MARYLAND — Hispanic enrollment in Maryland public schools declined by 0.6% in the 2025-2026 school year, representing a decrease of more than 1,000 students.

The decline in Hispanic enrollment marks the first decrease in years, following an average annual growth rate of 4.7% to 4.9% since pandemic-era lows. More than half of Maryland's approximately 210,000 Hispanic students attend school in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

In January 2025, the Trump administration rescinded the Biden-era policy directing immigration enforcement agents to refrain from apprehending people at or around sensitive locations such as schools. Immigration enforcement arrests in Maryland increased from approximately 1,300 in the last year of the Biden presidency to nearly 4,700 in the first year of Trump's second term.

An immigration arrest occurred outside Commodore John Rodgers Elementary and Middle School in Baltimore in June 2026. Governor Wes Moore described the June 2026 arrest outside Commodore John Rodgers Elementary and Middle School as deeply disturbing.

U.S. District Judge Julie Rubin ordered the release of the individual arrested outside Commodore John Rodgers Elementary and Middle School in July 2026, ruling that agents lacked probable cause. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson stated that ICE does not go to schools to make arrests, except in situations involving dangerous felons or child sex offenders to protect children's safety. The graduation rate for English learners in Maryland fell 5.5% from the 2023-2024 to the 2024-2025 school years, while the overall graduation rate in Maryland fell 1.2%.

“We don’t know the full impact yet, but the new enrollment numbers raise serious concerns,” said Donna Christy, President of the Prince George’s County Educators’ Association. “I think it’s definitely going to, unfortunately, increase in the upcoming years of this current federal administration if we don’t see any type of change,” said Shannon Wilk de Benitez, Education Director at We Are CASA.

“Anytime people are seeing immigration enforcement in these spaces that are supposed to be safe community spaces, it has a real chilling, immediate impact,” Wilk de Benitez said. “After what happened in Baltimore at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary, that fear is real. No child should have that experience,” Christy said.

Why It Matters

The reversal of long-standing enrollment growth trends among Hispanic students coincides with a sharp increase in immigration enforcement activity and the removal of protections for sensitive locations like schools. With more than half of the state's Hispanic student population concentrated in two counties, localized declines in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties have a disproportionate effect on statewide figures.

Educational metrics beyond enrollment also show deterioration, with graduation rates falling for Hispanic students, English learners, and the general student body. Community organizations report direct impacts on families, including the loss of primary breadwinners, which correlates with the timing of policy changes and high-profile enforcement incidents.

Timeline

In January 2026, state superintendents met with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, including Baltimore Field Office Interim Director Nikita Baker, and ICE officials stated during the meeting that they would not enter public school buildings or use the vicinity to stage raids. Also in January 2026, data showed the graduation rate for Hispanic students in Maryland fell 4.4% from the 2023-2024 to the 2024-2025 school years.

What's New

Additional reporting includes statements from education leaders regarding the emotional and academic toll of the enrollment shifts. Paul Lemle, President of the Maryland State Education Association, said, “It's a heaviness and a worry that we have that we are not seeing the Hispanic students.” He added, “There are declines in enrollment of our multilingual learners, but there are also expected increases that we're not seeing. These kids are born, they're out there in the community, they're not coming to school.” Lemle further stated, “They're just not learning the way we would like them to, whether they're out of school because of fear or they're in school and they're anxious.” Odette Ramos, Baltimore City Councilwoman, said, “I think the reason is obvious. ICE needs to stay away from our schools and stop terrorizing our communities.” Ramos also commented, “I would imagine that, that incident alone had a major impact on whether or not people are choosing to send their kids to school not just in Baltimore, but across the state.” Contextual information identifies Montgomery County as a county in Maryland, United States.

How Sources Differ

Regarding students in Maryland schools, Maryland State Department of Education data from January 2026 reports the graduation rate for Hispanic students fell 4.4% from the 2023-2024 to the 2024-2025 school years, while data from June 2026 states overall enrollment declined by more than 11,000 students in the 2025-2026 school year. Regarding Hispanic students in Maryland schools, January 2026 data cites the 4.4% drop in Hispanic graduation rates, whereas June 2026 data reports a 0.6% decline in Hispanic enrollment, representing a decrease of more than 1,000 students.

On Hispanic enrollment in schools, data indicates decreases in Montgomery County schools ranged from 6% to 11% during the last school year, while June 2026 data reports a 0.6% decline in Hispanic enrollment across Maryland public schools. Regarding overall Maryland school metrics, June 2026 data notes an overall enrollment decline of more than 11,000 students, while January 2026 data states the overall graduation rate fell 1.2% from the 2023-2024 to the 2024-2025 school years.

Concerning enrollment in Maryland schools, data shows twelve of the 20 sharpest declines in Hispanic student enrollment among schools with at least 500 Hispanic students occurred in Montgomery County, while June 2026 data reports an overall enrollment decline of more than 11,000 students. On Hispanic enrollment in Maryland schools, the same data shows the concentration of sharp declines in Montgomery County, contrasting with the statewide 0.6% decline reported in June 2026. Regarding Maryland Hispanic students, data indicates more than half of the approximately 210,000 Hispanic students attend school in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, while June 2026 data reports the 0.6% statewide enrollment decline. Finally, on enrollment in public schools, June 2026 data cites the overall decline of more than 11,000 students, while other data notes Hispanic enrollment fell by an average of more than 3% across Montgomery County public schools.