A Fox45 News investigation has uncovered yet another stunning failure in Baltimore City Public Schools when it comes to academic outcomes.
Despite a dramatic increase in funding, Project Baltimore found one City high school that has not had a single student test proficient in math in four years.
Carl Stokes is a former Baltimore City Council member and charter school operator.
“You’re shaking your head,” Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst noted of Stokes during an interview.
“Well, of course,” replied Stokes. “How long have we been talking about this?”
Stokes, for years, has been talking about the lack of education for many students in Baltimore City Public Schools.
“They do a horrible job,” Stokes remarked.
ALSO READ ||
Now, Stokes is responding to what Fox45 News discovered in the recently released results for the state known as MCAP – the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program.
“That school should be closed,” stated Stokes.
Achievement Academy at Harbor City is a high school in northeast Baltimore. According to MCAP data analyzed by Project Baltimore, Achievement Academy has not had a single student test proficient in math in four years. Over the last four school years, 134 students at the school have taken the state math exams. Not one scored proficient.
“It says that the leadership is worthless, pretty much. They are failing their mission. They are failing the students,” said Stokes.
City Schools, on its website, defines Achievement Academy as an alternative placement school for students who struggle in traditional academic settings. The school’s vision, according to its website, “is to cultivate lifelong learners and productive citizens.”
And the school gets a lot of taxpayer money to achieve that vision. According to state data, in 2021, Achievement Academy received $20,014 for each one of its 372 students. By 2024, Achievement Academy had an enrollment of 202 and received $42,618 per student. In other words, over those four school years, Achievement Academy’s per student funding more than doubled and not one student, over those years, tested proficient on the state math exams.
“When you look at a school like Achievement Academy, and you look at the amount of money it’s getting and the education the students apparently aren’t getting, who do you hold accountable?” Questioned Papst.
“You start with North Avenue headquarters. You begin with that leadership. From superintendent, CEO and her cabinet. And then the local school leadership,” responded Stokes.
ALSO READ ||
Achievement Academy’s principal last school year was Kristin Taylor, who’s been with City Schools for 19 years. According to City Schools 2024 Employee Database, Taylor made $148,440 in total earnings.
Project Baltimore requested an interview with City Schools to discuss math scores at Achievement Academy. The district declined and instead sent a statement, which does not even mention student outcomes. The school system’s statement says nothing about zero students being proficient in math and how the district plans to improve the quality of education.
Instead, this statement focuses on the money – saying City Schools calculated per-pupil funding differently than the state – writing MSDE “figures include central office and districtwide costs, not just school-level spending, and therefore should not be interpreted as what a school actually spends per student.”
“What is the answer?” Asked Papst.
“Accountability, starting with the elected officials holding school officials accountable,” replied Stokes.
“What does that look like?” Papst questioned.
“At some point you have to withhold money in terms of increased salaries, etc., and withhold promotions. And dismiss persons who don’t meet the standard that you try to get to for these young people,” Stoked stated.
On the Maryland State Department of Education’s school rating website, every school in the state gets a rating from a low of one star to a high of five. Achievement Academy earned two stars. A school that has not produced a single student in four years who’s proficient in math, according to MSDE, is not considered one of the state’s lowest performing schools.
City Schools provided Project Baltimore this response:
“The per-pupil funding figure you cited for Achievement Academy was developed by MSDE and comes with important caveats. MSDE itself cautions that these figures include central office and districtwide costs, not just school-level spending, and therefore should not be interpreted as what a school actually spends per student.
MSDE also notes that per-pupil figures can vary widely depending on enrollment and the specific needs of students. Achievement Academy primarily serves students who are overage, under-credited, or have faced disruptions such as juvenile justice involvement. These unique challenges require smaller class sizes, individualized supports, and career-readiness programs, all resources designed to help students re-engage, graduate, and transition successfully.
Ignoring those caveats distorts the facts and misrepresents the school.”