This handbook presents statistics about the public and private schools of Maryland. In 1998 there were 841,671 public school students in Maryland and 175,622 nonpublic school students, representing a 9.1% increase in the public school enrollment over 5 years and a 15.9% increase in the nonpublic school enrollment over 5 years. There were 1,355 public schools in the state and 1,113 nonpublic schools. Of the state's 95,035 public school staff, 65,486 were in instructional positions. The majority of Maryland's public school students were White (55%), with the remainder being African American (36.6%), Hispanic American (4%), American Indian (0.3%), and Asian American (4%). Most of the state's teachers were White (77.2%), with 20.4% African American. The statewide average dropout rate was 4.05%, although in Baltimore City the dropout rate was 10.22%. Most of the state's 45,033 high school graduates 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, correctional education, and vocational and adult education. Lists of state school information resources and local school systems are provided. (Contains 30 tables and 1 map.) (SLD)