America's Best Schools: Where Maryland Ranks

From economic growth to retaining residents to bragging rights, the quality of public schools in a state carries a lot of weight. Businesses base decisions to locate or expand in states in part on whether workers are available with the skills needed.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed education data for each state from the 2017 edition of the Quality Counts report, released annually by Education Week. The report assessed metrics in three broad categories that can determine the strength of a school system: school finances, student achievement and environmental factors. Massachusetts schools are rated best of all states, while Nevada’s school system has the lowest score.

While politicians and parents may disagree on how to spend public education money and how exactly schools should be improved, most agree that school proficiency must be measured. With that as the goal, Maryland fares well, ranking No. 5 on the list. Here's what the 24/7 Wall St. website says about the state's schools:

5. Maryland

Overall grade: B

Per pupil spending: $12,922 (18th highest)

High school graduation rate: 87.0% (16th highest)

Pct. 3 & 4 yr. olds enrolled in preschool: 50.5% (10th highest)

The wealthiest state in the nation, a typical household in Maryland earns $75,847 a year. Despite a strong tax base, Maryland’s $12,922 annual per-pupil education spending is only a few hundred dollars higher than the average spending nationwide. Though school spending is not especially high in Maryland, it is equitable. No state in the country has more even funding distribution across districts than Maryland.

Ranking relatively well in school finance, Maryland also does better than the vast majority of states in student achievement. In Maryland 55.8% of 11th and 12th graders’ advanced placement tests earned scores of at least a 3 by far the largest share of any state in the country.

Other states in the top 5 are New Jersey, Vermont and New Hampshire. Neighboring Virginia ranked No. 14 overall.

Click here to see 24/7 Wall St.'s list of the states with the best and worst schools.

According to Sterling Lloyd, assistant director at the Education Week Research Center and coauthor of the Quality Counts report, the grading framework rewards states with a “well-rounded approach to education,” the website says. Most states at the top of the rankings have parents able to support their children’s learning in well-funded schools; students report high academic achievement in the classroom; and graduates are able to pursue careers in an economy where opportunities are available to them.

The largest share of a school budget comes from property taxes, so a child from a high-income family is also more likely to attend an affluent school with highly paid teachers who may have greater qualifications. On the flip side, students in poor areas receive fewer resources to start their educations. Experts say strong preschool programs can help offset the income gap, although families who struggle financially are less likely to send their children to preschool.

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