Can Detroit be more like Baltimore?
Baltimore and Detroit have competed in the past for the distinction of having the most murders per capita. And I recall Baltimore leaders once wondering if the city had the worst schools in the nation. Well today, the answer seems to be a resounding no, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that the city's test scores on a national test called the National Assessment of Educational Progress were considerably better than Detroit's. In fact, Detroit's scores were far below every other major city that took part in the testing. The whole subject is covered in a recent piece that explains how Detroit schools might like to try some of the strategies that have worked in Baltimore.
The piece gives a good measure of credit to the fact that the Maryland legislature decided to rework how it funds schools and now provides more than $1 billion a year toward education than it did earlier in the decade.
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
God, let's hope Detroit won't be like Balto., I would never wish that on my most hated of enemies!!!
Posted by: MikeB | September 8, 2010 6:06 PM
@MikeB -
You might want to read the linked article before chiming in. By objective standards Detroit is doing much worse than Baltimore in terms of public education. The point is, given that they both started at similar points with similar inputs, why are they in different situations.
Personally, I found it an interesting read. Without all the Baltimore politics and whining, it seemed like an objective assessment.
Posted by: a parent | September 9, 2010 11:01 AM
Everyone, everywhere, needs to aim high. Competition between bad and worse is rediculous. When 14-year-olds are having kids, we need to look to the parents to find out why. Kids need to be taught within the first five years how to be a well-rounded person and many parents fail to understand that. The whole country is in a very sad state. God bless us all.
Posted by: gagging | September 20, 2010 3:48 PM
Please look further into the facts. This test was not given to all DPS students just the lowest performing schools in the city and results relased just before the CFO appeareared at the state capitol looking for full control.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 26, 2010 11:54 PM