Schools

MCPS Gets C- Grade in Brookings Index

See how Montgomery County's public schools fared in an index based on—among other things—school choice availability.

Several Maryland school districts were given letter grades on report cards compiled by the Brookings Institution in its Education Choice and Competition Index (ECCI), with Baltimore City Schools receiving the best score in Maryland and two county school systems earning an F grade. 

The city schools ranked 11th overall out of the country's 107 largest school districts, for a B- grade. Nearby Washington, DC, schools were ranked seventh, but also earned a B- grade in the rankings.

Montgomery County schools ranked 42nd, with a grade of C-. It's an unusual position for Montgomery County schools to be in, as many of the schools frequently receive top ratings by The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report. But with only one public charter school, the county school system was unlikely to fare well in this index.

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At the bottom of the heap were the Anne Arundel and Howard County school systems, both earning F marks. While the index authors said the systems perform well in many areas, they need improvement in the availability of alternative schools, accessible online information, restructuring or closing undersubscribed schools and transportation, index authors said.

Also noteworthy: Fairfax County Public Schools, home of the renowned Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, ranked at No. 70 in this index, with a letter grade of D.

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The 2013 Education Choice and Competition Index is an annual guide to the conditions of K-12 school choice in the nation’s largest school districts, according to a news release.

"The intent of the ECCI is to create public awareness of the differences among districts in their support of school choice, provide a framework for efforts to improve choice and competition, and recognize leaders among school districts in the design and implementation of choice and competition systems," according to the study's website.

The rankings use data from 2013. To view data, see the complete index on the Brookings Institution’s website.

  • Baltimore City Public Schools rank 11th with a score of 56 out of 100 points, a B- grade.
  • Baltimore County Public Schools rank 22nd with a score of 49 out of 100 points, a C grade.
  • Prince George’s County Public Schools rank 29th with a score of 47 out of 100 points, a C grade.
  • Montgomery County Public Schools rank 42nd with a score of 44 out of 100 points, a C- grade.
  • Anne Arundel County Public Schools rank 77th with a score of 33 out of 100 points, an F grade.
  • Howard County Public Schools rank 101st with a score of 24 out of 100 points, an F grade.
The country is in the middle of a K-12 education revolution that is characterized by many transformations—among them, a shift toward more choice by parents in where their children are educated with public funds, the index authors said. This shift is signified by the growth of public charter schools, the adoption of open enrollment systems for public schools, the expansion of statewide voucher programs, and continued increases in the availability of technology-based distance/virtual education.

What letter grade would you give Montgomery County's school system? Tell us in the comments.


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