Exploring Education Data Reveals Increasing Diversity in Maryland Schools
Students construct a kinetic sculpture in Baltimore, Maryland, 2009. (Photo by JHU Sheridan Libraries/Gado/Getty Images).
In Maryland, several school districts have recently begun talking about redistricting—that is, redrawing boundaries to reduce overcrowding in schools and enhance racial and economic integration. Much of the coverage has focused, rightfully so, on the current demographics of schools in Howard and Montgomery Counties.
But the historical context can be informative, too, and with today's launch of version 1.0 of our Education Data Explorer, it’s easier than ever to find.
As a quick example: in 10 minutes, we were able to chart enrollment trends in Howard County, one of the communities talking about redistricting, over the past 25 years. The data show a steep decline in the number of white students, with steady increases in the number of Black, Asian, and Hispanic students.
