March 1st, 2023 by WCBC Radio
Maryland is still graduating a high number of students years into the COVID-19 pandemic, but younger students through that same stretch of time are struggling, particularly those that are now in middle school.
That’s according to a new report from Maryland State Department of Education.
State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury said Maryland has “much more work to do” after years of pandemic-spawned “learning disruption.”
WTOP reports that in Maryland, 86.3% of the class of 2022 received a diploma in four years; it’s a percentage drop from the previous year which saw 87.2% of students graduate. The 2022 class was sent home in spring of 2020 as tenth graders and had much of their high school career disrupted by virtual learning and coronavirus lockdowns.
Only one student group defined by the Maryland Department of Education saw an improved graduation rate. Black students saw a slight increases in graduating than the previous year. All others saw decreases, including a dramatic drop of nearly 14% by Native American students.
While graduation rates stayed relatively the same, middle school students seem to continue to struggle, according to the new state school report card.
Individual school report cards and systemwide report cards will be released March 9.
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