Maryland high schools showing improvement

Nine work their way off state's watch list

three are added

Peiffer said this year marks the first time the city and Prince George's County systems have made AYP in at least one or more of the "grade bands" - elementary, middle or high school.

In Baltimore County, Dundalk High and Woodlawn High did not make adequate yearly progress this year, and have been on the watch list since 2004. Woodlawn, which went from a failure to meet requirements in 10 areas to just one, recently underwent restructuring, and started this school year with a new principal and a plan to foster improvement.

All 12 of Anne Arundel's comprehensive high schools made AYP, with the exception of Glen Burnie Evening High School and Phoenix Annapolis, a school for developmentally challenged students. Annapolis High School, which met the target for the first time in six years, still remains on the state's watch list.

Baltimore Sun reporters Nicole Fuller, Mary Gail Hare, Sara Neufeld and John-John Williams IV contributed to this article.

adequate yearly progress

Nine high schools that met federal targets are no longer classified as needing improvement:

Carver Vocational-Technical High School, Baltimore City; Milford Mill Academy, Baltimore County; North Dorchester High, Dorchester County; the Gateway to College Program, Longview School and Montgomery County Evening High School Centers, Montgomery County; and Forestville, Friendly and Parkdale highs in Prince George's County.

Three schools that missed the targets have entered the improvement process:

Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences (public charter school), Baltimore City; Watkins Mill High, Montgomery County, and the Flexible Evening High, Frederick County.