Budget FY17: Investing in Excellence
The Howard County Public School System continues to set a standard for excellence throughout Maryland and the nation. Our students consistently excel on many measures of achievement, and our instructional program serves as a model for innovative practice.
Our entire community shares a stake in ensuring that Howard County schools continue to excel. Public school quality is closely linked to the prosperity of the local economy. School funding is an investment in our students’ futures—not an expense—and is essential to securing the future for our entire county.
Research shows that HCPSS’ direct, positive impact on our local economy totals approximately 8 percent of county output. The school system supports nearly 13,000 county jobs, and drives $1.85 billion in local business sales – an amount representing more than double the HCPSS annual budget. Investments in education today deliver returns that extend years into the future, for our children and our entire community.
As our county’s growth continues, the size of our investment in education must rise in proportion to our county’s growth. Nearly 1,100 new students are expected to enter our classrooms next year, adding significant costs for new teachers, instructional supplies, and facilities. Costs for new students add significantly to the FY 2017 budget, but are not covered by MOE funding, which is based upon enrollment in the previous year.
More and more students face poverty, language barriers, and other challenges to learning and prospects for lifelong success. The HCPSS budget includes funding to provide these students with the supports and specialized services they need to succeed.
In 2013, our system launched a five-year strategic plan, Vision 2018: Fulfilling the Promise of Preparation, to build an educational program that is among the best in the world. Already, we have taken great strides on the road to world-class. We have aligned our instructional program more closely to the skills students need for college and career readiness, and broadened its scope to engage every child in learning.
Strategic investments in education will give every child an opportunity to thrive, and ensure the long-term vitality of our entire community.
College and Career Ready
- Graduation rates for the class of 2014 were 92.9 percent, with attendance rates of 96 percent for all levels. More than 93 percent of graduating seniors continued their education beyond high school.
- In FY 2015, 55 percent of HCPSS students participated in a variety of Gifted and Talented Program offerings.
- HCPSS students consistently score above the national average on standardized tests. In 2015, HCPSS students achieved an average of 1656 on the SAT, well above the state average of 1434, and the national average of 1462.
Recent HCPSS Accolades
- HCPSS has been ranked the top public school district in Maryland for 2016 by Niche.com, an education and community analysis firm. Niche.com scored school districts based on factors that included state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, student and parent reviews, and other parameters.
- In 2014, Columbia/Ellicott City ranked sixth on Money magazine’s Best Places to Live in America list. Our diverse and outstanding school district was cited as a key factor.