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Possible technology service interruption.

On Friday, September 29, 2023, between 6 and 8 p.m., City Schools will be updating our technology infrastructure. This maintenance may cause intermittent service disruptions to all City Schools' technology services. This includes any systems that require internet access and cloud-based services. Please plan accordingly. 

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City Schools updates School Choice composite calculations

City Schools is changing how it calculates scores for middle and high school students participating in the School Choice process this fall. We are sharing this update now so you will have plenty of time to prepare for the application window, which opens on December 1, 2023. 

We are updating the composite calculation formula. Historically, student test scores have been used in the composite score calculation. During the pandemic, test scores were not available. City Schools is now returning to its original composite score formula to ensure a fair and effective consideration for students. 

Important changes include: 

  • Grades – City Schools will use middle and high school student’s final grades from the previous school year and the first quarter of the current school year to calculate a student’s final grade average. 
    • Example: We will use the final grades from 4th grade and the first quarter of 5th grade, or the final grades from 7th grade and the first quarter of 8th grade. 
  • Grading will count for 75 percent of the total composite score. 
  • Only grades from the core subjects (ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies) will be used to calculate the composite score. 
  • Assessments - MCAP ELA and Math assessment scores from Spring 2023 will be used to calculate the composite score.  

Thank you for your flexibility and support as City Schools works to ensure a fair and effective School Choice process. We will provide a timeline for this school year’s choice process soon. Please stay tuned.  

Please visit baltimorecityschools.org/choice for updates about the School Choice process. 

A chart titled “How to calculate the Composite Score.” 75% is a general overall average that includes 20% of this year’s first quarter grades (eighth or fifth grade) and 80% is last year’s final grades (seventh or fourth grade). Plus 25% of your composite score is your ELA and math assessment score percentiles. Your general overall average only includes the core subjects: math, ELA, social studies, and science. There are adjustments made to this formula for students in honors programs (gifted and advanced learning, Ingenuity Program, Advanced Academics, and IB).

(Haga clic aquí para ver este gráfico en español.)