Maryland students continue to have serious problems when it comes to math. Results from the 2024 state test show nearly a third of all Maryland students who took the math exam last year scored in the lowest level of proficiency.

The Maryland State Department of Education recently released revised results of the 2024 state test known as MCAP, the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program. FOX45 News analyzed the numbers, and many of the results are alarming.

When students take the MCAP test, their scores place them in one of four levels. Level 1 is the lowest level, considered beginning learners. Level two is developing. Level three is proficient, and level four is distinguished.

Statewide 475,269 students took the state math test last year. Overall, 24.1% scored proficient, a slight improvement from the previous year. But more than 31% of students tested scored in level 1 — meaning there were more students who scored at the lowest level than scored proficient.

Meanwhile, just 2% of students scored in level four. That means, throughout Maryland, around 150,000 students last year scored in the lowest level for math and about 9,000 scored in the highest level.

The data also shows that 27 schools statewide had zero students among those tested who scored proficient in math. Most of those schools are alternative schools or for students with disabilities. However, eight schools that would be considered traditional schools had zero students test proficient in math. All eight are in Baltimore City.

The school level data was made available following a year-long Fox45 News investigation.

In February 2023, FOX45 broke the news that in 23 Baltimore City schools, none of the students tested received proficient scores. After that story aired, the state changed the way it reports test scores to the public by replacing many results with asterisks for the state’s lowest performing schools. At the time, the state claimed the move was necessary to protect student privacy.

But that decision, which kept parents and taxpayers from seeing how poorly many schools were performing, sparked criticism from the community. When FOX45 tried to question then State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury about it, he locked himself behind a door.

When Carey Wright took over as the new State Superintendent, Project Baltimore asked if she would reverse Choudhury’s decision. The change was officially made, and the revised test score results were released, in September.