2024-2025 School Year in Review: How We Moved Forward!

From new state-of-the-art schools to more efficient bus service, check out ways PGCPS made strides in academic outcomes, operations, staffing, student supports, community engagement and more during the 2024–25 school year. 

Academic Achievement & Growth

• On the Maryland Report Card, nearly 75% of PGCPS schools earned three or more stars, and PGCPS is home to one of only two five-star middle schools statewide! Elementary students showed steady progress on the MCAP, with one-third of schools improving by at least two percentage points in English language arts and math. Thirty-five schools advanced five points or more.
• Graduation rates rose to more than 80% for the Class of 2024 — a nearly six-point gain over the previous year — with Hispanic students leading the way (12-point increase)! English Learners also gained more than 14 points, now nearing a 67% graduation rate.
• The number of PGCPS schools with a Maryland accredited prekindergarten program increased by 38 schools, bringing the total to 105 accredited schools (98%).
• The Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Technology Program at DuVal High School celebrated its 10th anniversary This rigorous four-year program provides students with college-level STEM experiences, focusing on aerospace and aviation-related fields.
• Six schools earned the Enhancing Gifted and Advanced Thinking Education (EGATE) recognition for 2024: Accokeek Academy, Walker Mill Middle, Benjamin Tasker Middle, Glenarden Woods Elementary, Heather Hills Elementary and Valley View Elementary. PGCPS now leads the state with a total of 46 EGATE awards since 2009.

Operational Highlights

• Historic school construction continued with the opening of two new middle schools: William Wirt and Ellen Ochoa. We also broke ground on four of eight new Blueprint Phase II schools: Fairwood, Margaret Brent and Templeton elementary schools and Robert Frost K-8. The district also reopened STEM education hub Howard B. Owens Science Center with new learning spaces, including a new ‘mission control’ feature designed by NASA.

October 18, 2024 marked a historic milestone, as the final steel beam was placed on the new Suitland High School campus. 

• School bus service improved following a Transportation Audit, with smarter routes and better timing across the system. Morning on-time performance jumped from 73% to 91%, while afternoon performance rose nearly 18 points.
• PGCPS continues to lead the state in green schools, in line with a focus on sustainability and the Climate Change Action Plan, The district also introduced 10 new electric school buses into its transportation fleet and received a  $1.9 million state grant supporting development of an electric bus lot for 50 buses, advancing the district’s climate goals.

School Safety and Climate

• Weapons-related incidents declined alongside the rollout of new safety protocols, and major incidents including fights and threats fell by an average of 65%.  
• PGCPS invested in security with 53 new positions, standard minimum staffing at all middle schools and upgraded security tech. 
• New Safe Passage Coordinators now focus on pedestrian safety, supported by a new partnership with County Public Works to address traffic concerns.
• Student attendance also improved. Chronic absenteeism is now nearly 17% below the regional average, showing more students are consistently engaged in learning.

Staffing and Recruitment

• PGCPS is now among the top 20 districts nationally for the number of National Board Certified Teachers and remains Maryland’s highest paying district for National Board certifications.

• Staff recruitment efforts remained proactive and adaptive. Hiring campaigns leveraged paid social media, including the district’s first video ads, generating significant applicant interest by meeting candidates on the platforms they use most, and helping PGCPS stay competitive in a challenging job market.

Student Services and Supports

• The Office of School Health was awarded a $100,000 planning grant from the Maryland Department of Health, in partnership with United Way, to support the opening of 10 new School-Based Health Centers across the district. This initiative will engage families, students, and stakeholders to prioritize healthcare access and ensure resources are strategically placed to meet student needs

• Student wellness was bolstered through Hazel Health telehealth services and a $25 million grant to grow behavioral health support. The grant links students to more than a dozen partners for crisis care, ongoing services and staff training.
• More than 50,000 students accessed academic interventions this year across all grade bands and subjects.
• The district launched Schoolinks, an interactive College Readiness platform that replaces Naviance. This new tool enables students to apply to college, request transcripts, and complete essential college application components.
• Parent engagement climbed as nearly 100,000 families plugged into the new Synergy ParentVUE system to monitor academics, transportation and more.

Supporting Immigrant Families

With federal transitions underway, PGCPS launched an Immigration Resource Hub, hosted webinars and partnered with community groups to assist newcomer families. Hundreds have engaged in these resources so far.

 View Additional 24-25 SY Highlights