University System of Maryland

The data for students completing the University System of Maryland (USM) entrance requirements and immediately enrolling in college shows significant variations across different local school systems. Howard County had the highest enrollment rate, at 80%, followed closely by Frederick County, at 70%. On the lower end, Caroline County had an enrollment rate of 35%, while Kent County had a rate of 39%. This indicates a strong tendency for Howard and Frederick counties students to pursue higher education, whether within the USM, other public four-year institutions in Maryland, community colleges, private four-year colleges in Maryland, or out-of-state institutions.

Career and Technology Education (CTE)

For students completing the Career and Technology Education (CTE) requirements, immediate college enrollment rates varied widely. Frederick County had the highest enrollment rate at 36%, followed by Howard County at 32%. Anne Arundel, St. Mary's, and Washington counties had the lowest enrollment rates, all at 10%. It's important to note that CTE students may be more likely to pursue employment, apprenticeships, or other post-secondary opportunities directly related to their technical training rather than enrolling in college immediately.

USM/CTE Combined

The students completing the requirements for both the USM and the CTE programs showed strong enrollment rates, with Howard County leading at 84%, indicating that students completing both requirements are highly likely to continue their education. Baltimore City had a rate of 40%, which, while lower, still demonstrates a significant inclination towards further education compared to standalone CTE programs.

Comparative Observations Between High School Programs

Comparing the different high school programs, USM programs generally have higher immediate enrollment rates than CTE programs alone. The average enrollment rate for USM programs is significantly higher, with many counties achieving rates above 50%. In contrast, CTE programs often have lower enrollment rates, with several counties showing rates below 20%. The USM/CTE combined programs tend to perform better than CTE alone but slightly lower than USM programs, suggesting that combining career and technical education with a focus on university education can enhance overall enrollment rates but still face some challenges.

Additional ObServations

Overall, the data reflects significant disparities in immediate college enrollment rates across different local school systems and between students completing various high school program requirements. Howard and Montgomery Counties consistently showed high enrollment rates across all program types, while Somerset and Worcester Counties showed some of the lowest rates. This underscores the importance of robust support systems and educational resources in encouraging further education. Additionally, the data highlights the need for targeted interventions in counties with lower enrollment rates to ensure all students have equitable access to higher education opportunities.

Overall, the data reflects significant disparities in immediate college enrollment rates across different local school systems and between students completing various high school program requirements. Howard and Montgomery counties consistently showed high enrollment rates across all program types, while Somerset and Worcester counties showed some of the lowest rates. This underscores the importance of robust support systems and educational resources in encouraging further education. Additionally, the data highlights the need for targeted interventions in counties with lower enrollment rates to ensure all students have equitable access to higher education opportunities.