The Maryland State Department of Education recently released the 2022 state test results known as MCAP, Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program.Baltimore City’s math scores were the lowest in the state. Just 7% of third through eighth graders tested proficient in math, which means 93% could not do math at grade level.But that’s not all. WBFF combed through the scores at all 150 City Schools where the state math test was given. In 23 Baltimore City schools, there were zero students who tested proficient in math.Among the list of 23 schools, there are 10 high schools, eight elementary schools, three middle/high schools and two elementary/middle schools.Exactly 2,000 students, in total, took the state math test at these schools. Not one could do math at grade level.It’s also important to note that another 20 Baltimore City Schools had just one or two students test proficient in math.

Baltimore City Schools will be spending about $21,000 per student this year, thanks to a massive education funding increase. Maryland lawmakers passed the bill, known as Kirwan, two years ago. Now that funding is kicking in, the question is whether more taxpayer money will result in better student outcomes.For this coming school year, City Schools’ budget has ballooned to $1,620,788,542. That’s nearly $230 million more than the previous year’s budget of $1,393,777,695. It amounts to about a 16 percent increase. Enrollment in City Schools is going down and has been for years. So, that’s a lot more money for fewer students.

“We’re not living up to our potential,” said Jovani Patterson, a Baltimore resident who made headlines in Jan. 2022, when he filed a lawsuit against Baltimore City Schools. The suit claims the district is failing to educate students and, in the process, misusing taxpayer funds. “We, the taxpayer, are funding our own demise,” Patterson said at the time.

“My immediate reaction is, take your kids out of these schools,” said Patterson.

Gov. Moore’s office did not respond, but City Schools did send WBFF a statement with steps it’s taking to improve math scores, including professional development for teachers, summer learning and an extended learning period at the end of the day.The statement said, in part, “We’re confident these instructional strategies will help us regain the momentum and progress we experienced before the pandemic.”