More people acknowledging ‘patent failure’ of public schools to educate, educational analyst concludes

The most important issue of our day may not always make global news but lies closer to home than most people think – as close as their area school district, argues one educational analyst.

“There’s now a renewed appreciation of the patent failure of most schools to serve most students,” Jeanne Allen, founder of The Center for Education Reform, told the Fox News Baltimore affiliate.

Allen’s nonprofit works to expand educational opportunities, noting on its website how these “lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans, particularly our youth.”

Unfortunately, “despite billions of additional dollars going to public education, many key academic outcomes have worsened” over time, the news article noted – citing Maryland as a prime example.

“Over the last three years, according to state data, Maryland public education funding has increased by more than $2 billion – about 16%. But, in 2025, Maryland’s four-year high school graduation rate fell to 86.4%, its lowest level in three years. Also in 2025, the four-year high school dropout rate statewide increased to 9.9%, a 13-year high.”

Fixing a ‘broken’ system

Meanwhile, student SAT scores in Baltimore City plummeted to 856 out of a possible 1600 in 2025, which is “the lowest score on record,” according to the outlet.

“Project Baltimore also found, in Maryland, the average SAT score is down more than 60 points since 2017, from 1063 to 1001 in 2025.”

While Baltimore City Schools cited “recent shifts in federal immigration enforcement” and the COVID-19 pandemic for such lackluster results, Allen laid the blame on the city’s educational leaders.

“Education in Maryland and particularly in Baltimore City Schools and (Baltimore) county, frankly, is broken,” she said.

The solution lies in giving families more educational options – including private and parochial schools, microschools and charter schools.

“It takes boldness and saying enough is enough,” Allen argued.

Improvements can also take place without expensive overhauls, according to the news outlet.

“Allen points to Miami-Dade County Public Schools as an example of where families can choose a school for their children, including homeschooling … . According to federal test scores, students in Miami significantly outscore Baltimore in math and reading.”

However, Miami-Dade spends only $13,138 per student compared to Baltimore’s $22,977, journalists observed.

“The solution is letting states and communities be free to develop and design schools and systems that parents can choose,” Allen said. “Maryland does not have that.”

David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, also believes the problem will not resolve itself without substantial shifts in policymaking.

“Politicians are stuck in a mindset where they think spending more money is going to produce better results,” he said. “It doesn’t.”