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Maryland report cards: Carroll County schools see small declines in some indicators, county average remains 4 stars
Summary
District staff presented the Maryland State Department of Education'issued report card results for school year 2023'24, showing a small decline in elementary overall points (county average from 67.5 to 65.2), middle school gains and modest high school improvement while noting lower results for multilingual learners and other subgroups.
District staff summarized the Maryland Report Card data for school year 2023–24 at the Feb. 12 Board of Education meeting, saying the countywide picture remains strong overall but shows small declines in some indicators and uneven performance by subgroup.
The presentation, led by central office assessment and school improvement staff, used Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) report card measures and star ratings (1–5) to compare the 2022–23 and 2023–24 school years. "About 83% of schools earned a star rating of 3 or higher statewide," staff said. Countywide the district'wide composite score fell from 67.5 to 65.2 (elementary), while middle and high school aggregate measures showed mixed changes: middle schools increased overall (from 57.2 to 60.5) and high schools edged up slightly (62.2 to 62.7).
Nut graf: The report card is one tool among many that MSDE uses to evaluate schools; staff emphasized the data are used for school improvement planning and noted subgroup performance (multilingual learners, economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities) remains lower than overall averages. Several board members urged context and cautioned against assuming declines signal instructional failure.
Key points from the presentation: - Elementary: County average points declined from 67.5 to 65.2; number of 4‑ and 5‑star elementary schools decreased while the number of 3‑star schools increased. Staff noted that some schools' total possible points changed (out of 90 vs. 100) because they did or did not qualify for English language proficiency indicators depending on multilingual learner enrollments. - Middle: County middle school overall performance rose to 60.5 in 2024; two middle schools moved from 3 to 4 stars. Academic progress and school quality improved for many middle schools. - High school: The district'wide high school score rose slightly to 62.7; graduation rates and readiness for postsecondary success increased for the district, though progress in English language proficiency decreased.
Staff and board discussion: Board members asked detailed questions about how progress indicators are calculated, the sensitivity of small school populations (alternative and small schools like Gateway and Crossroads were singled out), and the relationship between central office investments and local assessment results. Presenters said they will continue to meet with school teams to turn the data into targeted interventions, align curriculum to assessments and provide professional learning to teachers.
Ending: Presenters encouraged stakeholders to consult the MSDE report card site (mdreportcard.org) for individual school details. The board and staff framed the results as part of ongoing improvement work rather than a final judgment on school quality.
