The Maryland State Department of Education(MSDE) released data showing Baltimore County Public Schools students have made gains in performance on the English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics state assessments for the third consecutive year.
According to the data, 103 BCPS schools saw increases in the percentage of students scoring proficient in both ELA and math. BCPS students made gains on 13 of 16 English and math assessment data points. The BCPS rate of improvement in ELA for 2026 (1.17%) exceeds the statewide improvement percentage (0.9%) over one year (school year 2024-2025 to 2025-2026).
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) data provides a snapshot of the progress students and schools are making on state academic content standards as well as student progress toward graduation and career readiness.
Spotlight on BCPS School and Student Performance
• 62 elementary schools increased in ELA performance, with six schools achieving double-digit percentage point increases.
• 60 elementary schools saw increases in math proficiency, with one elementary school showing double-digit increases.
• 14 middle schools achieved increases in math proficiency, with Dumbarton Middle having the highest increase at 8.77 percentage points.
• 20 middle schools increased in ELA performance with six middle schools increasing more than 5 percentage points.
• 11 high schools increased in ELA performance, with Parkville High having the highest increase of 6.58 percentage points.
• Black/African American and Hispanic students demonstrated increased proficiency on the ELA 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 assessments from 2025.
• Grade 8 students outperformed the Maryland state average proficiency rate on the social studies assessment.
• BCPS students outperformed the state average on the Algebra 2 assessment.
• On the ELA 6 assessment, 44.8% of students scored proficient or higher, up 2.9 percentage points from 2025.
• On the ELA 5 assessment, 46.6% of students scored proficient or higher, up 2.7 percentage points from 2025.
• On the Math 4 assessment, 35.8% of students scored proficient or higher, up 1.3 percentage points from 2025.
• On the Math 3 assessment, 41.7% of students scored proficient or higher, up nearly 0.7 percentage points from 2025.
| MCAP | BCPS 24-25 | BCPS 25-26 | 1 Year Change |
| ELA 3 | 47.38% | 47.88% | 0.50% ↑ |
| ELA 4 | 48.33% | 48.15% | -0.18% |
| ELA 5 | 42.74% | 45.50% | 2.76% ↑ |
| ELA 6 | 40.43% | 43.44% | 3.01% ↑ |
| ELA 7 | 44.08% | 46.06% | 1.98% ↑ |
| ELA 8 | 39.82% | 41.16% | 1.33% ↑ |
| ELA 10 | 52.08% | 51.69% | -0.39% |
| Math 3 | 39.24% | 40.49% | 1.25% ↑ |
| Math 4 | 32.99% | 34.47% | 1.48% ↑ |
| Math 5 | 27.59% | 28.01% | 0.42% ↑ |
| Math 6 | 16.50% | 16.52% | 0.02% ↑ |
| Math 7 | 4.61% | 4.14% | -0.47% |
| Math 8 | 1.67% | 1.83% | 0.16% ↑ |
| Algebra I | 11.01% | 12.99% | 1.98% ↑ |
| Geometry | 20.44% | 21.07% | 0.63% ↑ |
| Algebra 2 | 24.05% | 27.41% | 3.36% ↑ |
| MISA 5 | 23.53% | 31.07% | 7.54% ↑ |
| MISA 8 | 26.76% | 26.51% | -0.25% |
| Social Studies 8 | 34% | 35% | 1.00%↑ |
Baltimore County Public Schools released the following statement:
“As the state revises its standards and develops new standards-based assessments, BCPS will continue to use this data, along with other important measures, including internal curriculum-based assessments, Advanced Placement, and the SAT, to monitor student growth and achievement and guide system reform strategies.
“We are encouraged by our students’ continued growth in nearly all areas of the state assessments.
“These gains are the direct result of our amazing teachers and staff across BCPS, and I know that Team BCPS will continue to work relentlessly to ensure all students reach and surpass proficiency.
“We believe that all students can learn and achieve excellence, and our schools and central office teams will work together to identify effective solutions to increase student performance.”