Maryland is in the middle of the pack when it comes to best states for teachers, according to at least one new measure.
The state is the 22nd best in the country for teachers, according to a new ranking from WalletHub, a financial services website that analyzed average teacher salaries, raises, pensions, class sizes and other metrics to rank the states.
Maryland fared better on “academic and work environment” measures, which included per-pupil public spending, school system quality, teacher-union strength and working mom-friendliness. In those areas, the state ranked 19th in the country.
When it comes to “opportunity and competition” – things like salary, pensions and turnover – the state ranked 29th.
However, the state is also most likely to need more teachers, based on projected student populations in 2026. Maryland is expected to have the fewest number of teachers per 1,000 students of all states at 21.97 by 2026, according to the study.
Danielle E. Gaines
Contributor
Danielle Gaines worked for Maryland Matters from September 2018 to January 2024. She covered government and politics for Maryland Matters for two years before moving into an editing position, ultimately serving as editor-in-chief for nearly three years. Previously, she spent six years at The Frederick News-Post ― as the paper’s principal government and politics reporter for half that time, covering courts and legal affairs before that. She also reported for the now-defunct The Gazette of Politics and Business in Maryland and previously worked as a county government and education reporter at The Merced Sun-Star in California’s Central Valley.
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