This handbook presents statistics about the public and private schools of Maryland. In 1997 there were 830,744 public school students in Maryland and 170,285 nonpublic students representing a 10.5% increase in the public school enrollment over 5 years and a 14.5% increase in nonpublic school enrollment over 5 years. There were 1,297 public schools in the state and 1,110 nonpublic schools. Of the state's 91,889 public school staff, 62,503 were in instructional positions. The majority of Maryland's public school students were White (55.9%), with the remainder being 36.1% African American, 3.7% Hispanic American, 0.3% American Indian, and 4.0% Asian American. Most of the state's 48,884 teachers were White (78.1%) with 19.7% African American. The statewide average dropout rate was 4.66%, although in Baltimore City, the dropout rate was 13.49%. Most of the state's 43,365 high school graduates (81.1%) planned to go to college. Information is also provided about achievement test results for the Scholastic Aptitude Test and the Maryland School Performance Assessment, as well as information about teacher salaries, financial resources, special programs, and vocational and adult education. Lists of state school information resources and local school systems are provided. (Contains 34 tables, 1 map, and 6 figures.) (SLD)