CITC: 40% of high schools in Baltimore had zero students test 'proficient' in math

WASHINGTON (TND) — The state of America’s public education system is in the spotlight again after concerning new state test scores reportedly show 13 of Baltimore City’s 32 public schools had not one student test proficient in math among kids who took the 2023 state exam this past spring.

At Baltimore’s top five schools, only 11.4% of students who took the exam scored proficient in math according to the report obtained by Project Baltimore.

It’s not acceptable where we are but that doesn’t mean that the entire system is broken," said Bill Ferguson, a Democrat and president of Maryland's state senate."

Baltimore is not the only school system struggling. A new study by Arizona State University found nationwide one-third of fourth and eighth graders can’t read at a “basic” level.

During a Sinclair town hall hosted by conservative commentator Armstrong Williams, a member of the Texas State Board of Education, Staci Childs, said the following about her former students:

I used to teach fifth grade and by fifth grade you should be able to read. A lot of my students did not know how to read at all when they got to my classroom."

A public school teacher who’s TikTok account is based in Atlanta, said he deals with these issues every day.

"I don’t even know why they (are) not stressing to ya’ll how bad it is," said the teacher. "I teach seventh grade (and) they are still performing on a fourth grade level ... they just keep passing them on, passing them on, passing them on. I can put as many zeros in this grade book as I want to, (but) they are going to move that child to the eighth grade next year."

Since the pandemic, those upset with the public education system have grown increasingly vocal about their frustrations. In an interview with the Associated Press, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said he has no respect for them.

"I don’t have too much respect for people who are misbehaving in public and then acting as if they know what’s right for kids," said Cardona. "There’s a team that’s fighting for kids and there’s a team that’s fighting against kids."

Critics interrupted Cardona's comments as a swipe at parents fighting for a say in their kids education.