There are many problems plaguing Baltimore. The homicide rate is out of control, averaging one murder per day. In April, the city surpassed 100 homicides and its on track to having the highest homicide rate in the country. On top of this, the city has six schools, five high schools and one middle school, where not a single student is proficient in math and English. On the grading scale for these state tests, a four or five score is considered proficient, while three and under is not. Some parents are rightfully outrage, noting that this isn’t necessarily a student issue, but one that lands squarely on the teachers (via Fox Baltimore):
Project Baltimore found Frederick Douglass is not alone. Four other city high schools and one middle school also have zero students proficient.The schools are:
Booker T. Washington Middle School
Frederick Douglass High School
Achievement Academy at Harbor City
New Era Academy
Excel Academy at Francis M. Wood High
New Hope Academy
High school students are tested by the state in math and English. Their scores place them in one of five categories – a four or five is considered proficient and one through three are not. At Frederick Douglass, 185 students took the state math test last year and 89 percent fell into the lowest level. Just one student approached expectations and scored a three.
Fox Baltimore added that city schools spend $16,000 per student every year, the fourth highest in the country. Yet, it's not all doom and gloom. The news network featured Fredrick Douglass senior Navon Warren, who is expected to graduate high school and head off to college.