Q: What is the Maryland School Report Card, and why does it exist?
The Maryland School Report Card shows how well schools are doing in key areas like academics, attendance, and student success. It helps families, educators, and the community understand school performance and where improvements may be needed. You can find this information at MdReportCard.org.
Q: What is my school’s “overall score”?
Each school gets an overall score that reflects how it’s performing in several areas. This score is shown in three ways:
Q: What does the overall score mean for my child’s school?
The overall score gives a snapshot of how the school is doing. It helps identify strengths and areas that need work. Keep in mind, it’s just one tool. Other factors, like school culture and teacher support, also matter.
Q: Why doesn’t my school have a score or rating?
Some schools don’t receive a score if they don’t meet certain data requirements. For example, if a school has too few English learners, it may not be scored on English proficiency progress.
Q: If my school has a low star rating, does that mean it’s a bad school?
Not necessarily. A lower rating means there are areas for improvement based on last year’s data. But the Report Card doesn’t capture everything; things like caring teachers, student support, and community involvement are just as important.
Q: What factors go into the school’s score?
For elementary and middle schools, the score is based on:
For high schools, the score includes:
Q: How do other states show school performance?
Like Maryland, most states use overall scores and rating systems (like stars) to share school performance. This is required by federal law through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Q: Why does the Report Card include groups of students by race/ethnicity, and those receiving special services?
Federal law requires that we report the performance of all students as a single group and disaggregate the performance of specific groups of students. Student group performance is critical information for schools, teachers, families, and students that helps ensure every student’s educational needs are met. There are seven race/ethnicity student groups: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino of any Race, White, and Two or More Races.
There are three groups of students receiving special services: Economically Disadvantaged, multilingual learners, and Students with Disabilities.
Q: How can I use the School Report Card and Maryland Report Card website to better understand how my school is doing?
The Report Card is the most comprehensive collection of public school data that Maryland has collected and made available in one place. The School Report Card is an easy-to-use overview of school performance. The website is interactive and detailed. Together, they give both accessible and comprehensive information about school performance.
Q: How can we use the Report Card to improve our school?
The Maryland Report Card can be used to highlight strengths and to identify those areas in which improvement is needed. This is essential to developing a plan for improvement.
Q: What accounts for the difference in how this year’s star ratings were calculated?
No changes were made from the prior reporting year.
Q: How do we explain differences between a school’s score on the Maryland Report Card and other third-party evaluations?
Third-party evaluations (such as GreatSchools or SchoolDigger) are not based on the Maryland accountability system. Some use a simple user survey, while others choose a small number of factors like student test scores. In comparison, the Maryland accountability system measures school performance using a variety of ways and presents the information in the same way for all schools across the state.
Q: How can I use the School Report Card website to learn more about my child’s school?
The School Report Card gives a clear picture of how your school is doing in areas like academics, attendance, and student success. The website, MdReportCard.org, is easy to use and full of helpful details. It lets you see how your school is performing and compare it to others across the state.
Q: How can families and schools use the Report Card to make improvements?
The Report Card helps everyone – families, teachers, and school leaders – see what’s working well and where there’s room to grow. It’s a great starting point for conversations about how to make the school better for all students.
Q: Were there any changes to how star ratings were calculated this year?
No, the method for calculating star ratings stayed the same as last year.
Q: Why is my school’s rating different from other websites like GreatSchools or SchoolDigger?
Websites like GreatSchools or SchoolDigger often use their own methods, like surveys or test scores, and may only focus on a few factors. The Maryland Report Card uses a statewide system that looks at many areas – such as academics, attendance, and school environment – and reports data the same way for all schools. This makes it more complete and consistent.
Q: Where can I find more information about the Report Card?
Visit MdReportCard.org or MarylandPublicSchools.org for more details about your school’s performance and how scores are calculated.
Q: Does PGCPS have other ways to evaluate school performance?
The PGCPS annual Climate and Culture Survey reports student, family, and staff responses to questions about how it “feels” where they learn and work. It is another way to highlight successes or identify areas that need improvement.
