HCPSS MPIA Request #2020-108

Requested Information
I would like to request a summary of the following demographic data:

1. HCPSS demographics by race: HCPSS overall average and numbers for each existing school for each school year from 1998 - 2018

2. Graduation rates: HCPSS overall average and numbers for each existing school for each school year from 1998 - 2018

3. High School PSAT average pass rates: HCPSS overall average and numbers for each existing school for each school year from 1998 - 2018

4. FARMS rates: HCPSS overall average and numbers for each existing school for each school year from 1998 - 2018

Thank you!
Date Received
Status
Complete
Response Notes

Responsive to this request, as HCPSS systems have changed formats over the years, existing reports will contain the most comprehensive data of student demographic data since 1998. A consistent source containing demographics, graduation rates and FARMs spanning 2003 to 2019 will be state-wide reporting as found on the Maryland Report Card: https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/DataDownloads/datadownload/3/17/6/6/99

Specifically related to Free and Reduced Price Meals (FARMs) rates, various formats are calculated and reported dependent on the purpose/use of the data. Specifically, participation data by school and year as collected by the HCPSS Food and Nutrition Services Office based on income eligibility of students for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s free and reduced price meal programs, and reported annually for students participating as of October 31, can be found here: http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Pages/School-Community-Nutrition/FreeReducedPriceMealStatistics.aspx, which includes data by county and school (see the Statewide Detail by Agency tab).

Alternately, FARMs rates as calculated by the Maryland State Department of Education (and defined as “The number and percentage of students whose applications for free/reduced price meals meet the family size and income guidelines (as promulgated annually by the U.S. Department of Agriculture) and students approved through direct certification. The counts are reported as of the student`s last day of enrollment in the school system - either the last day in school or the date the student withdrew. The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of students receiving free or reduced price meals by the June net enrollment.”) are reported on the Maryland Report Card as noted above, with FARMs by school and year found under Students Receiving Special Services: https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/DataDownloads/datadownload/3/17/6/6/99.

Lastly, under the current boundary adjustment review process, FARMs rates calculated for planning purposes by school for 2018-2019 can be found in the 2019 Feasibility Study (see page 34): https://www.hcpss.org/f/schoolplanning/2019/2019-feasibility-study.pdf. Please note, these numbers will differ from the above data as outlined under the Data FAQ page on the HCPSS boundary review website: https://www.hcpss.org/school-planning/boundary-review/faq/#data.

Official graduation rates are annually calculated by MSDE as well, also found under the Maryland Report Card.

PSAT scores are not categorized as passing or not passing, therefore no data matching your exact request exists. For reference, see the existing PSAT reports provided below.

Responsive Documents
Existing reports produced by our Research Office and sent to the Board of Education on the PSAT, available since SY2013. Please note, no report was finalized for SY2016 due to a redesign of the PSAT by the College Board at the time, however SY2016 data is included in the SY2017 report. HCPSS has made substantial efforts to ensure the accuracy of this information; however, data collection and reporting is consistently subject to change. Please be mindful when comparing data as many variances can occur between reports based on date pulled, parameters used, categories included, etc.

*Some request language is summarized to include the requester's specific document requests and legally protected information (such as personally identifiable information of a student) or personal, defamatory and malicious content removed at the discretion of the school system.

**Responses containing legally protected information available only to the person of interest are omitted from the above report.

***Howard County Public Schools reserves the right to remove erroneous or outdated documents from this site.