March 8, 2023, Community Update: State Department Releases 2022 Maryland School Report Card
Dear Team BCPS Parents, Guardians, Staff and Students—
Today, the Maryland State Department of Education released new accountability information for each public school system in the state, including the Star ratings for individual schools. These new Star Ratings are calculated using 2021–2022 school year accountability data. Since 2017–2018, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has reported on accountability components outlined in the Maryland Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan which evaluates school systems and individual schools on a set of criteria. At the elementary and middle school level, schools are assessed on academic achievement, academic progress, progress in achieving English language proficiency, and school quality and student success. High schools are assessed on academic achievement, graduation rate, progress in achieving English language proficiency, readiness for post-secondary success, and school quality and student success.
Image Source: Maryland State Department of Education
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the administration of state required tests, this year is the first time since the 2018–2019 school year that the MD Report Card has been updated with new accountability information.
Out of 160 BCPS schools with accountability data as outlined by MSDE—
- 21 schools earned a Star Rating of 5
- 38 schools earned a Star Rating of 4
- 63 schools earned a Star Rating of 3
- 33 schools earned a Star Rating of 2
- 5 schools earned a Star Rating of 1
The overall BCPS 2022 Star Average is 3.2 which is -0.2 points less than our 2019 Star average of 3.4. Of the 109 elementary schools that received a 2022 Star Rating, 13 increased their rating by one star. Twenty-six elementary schools have 2022 Star Ratings that are lower than their 2019 Star Ratings. Star ratings for two elementary schools decreased by 2 stars between 2019 and 2022.
Of the 27 middle schools that received a 2022 Star Rating, one middle school increased their rating by one star. Eleven middle schools have 2022 Star Ratings that are lower than their 2019 Star Ratings. The Star Rating for one middle school decreased by 2 stars between 2019 and 2022. Of the 24 high schools that received a 2022 Star Rating, three schools increased their rating by one star. Three high schools have 2022 Star Ratings that are lower than their 2019 ratings.
BCPS centers and programs are not included in the results as they do not qualify for Star Ratings.
While the Maryland School Report Card provides valuable insight about school performance, it provides a very limited snapshot of the progress of our more than 111,00 students and the work our schools are doing to rebound from the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We use multiple and frequent measures of students’ progress to determine if our schools are meeting the needs of all students and reducing and eliminating disparities in achievement. We use these data points to plan for the start of the school year and to make revisions and offer interventions during the school year.
I want you to know there are great things happening in our school system. As I continue to visit schools across the county and speak with our teachers, administrators, staff and students, I have seen high levels of student engagement, rigorous teaching and learning, growth in our students and staff and deep community and partnership building. We know there is much more work to do to ensure each student at every school is meeting their full potential. And as I shared in my January 23 message to the community, BCPS is working relentlessly to improve and accelerate student learning.
We have taken immediate and strategic steps to address learning gaps and have re-energized our efforts to narrow achievement gaps across the district. We are deploying targeted resources and providing support to school leadership teams to help them understand and interpret these results and refine their improvement plans. Staff from the Department of Schools, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, Office of Student Support Services and the Office of Family and Community Engagement work directly with school teams to address academic growth. Our core purpose is centered on increasing achievement for all students and providing a variety of pathways to prepare students for college and careers. We are committed to building a school system where all students regardless of their background, receive a world-class education and have the opportunities, access, and support they need to reach their highest potential.
With appreciation,
Darryl L. Williams, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Important Resources for Families
Guide to Understanding Your 2022 Maryland School Report Card
The Maryland Report Card: Maryland’s Accountability System
The Maryland Report Card: A Measure of Equity
The Maryland Report Card: The Maryland School Survey