Baltimore Students Outpace Statewide Growth in English and Math Testing

Baltimore City students posted continued improvement on Maryland’s latest standardized assessments, offering an encouraging sign as the school system prepares for the next academic year.

The recently released Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program results show that Baltimore students improved in both English language arts and mathematics, with the city’s growth exceeding the statewide rate in several areas.

Statewide, 51.7% of students reached proficiency in English language arts during the 2025–2026 school year, compared with 50.8% the previous year. Mathematics remains the more significant challenge, with 27.1% of students statewide reaching proficiency, up from 26.5%.

The results are part of a longer recovery following the pandemic-era disruption of classroom instruction. State data indicates English proficiency has climbed from 45.3% in 2022, while math proficiency has risen from 21% during the same period.

Progress With More Work Ahead

Baltimore’s gains are meaningful, particularly in a district that has faced persistent challenges involving attendance, staffing, poverty and access to academic resources.

However, improvement does not mean the achievement gap has closed. Mathematics performance—especially in the middle-school grades—remains an urgent statewide concern. Only 9.6% of Maryland eighth graders reportedly reached proficiency in math in the newest results.

Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises is also beginning a community listening tour tied partly to literacy performance and the district’s future academic priorities. Families and educators will be looking for details on how the district plans to convert the latest gains into sustained classroom progress.