Half of schools' freshmen fall below 2.0 GPA; educators seek improvements

Half of all ninth-graders at Glen Burnie and North County high schools had a grade point average below 2.0 at the end of last year, according to a report on student performance in county schools.

The two north county schools, along with Northeast and Meade high schools, are at the leading edge of a problem affecting high school freshmen across the county. One-third of ninth-graders countywide have a "D" average or lower, county school figures show.

The high number of ninth-graders struggling academically has raised alarms.

"This is a...