Maryland’s high school four-year graduation rate slightly declined in 2025, compared to the previous school year, according to a report by the state’s Department of Education.

However, the four-year graduation rates improved for African American students, students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and students with disabilities.

The state said the largest drop was among multilingual students.

“For all of us who work in education, the ultimate mark of student success is when they walk across the stage on graduation day. We are encouraged by the progress we see among African American students, students with disabilities, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds,” said Dr. Carey Wright, the State Superintendent of Schools. “These gains reflect the hard work of educators, families, and communities across Maryland to give every student the support they need to succeed.”  

The state’s five-year graduation rate increased to 89.2% in 2025, from 87.4% in 2024.

You can check out how your school district fares here.

Breakdown of the state’s graduation rate

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) said that 62,842 out of 72,702 high school students across the state graduated in the 2024-25 school year. That’s a graduation rate of 86.4%, which is slightly lower than the 87.6% of graduating students in the 2023-24 school year.

The MDE said the graduation rate for African American students increased to 85.8% in 2025. The graduation rate for students with disadvantaged backgrounds improved to 83%.

While Maryland’s graduation outcomes remain strong overall, the State Board is deeply concerned about declines among multilingual learners and Hispanic students,” said Dr. Joshua Michael, the State Board of Education President. “Heightened political tensions and fear around immigration enforcement erode students’ sense of safety and belonging, disrupting learning and pathways to graduation.”  

Baltimore City sees graduation rates increase

Baltimore City’s four-year graduation rate for the Class of 2025 increased to 71.8%, its highest since 2018, the school district said. The city’s five-year graduation rate improved to 74.6%, which is its most since 2019.

The city school’s graduation rate for students with disabilities increased 5.3 points from 2024 to 2025, and 3.2 points for African American students. According to the district, the graduation rate for Hispanic/Latino students and Multilingual Learners both posted decreases in 2025.

“This growth is a powerful testament to the shared commitment reflected in our Portrait of a Graduate work,” said Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises. “While we still have much more work to do, this continued progress reflects the dedication of our students, families, school leaders, and educators across every grade level. By focusing on 9th-grade support, expanding credit recovery, strengthening post-secondary planning, and prioritizing daily attendance, we are driving student achievement and opening doors to higher education, family-sustaining careers, and brighter futures.”  

Residents across the Baltimore region are grappling with freezing temperatures after Sunday’s winter storm, which dumped inches of snow and sleet.

Experts are reminding people to make sure their homes and cars are cold-weather ready.

Protecting your home

Experts said you should monitor your pipes at home to prevent them from freezing. Keep your water faucets dripping, wrap your pipes in minimally heated areas with piping insulation, and leave doors open to allow heat to flow through your home.

“Go and caulk some of those gaps and cracks around your windows and doors to help limit the amount of heat release,” said Sarah Dillingham, the senior meteorologist with Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.

Dillingham said to have your HVAC checked ahead of the winter and summer seasons.

In the event of a power outage, she said, consider installing a home generator.

Make your car winter weather-ready

When it comes to your car, make sure your tires are in good shape, check your car’s battery, and windshield wiper fluid.

“When you’re parking your car, when you turn it off, you’ve turned off your seat heaters, your defoggers, and all that sort of thing because you don’t want anything drawing extra power when you start the car up in the morning,” said Ben Perrinone, the AAA Approved Auto Repair Territory Manager. “That takes away from the amount of power going to your starter motor. So, turn off all your accessories as you leave the car.”

Perricone said AAA has recently received lots of calls for flat tires.

During Sunday’s winter storm, he said AAA responded to more than 500 calls for service in Maryland alone. Perricone said more than 36% were for members stuck in the snow. 

Water main break in Baltimore County

Some neighbors in Baltimore County were without water Monday morning after a water main break on Smith Avenue.

“It’s like you can’t do anything at all,” said Marilyn Clawson. “It’s so crazy.”

Right down the street from the Greenspring Shopping Center on Smith Avenue lies a couple of cones surrounding a water main break Monday.

“We just found out this morning that we don’t have water,” Clawson said.

Clawson’s husband said he was going to use the bathroom when he learned the Department of Public Works turned off water in the area to fix the broken water main.

Baltimore City Department of Public Works Director Matthew Garbark said there are some challenges to fixing these bursting pipes during weather like this.

“Everything is covered in snow,” Garbark said. “So, we have to make sure we can even get to the water main first. And because of the temperatures, it’s a lot harder to start excavating into the ground.”

Baltimore City suspends trash pickup

Garbark said Baltimore City DPW will not pickup trash on Tuesday. It will be made up Saturday as if it were a holiday.

“This is going to give more time for residents and others to dig their alleys out and to be able to get to sidewalks and to the street.”