Baltimore City Public Schools is approaching a significant transition as Dr. Sonja Santelises enters her tenth year as CEO, marking her as the longest-serving school district leader in the region. However, an analysis of student performance data suggests that academic outcomes have not improved during her tenure.
Dr. Santelises began her role in 2016, emphasizing the importance of accountability in education. Yet, despite increased funding, the academic performance of students has shown a decline over the past nine years. In 2017, the district operated with a budget of $1.3 billion for approximately 82,000 students. By the 2024 fiscal year, the budget had risen to $1.7 billion, even as enrollment dropped to 75,811.
Key performance indicators reveal troubling trends. Overall attendance has decreased from 87% to 85%, while the average SAT score has fallen from 910 to 867. The dropout rate has also risen from 15% to 19%, and chronic absenteeism has surged from 30% to 48% since 2017. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted education systems nationwide, many of these metrics were already declining prior to 2020.
Graduation rates, often a focal point in evaluating school success, have seen minimal improvement, rising from 70.6% in 2017 to 70.9% in 2024. However, it is essential to note that Maryland's graduation requirements were altered during this period, allowing students to graduate without passing state assessments in subjects like math and reading.
Dr. Santelises has not publicly commented on her tenure but has expressed a commitment to the community and the work still to be done. As she approaches the end of her contract, the school board is preparing for a national search to find her successor.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WBFF (source).
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