Key Takeaways:
- Baltimore City Public Schools have doubled their staff in five years, with many earning six-figure salaries.
- Less than half of employees are teachers or principals.
- The district’s academic performance remains poor despite increased funding.
- Transparency in payroll and spending has decreased.
- Maryland is investing billions in education, but student results haven’t improved.
Administrative Bloat in Baltimore Schools
Baltimore City Public Schools are struggling. Year after year, they rank among the worst-performing districts in the country. Yet, while students fall behind, the district is hiring more administrators, executives, and directors—many earning six-figure salaries. This trend raises a big question: are taxpayer dollars being used wisely?
In 2019, the district had 7,053 employees, with total salaries adding up to $562.3 million. By 2024, the number of employees jumped to 13,023, and the total payroll soared to $949.2 million. That’s nearly double the number of employees in just five years. But here’s the catch: less than half of these employees are teachers or principals. The rest are administrators, managers, and directors, many in roles that seem redundant or unnecessary.
A Dizzying List of Job Titles
The list of job titles in Baltimore City Public Schools is staggering. For example:
- 67 Directors and Assistant Directors
- 18 Executive Directors
- 285 Managers
- 58 Supervisors
- 63 Analysts
- 80 Coordinators
- 46 Administrators
These roles include positions like the Manager of Energy Efficiency and the Systems Administrator of Customer Care. While these jobs may sound important, many seem to overlap or duplicate responsibilities. For instance, the district employs a Senior Executive Director of Equity earning $213,550, but there’s also a Director of Equity, a Director of Equity-Centered Principal Development, five Educational Specialists of Equity, and a Staff Associate of Equity. That’s six people working on similar tasks, costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Similarly, the district has two Directors of Environmental Health, each earning over $160,000, plus a Senior Project Manager of Environmental Compliance and a Supervisor of Environmental Compliance. Why so many people for one area? It’s hard to justify when student performance isn’t improving.
A Communications Overload
The district’s communications team is another example of bloat. Baltimore City Public Schools employ:
- A Chief Communications Officer making $232,721
- A Staff Specialist of Communications earning $154,456
- An Executive Director of Communications making $170,796
- A Manager of Communications earning $92,868
That’s four people handling communications for a school district. Private companies rarely have such large teams, and they often manage just fine. Why does Baltimore need so many highly paid communications staff? It’s unclear.
Transparency Decreases as Payroll Grows
As the district’s payroll grows, its transparency is shrinking. In the past, visitors to the school’s website could download the payroll as an Excel spreadsheet. Now, that’s no longer possible. OpenTheBooks.com, a group that tracks government spending, reports that the district’s open records office has refused to provide a spreadsheet of payroll data. In fact, the district has denied or ignored seven open records requests from the group in the past two years.
This lack of transparency isn’t just a problem for Baltimore schools. It’s a broader issue in Baltimore’s city government. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent, especially when it comes to education. Without transparency, it’s impossible to hold the district accountable for its priorities.
Billions for Education, but Results Are Missing
Maryland is making historic investments in education. The state’s 10-year, $30 billion Blueprint for Maryland’s Future plan aims to improve schools across the state. But so far, the money hasn’t led to better results. Last year, Maryland schools spent an average of $19,427 per student—far more than the $12,255 spent in 2013, when students actually performed better on standardized tests.
In 2023, Maryland’s eighth graders scored “significantly lower” than the national average in math. Fourth graders scored “not significantly different” from average in math and reading. Meanwhile, in 2013, when funding was lower, fourth and eighth graders scored “significantly higher” than average in both math and reading.
These numbers are concerning. They suggest that throwing more money at schools doesn’t automatically lead to better outcomes. What’s missing? It could be that the extra funding isn’t being used effectively. If districts are spending millions on administrative salaries instead of investing in classrooms, students won’t benefit.
A Call for Accountability
The situation in Baltimore City Public Schools is a wake-up call for educators, policymakers, and taxpayers. It’s not just about how much money is spent but how it’s spent. Hiring more administrators while students struggle isn’t the solution. Schools need to focus on putting resources where they matter most—into classrooms, teachers, and programs that directly benefit students.
Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future is a step in the right direction, but it’s only as good as how the money is used. If districts like Baltimore continue to prioritize administrative roles over student needs, the investment will fall short. Taxpayers deserve better, and so do the students.
What You Can Do
If you’re concerned about your tax dollars are being spent, you can take action. Visit OpenTheBooks.com to search federal, state, and local government salaries and spending. Transparency is key to holding officials accountable. Let’s ensure that education funding is used to help students succeed, not to pad administrative payrolls.
Stay informed, and demand better for Baltimore’s schools. After all, every dollar should count when it comes to giving students the education they deserve.