About 85.8 percent of the Class of 2023 statewide earned a diploma within four years, slightly lower than the 86.3 percent graduation rate for the previous class of students, according to state data. For economically disadvantaged students, the graduation rate increased by about 5 percentage points to 80.8%.
Maryland education leaders say the pandemic contributed to a slight decline in overall graduation rates, with students in the Class of 2023 in ninth grade when schools switched to remote instruction in March 2020. It pointed out.
But they also expressed concerns about academic progress among Hispanic and Latino students, the state's fastest-growing demographic and half of the 2023 class of school dropouts.
According to the department's data, 9.8% of all Maryland students in the Class of 2023 dropped out, compared with 8.5% the previous year. The percentage of Hispanic and Latino students is much higher, with about 22.9% reportedly dropping out, according to state data.
“I think the disparity with the Hispanic population is surprising to me,” said Nick Greer, a state commissioner in Baltimore City. “That started asking a lot of questions: 'What are we doing?' What are we learning?”
statewide Data shows persistent economic and racial disparities in the ability of students to earn a high school diploma in less than four years. Approximately 93% of white students in the Class of 2023 graduated within her four years. Meanwhile, the Class of 2023 graduated about 85% of black students and 71% of Hispanic and Latino students.
Joshua Michael, vice chairman of the State Board of Education, said the state's “Latinx student performance is among the lowest in the country when compared to Latinx students in other states.” He referred to the state's results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is often considered the nation's report card. “…This speaks to a more systemic problem in our school system.”
He added that he would like to do further subgroup analysis.
According to enrollment data for the 2022-23 school year, about 33 percent of all Maryland students were white and another 33 percent were Black. Hispanic and Latino students made up about 22 percent of the student body.
According to data from the Maryland State Planning Department. that Between 2000 and 2020, the state saw an increase of approximately 331%. There are many Hispanic and Latino students. Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland's largest school system, already has a majority of Hispanic and Latino students.
On Tuesday, state officials spoke about the lingering effects of the pandemic on some students. The Class of 2023 also continued virtual learning through their sophomore year, and the state had a high rate of chronic absenteeism among third-year students, Chandra Haislett said. of Assistant State Police Superintendent.
“We are still feeling the effects of the pandemic,” Hyslett told the state board.
