Baltimore City Public School System, Maryland
| Baltimore City Public School System |
|---|
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| Baltimore County, Maryland |
| District details |
| Superintendent: Sonja B. Santelises (CEO) |
| # of school board members: 9 |
| Website: Link |
Baltimore City Public School System is a school district in Maryland.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
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This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
In the Baltimore City Public School System, the appointed leader of the school district has the title of CEO instead of superintendent. Sonja B. Santelises is the CEO of the Baltimore City Public School System. Santelises was appointed CEO on July 1, 2016.[1] Santelises' previous career experience includes working as the district's chief academic officer, the vice president of The Education Trust, and the director of professional development and teacher placement of Teach for America (New York).[2]
School board
Baltimore City Public School System consists of nine members appointed by the mayor of Baltimore City to three-year terms. The board also has one student member appointed to a one-year term.[3]
In 2022, an additional two elected commissioners joined the board, making for a 12-member body.[4] Elected board members serve four-year terms.[5]
Appointed members
Elected members
| Office | Name | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore City Public Schools Board of Commissioners | Ashley Esposito | December 1, 2022 |
| Baltimore City Public Schools Board of Commissioners | Kwame Kenyatta-Bey | December 1, 2022 |
Elections
Two seats on the board were up for general election on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for July 19, 2022.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Baltimore City Public Schools Board of Commissioners maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[6]
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How to sign up for public comment Members of the public interested in submitting public comment during board meetings may sign up by email or in person. Only 10 speaking opportunities will be available during each board meeting. Public comment will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To sign up by email, please send an email message to Leatrice Jones between 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. on the day of a board meeting. Comments will only be received during that timeframe and accepted until 10 speaking opportunities have been submitted. Emails must include your name, address, email address, telephone number (if applicable), school/civic/community affiliation, and topic for comment. Types of email submissions: An email message attaching a statement no longer than 400 words to be read aloud by a board staff member, An email message attaching a three-minute video that will be broadcast during the board meeting, or An email message requesting to give public comment virtually or in person during the live meeting. To sign up in person, visit district headquarters at 200 E. North Avenue between 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. on the day of the board meeting. After checking in at the front desk, report to the Re-Engagement Center (near the Guilford Avenue entrance), where a representative of the CEO Ombudsman’s office will receive and record your request for public comment. Tips for making public comment Only items on the Board Meeting Agenda or items of educational interest may be spoken about through public comment. Speakers may not air employee grievances, make complaints on behalf of individual students, or discuss any matters that have or might come before the board as an appeal. Groups must designate one person to speak on their behalf. No more than one entry on the sign-up sheet will be recognized for any group. Speakers may not yield their time to another individual. Each speaker shall be limited to three minutes. An audible warning shall be given at the conclusion of the three-minute allotted time. The Board Chair can rule public comments as "out of order" if speakers use their time to personally attack or disparage a school district employee or board member; and if comments stray from the agenda item or topic about which the person signed up to speak. Comments made after the speaker is ruled out of order are not included as part of the formal record of the meeting. A person attending the meeting may not engage in any conduct that disrupts the meeting or that interferes with the right of members of the public to attend and observe the meeting. Translation services for public comment participants can be available in the following languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, Swahili, and Tigrigna) and, with advanced notice, will be offered for public board meetings. Members of the public joining the call are asked to mute their phones and turn their videos off upon joining. Anyone joining who fails to do so may be muted by the call moderator or removed from the call.[7] |
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District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[8]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $288,309,000 | $3,705 | 15% |
| Local: | $627,959,000 | $8,071 | 33% |
| State: | $970,132,000 | $12,468 | 51% |
| Total: | $1,886,400,000 | $24,245 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $1,856,631,000 | $23,862 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $1,421,652,000 | $18,271 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $897,395,000 | $11,533 | 48% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $117,064,000 | $1,504 | 6% |
| Administration: | $187,228,000 | $2,406 | 10% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $219,965,000 | $2,827 | 12% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $405,154,000 | $5,207 | |
| Construction: | $398,872,000 | $5,126 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $3,355,000 | $43 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $4,097,000 | $52 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024[9] | $53,898 | $114,444 |
| 2022-2023[10] | $52,874 | $97,803 |
| 2020-2021[11] | $51,552 | $91,226 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[12]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 7 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 15-19 | 17 | 29 |
| 2018-2019 | 16 | 55 | 12 | 18 | 20-24 | 35 | 46 |
| 2016-2017 | 17 | 52 | 15 | 15 | 15-19 | 30-34 | 41 |
| 2015-2016 | 18 | 50 | 15 | 16 | 15-19 | 30-34 | 39 |
| 2014-2015 | 17 | 47 | 15 | 16 | 20-24 | 30-34 | 37 |
| 2013-2014 | 45 | 69 | 42 | 51 | 60-64 | 70-74 | 67 |
| 2012-2013 | 59 | 75 | 56 | 72 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 76 |
| 2011-2012 | 63 | 80 | 61 | 76 | 70-74 | 70-74 | 79 |
| 2010-2011 | 62 | 84 | 60 | 76 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 76 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 16 | 46 | 13 | 12 | 20-24 | 28 | 43 |
| 2018-2019 | 21 | 57 | 17 | 23 | 25-29 | 46 | 49 |
| 2016-2017 | 17 | 49 | 14 | 15 | 25-29 | 35-39 | 42 |
| 2015-2016 | 18 | 40 | 16 | 14 | 30-34 | 30-34 | 40 |
| 2014-2015 | 21 | 47 | 19 | 19 | 25-29 | 45-49 | 44 |
| 2013-2014 | 62 | 73 | 60 | 67 | 70-74 | 85-89 | 79 |
| 2012-2013 | 67 | 71 | 65 | 72 | 80-84 | 80-84 | 81 |
| 2011-2012 | 66 | 72 | 65 | 72 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 81 |
| 2010-2011 | 68 | 82 | 67 | 73 | 70-74 | 80-84 | 80 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 70 | 85-89 | 72 | 54 | >=50 | >=50 | 72 |
| 2018-2019 | 70 | >=90 | 72 | 51 | <50 | >=80 | 72 |
| 2017-2018 | 72 | >=90 | 73 | 55 | >=50 | 60-79 | 73 |
| 2016-2017 | 71 | 80-84 | 72 | 52 | >=50 | >=80 | 70 |
| 2015-2016 | 71 | 80-84 | 71 | 60-64 | <50 | >=50 | 70 |
| 2014-2015 | 70 | 90-94 | 70 | 55-59 | <50 | >=50 | 66 |
| 2013-2014 | 70 | 80-89 | 70 | 60-64 | >=90 | PS | 68 |
| 2012-2013 | 69 | 85-89 | 68 | 60-64 | 90-94 | PS | 65 |
| 2011-2012 | 66 | 70-74 | 67 | 60-64 | 40-59 | PS | 64 |
| 2010-2011 | 66 | 60-69 | 66 | 65-69 | 40-59 | PS | 65 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 75,811 | -0.2 |
| 2022-2023 | 75,995 | -2.4 |
| 2021-2022 | 77,807 | -0.1 |
| 2020-2021 | 77,856 | -1.7 |
| 2019-2020 | 79,187 | -0.1 |
| 2018-2019 | 79,297 | -1.6 |
| 2017-2018 | 80,591 | -2.2 |
| 2016-2017 | 82,354 | -1.6 |
| 2015-2016 | 83,666 | -1.6 |
| 2014-2015 | 84,976 | 0.3 |
| 2013-2014 | 84,730 | 0.0 |
| 2012-2013 | 84,747 | 0.6 |
| 2011-2012 | 84,212 | 0.5 |
| 2010-2011 | 83,800 | 1.1 |
| 2009-2010 | 82,866 | 0.7 |
| 2008-2009 | 82,266 | 1.2 |
| 2007-2008 | 81,284 | -4.0 |
| 2006-2007 | 84,515 | -3.7 |
| 2005-2006 | 87,643 | -0.9 |
| 2004-2005 | 88,401 | -6.4 |
| 2003-2004 | 94,049 | -2.3 |
| 2002-2003 | 96,230 | -1.6 |
| 2001-2002 | 97,817 | -2.1 |
| 2000-2001 | 99,859 | -3.1 |
| 1999-2000 | 103,000 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Baltimore City Public School System (%) | Maryland K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.9 | 6.8 |
| Black | 71.2 | 32.5 |
| Hispanic | 18.6 | 22.8 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Two or More Races | 1.9 | 5.3 |
| White | 7.1 | 32.2 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2023-2024 school year, Baltimore City Public School System had 5,149.08 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 14.72.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 207.00 |
| Kindergarten: | 202.00 |
| Elementary: | 2,041.28 |
| Secondary: | 2,698.80 |
| Total: | 5,149.08 |
Baltimore City Public School System employed 643.00 district administrators and 419.00 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 643.00 |
| District Administrative Support: | 57.00 |
| School Administrators: | 419.00 |
| School Administrative Support: | 319.56 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 1,365.00 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 6.00 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 140.80 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 41.55 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 99.25 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 71.50 |
| Library/Media Support: | 0.00 |
| Student Support Services: | 1,579.40 |
| Other Support Services: | 1,124.39 |
Schools
Contact information
Baltimore City Public School System
200 E. North Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 443-984-2000
About school boards
Education legislation in Maryland
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| Maryland | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Baltimore City Public School System
- Maryland Association of Boards of Education
- Maryland State Department of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Baltimore schools CEO to be replaced by former academics chief," May 3, 2016
- ↑ Baltimore City Public Schools, "CEO Sonja Santelises," accessed November 9, 2019
- ↑ Baltimore City Public Schools, "Board Member Term of Office," accessed March 29, 2021
- ↑ Mayor Brandon M. Scott, "Mayor Young Makes Appointment to School Board," November 13, 2019
- ↑ Maryland General Assembly, "Maryland Statutes §3–108.1," accessed July 18, 2022
- ↑ Baltimore City Public Schools, "BCPS Board Policies & Regulations: B - School Board Governance and Operations: Public Participation During Board Meetings," accessed January 19, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Maryland State Department of Education, "Professional Salary Schedules Maryland Public Schools 2023 - 2024," accessed April 16, 2025
- ↑ Baltimore City Public Schools, "Professional Salary Schedules Maryland Public Schools 2022 - 2023," accessed January 31, 2024
- ↑ Baltimore City Public Schools, "2020 BTU Career Pathway Salary Schedule Effective July 1, 2020," accessed March 29, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
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