What share of students in Maryland are proficient in math?

In 2024, 25% of eighth graders in Maryland public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (22nd lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 33% in reading, compared with 33% and 36% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Maryland, United States: official figures

86.3% of public high school students in Maryland graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 24th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

86.3%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

216

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

268

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$20,208

FY2024

Public school enrollment

890,122

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

44.7%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Maryland rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Maryland was 86.3% in 2021-22, compared with 84% in 2011-12 and 86.9% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Maryland?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Maryland was 77.9% for economically disadvantaged students, 69.3% for students with disabilities and 56.6% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Maryland?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Maryland was 84.0% for Black, 72.3% for Hispanic and 93.5% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Maryland score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Maryland averaged 216 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 220 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 34% scored at or above Proficient and 41% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Maryland score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Maryland averaged 258 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 21st highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 264 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 33% scored at or above Proficient and 34% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Maryland score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Maryland averaged 234 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 239 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 37% scored at or above Proficient and 30% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Maryland score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Maryland averaged 268 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 280 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 25% scored at or above Proficient and 46% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Maryland spend per student?

Public school systems in Maryland spent $20,208 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 16th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Maryland going up?

Current spending per pupil in Maryland rose from $15,148 in fiscal 2019 to $20,208 in fiscal 2024, up 33.4% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 7.0%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Maryland spend school money on?

Of the $20,208 spent per pupil in Maryland in fiscal 2024, $12,513 went on instruction and $7,131 on support services; salaries and wages came to $11,944 per pupil and employee benefits $4,770.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Maryland come from?

Public school systems in Maryland received $21.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 9.4% from the federal government, 44.1% from the state and 46.5% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Maryland spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Maryland was $20.1 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $18.0 billion was current spending and $1.9 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $7.1 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Maryland?

890,122 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Maryland in fall 2023, down 2.1% on fall 2019 (909,404) and up 2.8% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Maryland?

Public schools in Maryland had 62,236 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 14.3 pupils per teacher, 24th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Maryland in fall 2019: 14.8).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Maryland have a college degree?

44.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Maryland, about 1,950,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 5th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.2 percentage points on 2021 (42.5%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Maryland have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 21.5% of adults 25 and over in Maryland had a graduate or professional degree and 6.6% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Maryland did not finish high school?

91.4% of adults 25 and over in Maryland had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 8.6% without one; that share is joint 23rd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Maryland compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Maryland ranks 26 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
23	Pennsylvania	87.0%
24	New York	86.7%
25	North Carolina	86.4%
26	Maryland	86.3%
27	Ohio	86.2%
28	Maine	86.1%
29	Hawaii	86.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Maryland ranks 28 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
25	Nebraska	79.0%
26	New Jersey	78.7%
27	Georgia	78.6%
28	Maryland	77.9%
29	Louisiana	77.5%
30	Utah	77.5%
31	Ohio	76.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Maryland ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
13	Pennsylvania	216
14	Ohio	216
15	Washington	216
16	Maryland	216
17	Louisiana	216
18	Idaho	216
19	Hawaii	216

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Maryland ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
18	Georgia	259
19	Washington	259
20	Tennessee	259
21	Maryland	258
22	Kentucky	258
23	Rhode Island	258
24	New York	257

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Maryland ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
36	Louisiana	235
37	Vermont	235
38	New York	234
39	Maryland	234
40	California	233
41	Oklahoma	233
42	Nevada	233

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Maryland ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
35	Texas	269
36	Georgia	269
37	Mississippi	269
38	Maryland	268
39	South Carolina	268
40	Oregon	268
41	Florida	267

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Maryland ranks 30 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
27	Rhode Island	26.0%
28	Arizona	25.8%
29	California	25.3%
30	Maryland	24.7%
31	Maine	24.5%
32	Kentucky	24.3%
33	Michigan	23.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Maryland ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
18	North Carolina	41.7%
19	Virginia	41.5%
20	Nevada	41.4%
21	Maryland	40.8%
22	New York	40.7%
23	Illinois	40.7%
24	Georgia	40.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Maryland ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
13	Alaska	$21,004
14	California	$20,791
15	Wyoming	$20,521
16	Maryland	$20,208
17	Maine	$19,962
18	Washington	$18,564
19	Michigan	$18,314

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Maryland ranks 22 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
19	Alabama	+35.2%
20	Illinois	+34.2%
21	Arkansas	+33.5%
22	Maryland	+33.4%
23	New Jersey	+32.8%
24	Mississippi	+32.7%
25	Louisiana	+32.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Maryland ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
18	New Jersey	47.4%
19	Louisiana	47.1%
20	Rhode Island	47.1%
21	Maryland	46.5%
22	South Carolina	44.6%
23	Montana	43.2%
24	Oklahoma	41.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Maryland ranks 24 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
21	Texas	14.8
22	New Mexico	14.6
23	Georgia	14.4
24	Maryland	14.3
25	Hawaii	14.2
26	Delaware	14.2
27	South Carolina	14.1

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Maryland ranks 24 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
21	Indiana	-1.8%
22	Iowa	-1.8%
23	Missouri	-2.1%
24	Maryland	-2.1%
25	Connecticut	-2.1%
26	Pennsylvania	-2.3%
27	Arkansas	-2.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Maryland ranks 5 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
2	Massachusetts	48.3%
3	Colorado	47.8%
4	Vermont	45.1%
5	Maryland	44.7%
6	New Jersey	44.5%
7	Virginia	43.3%
8	Connecticut	42.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Maryland ranks 24 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
21	North Carolina	9.1%
22	South Carolina	9.0%
23	Massachusetts	8.6%
24	Maryland	8.6%
25	Virginia	8.3%
26	Connecticut	8.2%
27	Delaware	8.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Maryland: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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