"Maryland schools rank No. 1 for fifth year in a row"

[octoburn]

For the fifth year in a row, Maryland has the best public school system in America, according to rankings published Thursday by a leading education publication that gave the state high marks for post-graduation outcomes, state funding levels and overall student achievement.

In the report card published annually by Education Week, the state was issued an overall grade of B+, compared to the nation's overall C+, after an assessment of six areas that examined education policy and performance.

Maryland received its highest marks, A, for its emphasis on early-childhood education, and preparing students for college and work.

Linky

It looks like there is some great news to report about education and schools here in Maryland for a change.

[ivanbalt]

Linky

It looks like there is some great news to report about education and schools here in Maryland for a change.

Maryland as a whole has always great schools. It's Baltimore's school system that is the odd man out.

[demopublican]

It is amazing that these crappy schools are the best in the Nation

[bmore_ken]

It is amazing that these crappy schools are the best in the Nation

When's the last time you've been in a school outside of Baltimore City to call them crappy?

[slapshot]

It is amazing that these crappy schools are the best in the Nation

As with any survey, poll, ranking - It's all about how you set the metrics, or questions asked.

[ybnormal]

"House Speaker Michael E. Busch said the reason the state was No. 1 five years in a row was because the governor choose to invest in education.

"Invest" = over 60% of all income tax revenue for "education".

And what's the high school graduation rate for city school students, 13%?

We're #1! We're #1!

[Marshan Man]

"Invest" = over 60% of all income tax revenue for "education".

And what's the high school graduation rate for city school students, 13%?

We're #1! We're #1!

Where the hell did you get your numberS? You just make stuff up... What a sad old man...you need some sort of fulfillment... go volunteeer or something.

The 2008 Cohort 4-year graduation rate is 65.8 percent, up from 61.5 percent for the 2007 Cohort; the 2008
Cohort 5-year graduation rate is 70.6 percent, up from 66.7 percent for the 2007 Cohort.

http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/...FINALOct31.pdf

[demopublican]

When's the last time you've been in a school outside of Baltimore City to call them crappy?

Today. Ever seen Hereford High?

[octoburn]

It looks like even good news now creates something for some to be upset about.

[bmore_ken]

Today. Ever seen Hereford High?

Yup, point?

A team from Hereford High School was one of three winners at the June 9 competition, according to a news release. A Hereford Middle School team was recognized for its programming skills.

http://huntvalley.patch.com/articles...cs-competition

Two 2012 Hereford High School graduates were among 4 Baltimore County winners of the 'Mind in Motion' scholarship program.

http://huntvalley.patch.com/articles...n-scholarships

Olivia Keithley, center, is flanked by Baltimore County Public Schools' Superintendent Joe Hairston on the left and County Executive Kevin Kamenetz on the right. At a March 15 ceremony, the Baltimore County Council for Women honored Keithley, a 17-year-old Hereford High School senior, as its "Young Woman of the Year" for her contributions to the community. Credit Courtesy of Baltimore County

http://huntvalley.patch.com/articles...#photo-9376932

[slapshot]

Today. Ever seen Hereford High?

Let us not confuse educational quality, with physical decay. The two are mutually exclusive.

[demopublican]

Yup, point?

A team from Hereford High School was one of three winners at the June 9 competition, according to a news release. A Hereford Middle School team was recognized for its programming skills.

http://huntvalley.patch.com/articles...cs-competition

Two 2012 Hereford High School graduates were among 4 Baltimore County winners of the 'Mind in Motion' scholarship program.

http://huntvalley.patch.com/articles...n-scholarships

Olivia Keithley, center, is flanked by Baltimore County Public Schools' Superintendent Joe Hairston on the left and County Executive Kevin Kamenetz on the right. At a March 15 ceremony, the Baltimore County Council for Women honored Keithley, a 17-year-old Hereford High School senior, as its "Young Woman of the Year" for her contributions to the community. Credit Courtesy of Baltimore County

http://huntvalley.patch.com/articles...#photo-9376932

Three suicides there in the last 12 months. I pulled both my kids from there.
I am sure some kids do well there and enjoy it. If you like football or John Deere you are at home.

[demopublican]

Let us not confuse educational quality, with physical decay. The two are mutually exclusive.

They can be but are not necessarily.

[slapshot]

Three suicides there in the last 12 months. I pulled both my kids from there..

Very sad.

Some of the most competitive universities in the country, also have some of the highest suicide rates.

Suicides can be caused by many things - from kids not feeling they fit in, to academic peer pressure.

A parent pulling their kids from a school is always their prerogative. But suicides is a new one on me.

[slapshot]

They can be but are not necessarily.

The year my oldest son graduated from Severna Park HS, they had 9 National Merit Finalists (not semi, or qualifiers, but Finalists) in his graduating class. No school, private or public in Maryland has ever come close to this number. The school is also the oldest HS in AACo, and has many physical plant problems. A new school is planned for FY2016.

Academics is about having motivated teachers and students that wish to learn and excel.

[RTB]

I'm sure that overall, Maryland does have strong schools compared to many other states. Look at how much tax revenue goes into them compared to places like Texas and Mississippi. And given that Maryland consistently ranks No. 1 or 2 in terms of average household income nationally, we have more money in absolute terms to spend on our schools.

But during the presidential campaign, Mitt Romney claimed that Massachusetts has the strongest public schools in the nation. Other rankings show New Jersey on top. It all depends on how you measure school strength.

As the parent of two kids in Howard County Public Schools, I don't care so much about the state's ranking, but I do care about the quality of education my kids are receiving. So far, they're each getting a rock solid education. The one who loves to challenge himself has been given plenty of advanced work to keep him motivated and the one who regards her elementary school primarily as a place to socialize with her friends has been treated with a firm but kind insistence that she stretch herself more, but balanced with an appreciation that she's only in 3rd grade. On the whole, I'm very pleased. I think they both receive way too much homework, but that seems to be the latest education fad. Not much can be done about that.

[Bartman]

OK, so MD is #1

What are they trying for #0?

What's wrong with being 2nd or 3rd or even 4th out of 50 states?

Just stop taking the Cash out of My pockets and making it tougher on Me every year!

I haven't had a Raise in 4yrs now and there's not likely any coming from my Co. anytime soon.

Just STOP it!

[pmore108]

Three suicides there in the last 12 months. I pulled both my kids from there.
I am sure some kids do well there and enjoy it. If you like football or John Deere you are at home.

Hereford has become one of the better schools in the state in the last few years. You can venture to any school in the country and find tragedy/problems happening. Also, if you are going to make a narrow minded statement like, " if you like football or John Deere you are at home" you should replace football with lacrosse as their lacrosse team has become the best public school team in the state over the last five years.

[jessup270]

In all fairness when it comes to education, teachers have to work with the students given to them.

For example, if you have 50 teachers who work in Howard County, whose students score in the 90th percentile in testing almost every year, that same group of teachers with their skills and experience, should be able to reproduce those similar test results if they are are assigned to a typical Baltimore City school.

Of course we all know that similar test results would not happen.

In school districts that do well, parents usually prepare their children well in advance before they step foot into a public school building.

Unfortunately, that is not the norm in most urban areas.

[slapshot]

Also, if you are going to make a narrow minded statement like, " if you like football or John Deere you are at home" you should replace football with lacrosse as their lacrosse team has become the best public school team in the state over the last five years.

Whoa, there fella. Not to interject some sports trivia, BUT, a few qualifiers are in order :

- Not for girls. That would be Severna Park (use to be Mt Hebron) - hands down.
- Hereford competes at the lower 3A/2A calssification, and have dominated in this classification, but it's foolish to believe they would dominate at the more competitive (and deeper) 4A/3A classification, where Severna Park, South River, Dulaney and Liganore have all won recent state championships. Look at what public school programs get the lions share of D1 lax offers....that's right, the vast majority come from 4A/3A.