Latest News
09/27/2021 Letter from the Superintendent - Masking Update
At the beginning of this year, we shared that our decision-making for determining when masks would be worn in our school buildings would be based on the level of community transmission in St. Mary’s County. Since that time, the State Board of Education and the Maryland General Assembly have voted to enact COMAR 13A.01.06, Face Coverings in School Facilities. This regulation requires everyone to wear a face covering while in a public school facility, with certain exceptions. Those exceptions are delineated in our revised protocols.
Letter from the Superintendent - Masking Update
Carta del Superintendente - actualización de enmascaramiento
Back to School
Head over to our Back to School Resources page for supply lists, open house information, and more.
Early Education Registration
2021-2022 Pre-Kindergarten and Head Start Applications are now open. Learn more about head start applications or early education apply online.
Press Releases
About Us
Welcome to St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) where over 94% of our students graduate ready to take on the challenges of college or careers. With approximately 18,000 students, our school system is large enough to offer a wide variety of academic programs and services, yet small enough to maintain an atmosphere of friendliness, helpfulness, and personalized service. Our work is driven by three planning documents. Links to each are below:
- Recovery Plan
- 2020 Annual Report
- Bridge to Excellence Master Plan
- Educational Facilities Master Plan
- Capital Improvement Plan
We understand that education must engage students and align to their interests and aspirations. To do this, we provide a tailored educational experience to our learners, offering choice of courses and academic pathways. We are particularly proud of our signature academic pathways: the STEM Academy, The Academy of Global International Studies, The National Academy of Finance and our newest addition, the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts. Couple this with our James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center and the possibilities for our students reflect the needs of the 21st Century.
Great things are happening in our school system, check out the 2020 Annual Report to find out even more.
Here is information about the new Maryland School Report Card.
STUDENT FACTS (2019-2020)
Number of Schools
| Type of School | Number of Schools |
|---|---|
| Elementary | 18 |
| Public Charter | 1 |
| Middle | 4 |
| High | 3 |
| Career & Technology Center | 1 |
| Fairlead Academy | 1 |
Enrollment (projected) 17,244
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage of Student Base |
|---|---|
| White | 62.7% |
| African American | 18.33% |
| Hispanic | 7.6% |
| Asian | <5% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | <5% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | <5% |
| Two or More Races | 8.51% |
Students Receiving Special Services
| Name of Program | Percentage of Student Base |
|---|---|
| Title I (Elementary Only) | 13.48% |
| Limited English Proficient | <5% |
| Free/Reduced Meals | 34.64% |
| Special Education | 10.52% |
Attendance
| Type of School | Percentage of Student Base |
|---|---|
| Elementary | 94.4% |
| Middle | 93.7% |
| High | 92.8% |
Student Mobility (SY19)
| Name of Program | Percentage of Student Base |
|---|---|
| Elementary | 19.8% |
| Middle | 15.8% |
| High | 14.4% |
Our Staff
| Type of Staff | Number of Staff |
|---|---|
| Professional Staff | 1,491 |
| Classified Staff | 780 |
Teacher's average years of service is 13.1 years.
Average Class Size
| Grade | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Pre-Kindergarten | 17 |
| Kindergarten | 18 |
| 1-2 | 18 |
| 3-5 | 20 |
| 6-8 | 23 |
| 9-12 | 25.5 |
Educational Pathways Enrollment (unofficial)
| Name of Pathways | Number of Student Base |
|---|---|
| Chesapeake Public Charter (K-8) | 477 |
| Fairlead Academy I (9-10) | 130 |
| Fairlead Academy II (11-12) | 131 |
| J.A. Forrest Center (9-12) | 1,044 |
| Academy of Finance (9-12) | 100 |
| Academy of Visual & Performing Arts (9-11) | 80 |
| Global & International Studies (9-12) | 122 |
| STEM Academies (4-12) | 414 |
Class of 2020
| Students Post Graduation | Percentage of Student Base |
|---|---|
| Graduation Rate (4-Year Cohort, Class of 2019) | 94.3% |
| Dropout Rate | 3.9% |
| Attend a 4-Year College | 35% |
| Attend a 2-Year College | 46% |
| Attend a Trade/Technical School | 1% |
| Enter the Workforce | 11% |
| Enter the Military | 7% |
ELL Program
Approximately 278 students participate in the program for English Language Learners (ELL)
Early Childhood
165 students participate in Head Start, a federally funded early learning program for income eligible 3 and 4-year-olds. There are 810 Pre-K 4 spaces with 760 spaces for half day and 50 full day spaces. There are 68 half day spaces for Pre-K 3. Full-day kindergarten is currently held at all St. Mary's County public elementary schools.