In their Quality Counts 2009 education review, Education Week rated Maryland schools #1 overall with a score of 84.7 vs the National score of 76.2. The State Report Cards show a break down State-by-State,  The methodology and various factors that were considered in the scoring included a wide array of school performance from teacher quality to finance to student participation.

For Quality Counts 2009, the nation earns a C for transitions and alignment policies, the same grade as last year. Three states—Maryland, New Mexico, and West Virginia—received an A for implementing at least 12 of the policies monitored in this category.

− from Grading the States:Securing Progress, Striving to Improve

This is a great stride forward for Maryland due, in no small part, to the vast improvement seen in the Prince George’s County school system during the past three years.

One of the very first questions I am always asked is, “Where are the good schools?”