Maryland Public Schools Struggle Despite Funding Boost

Student outcomes worsen even as education spending increases

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Despite a recent surge in funding, many key student academic outcomes in Maryland's public schools have worsened, including declining graduation rates, rising dropout rates, and lower SAT scores. The author, a journalist who has been investigating the state's education system, argues that the problems plaguing public education are internal and that schools are often unwilling to acknowledge the issues.

Why it matters

This story highlights the ongoing challenges facing Maryland's public education system, even as the state has invested billions of additional dollars in funding. It raises questions about the effectiveness of increased spending and the need for schools to critically examine their own practices and decision-making processes in order to improve student outcomes.

The details

The article cites data from the Maryland State Department of Education showing that in the past three years, public education funding has increased by 16%, yet the state's four-year high school graduation rate fell to 86.4%, the lowest level in three years. The high school dropout rate also increased to 9.9%, a 13-year high. Similar trends were seen in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, with graduation rates declining and dropout rates rising despite significant funding increases. The author argues that when schools underperform, they often blame external factors rather than looking inward at their own practices.

  • In 2021, lawmakers in Annapolis passed the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a law that pumps an additional $30 billion in tax dollars into public education statewide over the first 10 years and $4 billion more every year after that.
  • Over the past three years, Maryland public education funding has increased 16%.
  • Last year, Maryland's four-year high school graduation rate fell to 86.4%, its lowest level in three years.
  • Last year, the high school dropout rate statewide increased to 9.9%, a 13-year high.
  • In 2017, the average SAT score in Baltimore City was 910. By 2025, with $500 million in additional funding per year, the average SAT score in Baltimore fell to 856, the lowest in Maryland.

The players

Barbara Dezmon

A former teacher and administrator for Baltimore County Public Schools who later served as the education chair of the Maryland State Conference of the NAACP. She believes the major problem in education is "constant failure and acceptance" and that schools have been making decisions prioritizing the needs of adults over those of students.

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What they’re saying

“The situation is worsening. And what's worse, really worse about it, is that people are accepting it.”

— Barbara Dezmon, Former education chair, Maryland State Conference of the NAACP (Washington Times)

“These children go to school year after year, failing.”

— Barbara Dezmon, Former education chair, Maryland State Conference of the NAACP (Washington Times)

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges facing Maryland's public education system, where increased funding has not translated to improved student outcomes. It suggests the need for schools to critically examine their own practices and decision-making processes in order to better serve students and address the root causes of underperformance.