St. Mary's County
Public Schools
About Us
Welcome to St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) where our students graduate ready to take on the challenges of college or careers.
With approximately 17,500 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.
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 Annual Report to find out even more.
Our work is driven by theses documents:
Blueprint for Maryland's Future
The Blueprint for Maryland's Future Act is a piece of legislation intended to enhance and improve the state and local investment in, and school system operation of, Maryland's public schools. Learn more about the Maryland Blueprint with this website or by watching this video.
What's happening?
Important News & Events
Learn More
about Important News & Events
Student Facts (2021-2022)
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 17,480
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage of Student Base |
|---|---|
| White |
62.16% |
| African American |
18.54% |
| Hispanic |
7.76% |
| Asian |
<5% |
|
American Indian/Alaska Native |
<5% |
|
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander |
<5% |
|
Two or More Races |
8.71% |
Students Receiving Special Services
| Name of Program | Percentage of Student Base |
|---|---|
| Title I (Elementary Only) |
13.48% |
| Limited English Proficient |
<5% |
| Free/Reduced Meals |
31.17% |
| 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
Teacher's average years of service is 13.2 years.
| Type of Staff | Number of Staff |
|---|---|
| Professional Staff | 1,516 |
| Classified Staff | 776 |
Average Class Size
| Grade | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Pre-Kindergarten | 13 |
| Kindergarten | 17 |
| 1-2 | 19 |
| 3-5 | 21 |
| 6-8 | 23 |
| 9-12 | 21 |
Educational Pathways Enrollment
| Name of Pathways | Number of Student Base |
|---|---|
| Chesapeake Public Charter (K-8) | 492 |
| Fairlead Academy (10-12) | 109 |
| J.A. Forrest Center (9-12) | 1,030 |
| Academy of Finance (9-12) | 78 |
| Academy of Visual & Performing Arts (9-11) | 67 |
| Global & International Studies (9-12) | 96 |
| STEM Academies (5-12) | 336 |
Class of 2022
| Students Post Graduation | Percentage of Student Base |
|---|---|
| Graduation Rate (5-year Cohort, Class of 2021) |
92.8% |
| Graduation Rate (4-Year Cohort, Class of 2022) |
90.1% |
| Dropout Rate | 7.9% |
| Attend a 4-Year College | 30% |
| Attend a 2-Year College | 35% |
| Attend a Trade/Technical School | 3% |
| Enter the Workforce | 18% |
| Enter the Military | 6% |
| Scholarships Offered | $31.5M |
ELL Program
Approximately 320 students participate in the program for English Language Learners (ELL)
Early Childhood
St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) offers full-day Pre-Kindergarten 4 to children that reside in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, meet age requirements, and are income eligible.
- A child must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2023.
- A family must verify their annual income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.
- Families that are at 185% FPL will be served first.
2023-2024 Pre-Kindergarten Application Apply Now
For general questions, please contact the Department of Equity, Engagement, and Early Access.
(301) 475-5511, ext. 32136 or email cmwoodley@smcps.org.
Upcoming Events
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BOE Meeting Room