Howard County schools nearly double top-tier ratings

The Howard County Public School System earned the highest average star rating in the Baltimore region for the third consecutive year. State education officials released the Maryland School Report Card on Thursday, showing that 23% of the district’s 77 schools received the top five-star rating.

The number of five-star schools in the county rose to 18 this year, nearly doubling the 10 schools that held the top mark in the previous cycle. Centennial High School and Marriotts Ridge High School returned to five-star status after dropping to four stars last year. In contrast, Rockburn Elementary and Lime Kiln Middle School moved down to four stars after earning five stars in the prior year.

Sixteen schools in the district improved their ratings this year. Most of these gains involved schools moving from four to five stars. The district currently has no one-star schools, a distinction shared by no other county in Central Maryland. Cedar Lane Special Center, which serves students with disabilities, moved from one to two stars. Guilford Park High School, which opened in August 2023, received its first rating of three stars.

Specific test score improvements contributed to the higher ratings at several campuses. Marriotts Ridge High School saw a 10 percentage point increase in passing rates on state English Language Arts exams, with 87.8% of students passing. Hammond High School recorded a 5 percentage point rise in English proficiency, with 72.5% of students scoring proficient.

Howard County is tied with Calvert County for the second-highest share of five-star schools in the state, with 23% of schools in each county earning the top rating. Worcester County holds the highest proportion at 27%. Baltimore City has the most one-star schools in the state, with five schools receiving the lowest rating. Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties each have two one-star schools, while Harford and Montgomery counties each have one.

State education leaders are currently considering changes to the rating system. Schools currently earn stars based on factors such as graduation rates, attendance, and standardized test scores.