Maryland High School Graduation Rates Decline as Hispanic Student Dropouts Rise

State education leaders cite increased immigration enforcement as a major factor behind the dropout trend.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 8:23pm

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Maryland's high school graduation rate dropped by more than 1% in 2025, with state education officials attributing the decline to a rise in Hispanic and multilingual student dropouts. The state's overall dropout rate jumped to nearly 10%, with these student groups accounting for over half of the terminations. The state board president cited heightened political tensions and immigration enforcement activity as major contributors to the troubling trend, which was most pronounced in Baltimore City's public schools.

Why it matters

High school graduation rates are a key indicator of educational attainment and student success, with long-term impacts on employment, earnings, and community well-being. The disproportionate dropout of Hispanic and multilingual students raises concerns about equity, access, and the ability of Maryland's education system to serve diverse student populations, especially in the face of challenging political and immigration policy environments.

The details

Maryland's four-year high school graduation rate fell to 86.4% in 2025, down from the previous year. At the same time, the state's dropout rate increased to nearly 10%, with Hispanic and multilingual students accounting for more than half of those terminations. State education officials noted that these students are 'basically dropping out of the cohort' and not enrolling elsewhere, indicating a concerning trend of disengagement from the education system.

  • Maryland's high school graduation rate dropped to 86.4% in 2025.

The players

Timothy Guy

Assistant State Superintendent of Maryland.

Joshua Michael

President of the Maryland State Board of Education.

Baltimore City Public Schools

The school district with the lowest graduation rate in the state at 71.7%.

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What they’re saying

“We're seeing heightened political tensions, including the presence of immigration enforcement activity that are being felt directly inside school communities.”

— Joshua Michael, President, Maryland State Board of Education

“Students that we are losing to dropouts, they are basically dropping out of the cohort with what's called a termination code. So they're basically leaving the school systems for some reason or another, and they're not enrolling back in schooling in another place.”

— Timothy Guy, Assistant State Superintendent

What’s next

The Maryland State Board of Education plans to further investigate the root causes behind the dropout trend and develop targeted interventions to support Hispanic and multilingual students and improve graduation rates across the state.

The takeaway

The decline in Maryland's high school graduation rates, driven by a disproportionate increase in Hispanic and multilingual student dropouts, underscores the need for the state's education system to better address the unique challenges and barriers facing these vulnerable student populations, particularly in the face of heightened political tensions and immigration enforcement activity.