An overview of Baltimore County Public Schools

25th largest school system in the U.S., 3rd largest in Maryland

$1.6 billion budget, FY 2015

109,984 students (2014-2015 enrollment)

• American Indian/Alaskan Native 0.4%
• Asian 6.7%
• Black/African American 38.8%
• Hispanic/Latino 7.7%
• Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 0.1%
• Two or More Races 4.2%
• White 42.1%

• 3.7% English language learner enrollment
  
  
• 47.4% eligible for free/reduced price meals
  
  
• 11.4% receiving special education services

173 schools, programs, and centers

18,783 employees, including 8,792 classroom teachers

70,224 bus riders daily

12.2 million nutritious meals served during school year

7,075 graduates in 2014

• 46.2% reported acceptances to 4-year colleges
• 35.9% reported acceptances to 2-year colleges
• $147.2 million in scholarships reported

International Baccalaureate at two high schools

Average of 17 Advanced Placement courses at each high school; one-third of all high schools offer 20 or more AP courses

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Accomplishments and Accolades

Academic

• Sean McComb of Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts named National Teacher of the Year 2014 – the first in BCPS history.
• 2014 Grade 12 SAT participation rose 58.5 percent since 2013, growing from 4,094 to 6,489 test takers. The increase came about thanks to last April’s SAT School Day in BCPS, a new initiative in 2013 that gave all Grade 11 students the opportunity to take the SAT at their own school during the school day and without cost.
• In 2014, 30.7 percent of Grade 11 and 12 students took at least one AP exam, up from 29.2 percent in 2013. Similarly, 22.1 percent scored a 3 or higher on at least one exam in 2014, up from 21.3 percent in 2013.
• Sixty-three percent of all BCPS traditional and magnet high schools have been named among the nation's top high schools.
• 14 schools were named among the top nine percent of high schools in the nation by The Washington Post (April 2014).
• 8 schools placed among the 735 on the "Top High Schools 2014" list created by The Daily Beast (August 2014). Two of those schools were also recognized for being among the top 100 nationally for graduation rates.
• 5 schools list on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools” list, including two ranking among the 500 best high schools in the nation (April 2014).
• Recognized by Education Week for having the second highest graduation rate among the nation's largest school districts (June 2013).
• Recognized by the Schott Foundation for having the fourth highest graduation rate for African American males among the nation's large school districts (September 2012).
• Twenty-one schools recognized as Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, 17 named National Blue Ribbon Schools.
• Led all Maryland school systems in earning the lion’s share of national 2014 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, among the most prestigious high school arts recognition programs in the nation. In all, 165 BCPS students from nine high schools earned awards in the program. County students took home about 37 percent of the total number of awards – 330 of the 899 – presented statewide.
• Recognized by the NAMM Foundation as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education in America (2006-2014).

Technology

• Honored with one of only 15 national Digital Innovation in Learning Awards, presented by EdSurge and Digital Promise, for the BCPS initiative to incorporate digital technology into everything from classroom learning to community communications. (October 2014)
• Became one of nine school systems to receive a grant through Maryland’s 2014 Digital Learning Innovation Fund. BCPS will use its $300,000 grant for bridge-building – extending the digital learning experience for children as they move from elementary to middle school. (September 2014)
• Recognized in 2009 by EducationWeek, the International Society for Technology in Education, National Public Radio, and others for development of a groundbreaking partnership among Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, The Johns Hopkins University, area software developers, and others. Launched first-of-its-kind virtual learning environment as a result of partnership.

Innovation/Educational Leadership

• Dr. Dance and Chief Communications Officer Mychael Dickerson were named the 2015 Leadership Through Communication Award winners. This national honor is jointly sponsored by the National School Public Relations Association, the American Association of School Administrators (a school superintendents association), and Blackboard. The award comes with a $10,000 prize, provided by Blackboard, to be used for student scholarships or communication activities that benefit students and schools. (December 2014)
• Recognized with an honorable mention in the national Digital Innovation in Learning Awards, presented by EdSurge and Digital Promise, for Parent University, which provides centralized, online access to resources that support parents in guiding their children to academic success and enhancing personal growth and family wellness. (October 2014)
• Named one of 49 national Districts of Distinction by District Administration magazine in recognition of the school system’s “innovation and success" with programs aimed at making graduation a priority for all students. (October 2014)
• Superintendent Dallas Dance appointed to President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans (August 2014), the 12-member board of directors for the International Society for Technology in Education (May 2014), and the executive committee of the American Association of School Administrators (June 2014). A BPCS student nominated Superintendent Dallas Dance has been nominated for the national LifeChanger of the Year award for 2014-2015. (October 2014)
• Accepted into the prestigious 32-member League of Innovative Schools, a national Digital Promise initiative that connects member school districts and schools with top universities and entrepreneurs to accelerate the pace of change in public education. (February 2013)

Management

• ISO 9001 international certification for management (Fiscal Services-Purchasing, Technology, and Human Resources) – BCPS is the only school system in Maryland to achieve this designation
• National Mentorship Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program (2010).
• The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement award from the National Purchasing Institute (2005-2010)
• The Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International (for every budget since FY 2005).
• Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International (every year since 1996).
• The Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (for every budget since FY 2005).
• The Government Finance Officers Association’s Award of Financial Reporting Achievement (every year since 1996).

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