Maryland is spending billions more on public education, but despite huge increases in funding, some student outcomes are getting worse.
In 2017, eight years ago, Maryland spent $7.7 billion tax dollars on K-12 education. By 2024, that number had spiked to $11.4 billion – a 48% increase.
But as Maryland’s public school funding has surged, a Project Baltimore investigation found one key academic metric has plummeted and is now below the national average: SAT scores.
“Maryland is falling further and further behind,” said Corey DeAngelis, an educational advocate who promotes school choice and parental rights. “It doesn’t surprise me all that much that the outcomes aren’t getting any better with substantial increases in funding.”
In Maryland, every year, tens of thousands of high school students take the SAT – a college entrance exam that measures reading, writing and math skills — but student scores are getting worse.
In 2017, Maryland’s average SAT score was 1063, slightly above the national average of 1060. By 2022, scores had increased to 1072. But in 2023 the scores began falling. By 2024, Maryland’s average SAT score was down to 1000 – which is now below the national average of 1024.
In the Baltimore region, every school system’s average SAT scores have fallen compared to 2017, except Howard County, which is up 50 points. Anne Arundel County’s average SAT score is down more than 100 points. Baltimore County is down 59 points. Baltimore City’s average SAT score is down to 867 – by far the lowest in our region.
“We need competition. We need families to be in the driver’s seat,” said DeAngelis.
DeAngelis believes the solution to improve student outcomes in Maryland is not to increase funding. Rather, the answer is to empower families to choose how the money is spent – instead of school bureaucrats.
“Families should be able to take that money that’s meant for their kids and go to a school that’s doing a better job,” said DeAngelis. “And that would provide an incentive for the public schools to up their game.”
Project Baltimore emailed the Maryland State Department of Education asking, “What is the state doing to increase SAT scores and how can taxpayers be assured that future increases in funding will result in improved student outcomes?”
MSDE responded, “Maryland SAT scores are consistent with larger, national trends. However, our proposed Academic Excellence Program will help to increase student achievement through effective instructional coaching for teachers statewide and prioritizing schools with low or declining academic performance.”
“This is another story about inequality that’s baked into the public school system in America, particularly in places like Baltimore and the rest of the Maryland, where some families have more access to educational opportunities than others,” said DeAngelis. “If we had the money, follow the child, then more families would be able to access better education, which would be an equalizer.”
Follow Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on X and Facebook. Send news tips to cjpapst@sbgtv.com