR.

Nearly 89% of Maryland schools earned three or more stars, up from 86% last year, as reported by FOX45 Baltimore. The ratings are based on indicators such as academic achievement, school quality, graduation rates, and English language proficiency.

Howard County Public School System led the Baltimore region with the highest average star rating and the largest share of five-star schools, with 23% of its 77 schools earning the top rating, The Baltimore Banner reported. Baltimore County also increased its number of five-star schools to 25.

The improvements are attributed to steady gains in standardized test scores, including the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP), and reductions in chronic absenteeism, according to MSDE Chief of Accountability Geoff Sanderson, as cited by WYPR.

Despite overall progress, disparities remain with Black and Hispanic students continuing to lag behind their white peers in academic achievement and proficiency, a challenge the state acknowledges is ongoing.

Maryland is also transitioning to a new, shorter standardized test called MSTAR for most students starting next school year, though high school students will switch later in 2028-2029 due to curriculum changes, WYPR noted.