History (cont.)

Baltimore County's participation in the Advanced Placement program continues to expand. This past year, 2,027 students took 3,625 Advanced Placement examinations. 71% of the students participating in these tests qualified for college credits. 52% of seniors took the SAT exam compared with approximately 44% of students nationwide.

Baltimore County students averaged 1,021 on the SAT exam, an increase of 24 points over the year 2000. For the second consecutive year, Baltimore County Public Schools will partner with the College Board to increase both participation and achievement on AP and SAT examinations.

The improved performance of the county is evident at all grade levels.  In June, 2001, 91% of second grade students could read and compute on or above grade level, according to the results of national standardized tests.  Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills results for the 2000-2001 school year are above the national norm in reading, language usage, and mathematics at both grades 2 and 4.

In 2000, county scores were above the state average in every Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) data base area.  The number of schools having a composite index of 70 or higher continues to increase across the county.  In 1993, only one school achieved this very rigorous standard.  On the 2000 MSPAP report, county schools which were achieving at this level increased to 26.  The number of schools approaching standards also continues to grow.  Baltimore County achieved the greatest long-term gain on MSPAP and the second highest composite score of the state’s five large metropolitan school systems. 

In 2000, county schools continued high performance on the state’s functional tests, meeting standards in all seven functional test areas in grades 9 and 11 for four years in a row.  The county’s dropout rate was 3.4%, below the state average of 3.9%.

Adult education programs of the Baltimore County Public Schools served more than 30,000 students during the last school year.

Approximately 83 percent of Baltimore County high school graduates plan to continue their education at two-year and four-year colleges and universities and at trade and business schools, either full-time or part-time. Forty-three percent of the graduates plan to attend four-year colleges and another 10 percent will attend two-year colleges.

More than 11,000 adult volunteers help to strengthen the instructional program by their invaluable assistance to students.

Alternative high schools and alternative middle schools provide supportive environments for students whose behavior interferes with their ability to be successful in a regular school setting. Students receive counseling and are taught a variety of coping and social skills to enable them to return to and be successful in regular schools. These schools are:

• Catonsville Center for Alternative Studies
• Inverness Center
• Meadowood Education Center
• Rosedale Center

Local funding provides 70 percent of our $788 million operating budget this school year. About 29 percent comes from the state and 1 percent is from other sources, including federal aid.

Members of the Board of Education are appointed by the governor for five-year terms.  Members serve without pay.  Seven are appointed from councilmanic districts, and four serve the county at-large.  Members are eligible for reappointment but may not serve for more than two consecutive full terms. The student member serves a one-year term.

Magnet school programs offer specialized courses and a variety of educational options. There are 7 elementary, 5 middle, and 15 high schools offering magnet programs in the Baltimore County Public Schools.

The school system's dynamic program of Values Education and Ethical Behavior has received national attention for its successful infusion of values and ethics into all aspects of our curriculum.

This school year our cost per pupil is $7,398. This includes administrative and instructional costs as well as pupil personnel services, transportation, operation of plant and fixed charges.

The Baltimore County Public Schools
An Equal Opportunity Employer