Delaware, Maryland Post Strong Academic Gains in New National Report

May 14, 2026/Joe Ciccanti

A new national Education Scorecard report shows Delaware ranking 4th in math recovery and 14th in reading recovery since 2022, with state officials citing strong academic gains and a sharp decline in chronic absenteeism. The report found absenteeism dropped from 24.7 percent in 2022 to 16.6 percent in 2025, and noted Seaford School District and Woodbridge School District for strong progress in math. However, Delaware students remain below pre-pandemic 2019 achievement levels in both math and reading, prompting education leaders to stress the need for continued focus on literacy, math support, and long-term student recovery.

Meanwhile, Gov. Wes Moore celebrated Maryland’s strong showing in the 2025 Education Scorecard, with the state ranking 3rd nationally in reading growth and 5th in math growth from 2022–2025. The report also noted declines in chronic absenteeism and highlighted several high-performing school districts. State leaders credited continued investment in education, including a $10.1 billion K-12 budget, for driving Maryland’s post-pandemic academic recovery.

 

Additional Information from the Delaware Department of Education:

 

Education Scorecard ranks Delaware 4th in math recovery and 14th in reading recovery while state leaders emphasize urgency around literacy and long-term student outcomes

 

The new national Education Scorecard report shows Delaware students are making important academic recovery gains, with the state ranking 4th out of 38 states in math growth and 14th out of 35 states in reading recovery between 2022 and 2025.

 

The report also shows chronic absenteeism in Delaware has declined sharply, falling from 24.7 percent in 2022 to 16.6 percent in 2025, though rates remain slightly above pre-pandemic levels. Delaware students remain below 2019 achievement levels in both reading and math, reinforcing the urgency of continued implementation of the state’s Strategic Plan and Early Literacy Plan.

 

State leaders said the findings are an encouraging external proof point, while emphasizing that Delaware students remain below 2019 achievement levels and that continued, disciplined implementation is critical.

 

“This report shows real movement, but Delaware still has substantial work ahead,” Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said. “This is good news with a clear warning label. Delaware students are still working to recover from the academic disruption of the pandemic, especially in reading. That is exactly why Delaware has a strategic plan, why we are focused on early literacy, and why implementation, accountability, and support for districts must remain our priority.”

 

According to the Education Scorecard, Delaware students have gained ground in math since 2022, with the average student performing 0.42 grade equivalents above 2022 levels. However, Delaware students remain 0.83 grade equivalents below 2019 levels in math. In reading, Delaware students remain 0.8 grade equivalents below 2019 levels, reinforcing the need for sustained focus on evidence-based literacy instruction, attendance, and district-level implementation.

 

The Education Scorecard –  a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, and faculty at Dartmouth College – combines state test results for roughly 35 million students in grades 3 through 8 with national assessment data to examine academic recovery across states and districts.

 

The report is not the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as NAEP, and not all states are included in the state ranking comparisons. Still, Delaware officials said the report provides useful directional insight into where recovery is taking hold and where additional work is needed.

 

The report also identifies several Delaware districts showing strong relative progress. Brandywine and Appoquinimink were cited among districts outperforming peers in both math and reading, while Seaford and Woodbridge were noted for progress in math.

 

Delaware’s response is centered on implementation of its statewide education priorities. State leaders point to a coherent set of policy levers now being executed across the state:

 

  • The Delaware Early Literacy Plan, which sets clear expectations for evidence-based reading instruction, educator coaching, screening, and intervention from kindergarten through grade three.
  • DDOE’s Strategic Plan, which establishes statewide accountability, attendance, and instructional coherence as core, measurable priorities.
  • Statewide adoption of “science of reading”-aligned instruction, consistent with the framework the Scorecard credits in every state that improved in reading between 2022 and 2025.
  • A coordinated attendance strategy across schools, districts, families, and community partners that has driven Delaware’s chronic absenteeism rate down by more than 8 percentage points since 2022.

 

The report comes as Delaware continues to focus on improving literacy outcomes, strengthening instructional supports, reducing chronic absenteeism, and helping districts use data to identify students and schools that need additional support.

 

Key findings for Delaware include:

 

  • Delaware ranks 4th out of 38 states in math recovery between 2022 and 2025.
  • Delaware ranks 14th out of 35 states in reading recovery between 2022 and 2025.
  • Delaware students improved by 0.42 grade equivalents in math compared with 2022.
  • Delaware students remain 0.83 grade equivalents below 2019 levels in math and 0.8 grade equivalents below 2019 levels in reading.
  • Chronic absenteeism declined from 24.7 percent in 2022 to 16.6 percent in 2025.
  • Brandywine and Appoquinimink were identified as districts outperforming peers in both math and reading.
  • Seaford and Woodbridge were noted for relative strength in math performance.

 

Delaware education officials said the report reinforces the importance of staying focused on the fundamentals: improving reading instruction, supporting math recovery, reducing absenteeism, and ensuring districts have the tools and accountability structures needed to accelerate student progress.

 

“Recovery is real, but it is not automatic,” Marten said. “The next phase is about disciplined execution. Delaware has the plan. Delaware has the levers. Now we have to continue doing the hard work of implementation so progress reaches every classroom.”

 

To learn more, visit: https://cepr.harvard.edu/education-recovery-scorecard

 

Additional Information Regarding Maryland’s Report:

 Governor Wes Moore today celebrated the release of the 2025 Education Scorecard, which recognizes Maryland as a national leader in academic recovery. According to the comprehensive report released by researchers at Harvard University, Stanford University, and Dartmouth College, Maryland now ranks 3rd in the nation for student growth in reading and 5th in the nation for student growth in math between 2022 and 2025.

“Maryland’s students, educators, and families have demonstrated incredible resilience, and today, the data proves that our state is leading the national comeback in public education,” said Gov. Moore. “While we celebrate meaningful progress, the work is not finished. We will continue to invest in our schools, continue our progress to close the teacher shortage, and continue to ensure Maryland delivers on our promise to have the best public schools in the entire country.”

“With each step forward, we are fueling the Maryland Momentum and rebounding from post-pandemic learning loss by making impressive gains in reading and mathematics,” said State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carey M. Wright. “We must continue focusing on high standards, rigorous instruction, and the robust resources that every child deserves to reach their highest potential. By strengthening public education in Maryland, we are creating a powerful legacy for the students of today and those who will follow.”

The 2025 Education Scorecard highlights several milestones in Maryland’s post-pandemic recovery:

  • National Rankings: Out of the states analyzed, Maryland ranks 3rd out of 35 states in reading recovery and 5th out of 38 states in math recovery.
  • Tackling Chronic Absenteeism: Maryland has seen a significant drop in chronic absenteeism, falling from 31.1% in 2022 down to 25.5% in 2025.
  • “Districts on the Rise”: The report singled out several Maryland school districts for showing extraordinary progress, with Baltimore City, Frederick County, and Worcester County showing substantial progress in math and reading. Additionally, the report recognized Anne Arundel and St. Mary’s counties for leading the state in increased math performance while Dorchester and Harford counties lead in reading gains.

The Moore-Miller Administration is building on this momentum with a historic $10.1 billion investment in K-12 education, marking a nearly 17% increase in overall funding since taking office. The budget allocation includes a $370 million increase over fiscal year 2026 to ensure Maryland schools remain national leaders. Key allocations include $572 million for Community Schools to provide wraparound support services, $480.5 million for expanding capacity and modernizing school facilities through construction funding, $19.4 million to further reduce teacher vacancies, and $10.9 million for the Academic Excellence Program to support evidence-based literacy and math coaches in public schools.

To view the full 2025 Education Scorecard and Maryland’s district-level data, visit educationscorecard.org/states/maryland.

 

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