2025–26 School Year in Review: Progress on Our Five Big Rocks

During the 2025-26 school year, PGCPS focused on five key priorities (our "Big Rocks")  that are shaping the future of our district: Mathematics and Literacy, College and Career Readiness, Special Education and Multilingual Learners, Attendance, and Organizational Development.

From academic gains and expanded opportunities to stronger student supports and operational improvements, these highlights showcase how our district moved forward together during the 2025–26 school year.

Mathematics & Literacy: Accelerating Student Achievement

Student learning remained at the center of everything we do, and this school year brought signs of academic growth across the district.

Highlights

• More than 70% of Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools posted gains in mathematics.
• Overall, 72% of schools improved in math and 64% improved in English Language Arts.
• Multilingual learners and students with disabilities demonstrated continued growth in reading and mathematics.
• Algebra I proficiency increased by 26%.
• Twenty-four schools received intensive support through the Innovation and Performance Area, providing targeted resources and interventions where they were needed most.
• Graduation rates increased for the third consecutive year, reflecting the district's ongoing commitment to student achievement and success.

View 2025 MCAP Highlights

🎓 College & Career Readiness: Expanding Opportunity

PGCPS continues to create pathways that help students graduate with a plan, a purpose and a head start on their future.

Highlights

• Tuition-free Dual Enrollment opportunities were expanded to every high school through a landmark partnership with Prince George's Community College and Prince George's County Government.
• Students gained increased access to college courses, industry credentials and career pathways while still enrolled in high school.
• A historic direct-admissions partnership with Bowie State University streamlined the college application process for eligible graduates.
• The Bowie State partnership helped unlock more than 600 scholarships totaling over $1.6 million.
• The district maintained a strategic focus on expanding dual enrollment, internships and career-connected learning experiences.

🌍 Special Education & Multilingual Learners: Supporting Every Student

PGCPS remained committed to ensuring students receive the individualized support and opportunities they need to thrive.

Highlights

• Students with disabilities and multilingual learners continued to make academic gains across grade levels.
• Special education teacher vacancies were reduced from 242 to 80, helping provide more consistent support for students.
• Significant reductions in special education paraprofessional vacancies strengthened classroom support services.
• Mandatory beginning-of-year family meetings for students receiving special education services increased communication, transparency and trust.

🏫 Attendance: Removing Barriers to Success

Students are most successful when they are present, healthy, connected and supported. This year, PGCPS invested in programs and services that help students show up ready to learn.

Highlights

• Chronic absenteeism continued to decline across the district.
• An $18 million grant renewal expanded behavioral and mental health services for more than 30,000 students. Partnerships with 15 community organizations strengthened access to counseling, wellness and behavioral health supports.
• The district opened four new School-Based Health Centers in partnership with Children's National Hospital, bringing healthcare directly to students at Walker Mill Middle School and Fairmont Heights, Northwestern, and Oxon Hill high schools. Serving up to 9,200 students, the centers help remove barriers to attendance by providing convenient access to medical, behavioral and preventive healthcare services right on campus.
• Expanded free breakfast and after-school hot meal programs helped ensure students had access to nutritious meals throughout the school day. Additional meal services were rapidly deployed during periods of economic uncertainty and severe winter weather.
• Student suspensions continued to decline, reflecting ongoing improvements in school climate and culture.

🤝 Organizational Development: Building a Stronger School System

Strong systems create strong schools. This year, PGCPS focused on strengthening operations, investing in employees, increasing transparency and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Highlights

Investing in Our Workforce

• Teacher vacancies were reduced by 52%, from approximately 900 positions to 434.
• Bus driver vacancies were reduced by more than 100 positions, reaching a 96% fill rate.
• Eighty new substitute teachers were hired through innovative fast-track recruitment events.
• Three major employee union contracts were successfully finalized.
• New talent recruitment and workforce development strategies strengthened hiring pipelines.

Fiscal Stewardship & Strategic Planning

• The district successfully navigated a historic $150 million budget realignment while protecting classroom instruction and avoiding teacher layoffs.
• The "Dollars and Decisions" FY27 budget campaign provided transparent communication and community engagement throughout the budget process.
• Twenty community listening sessions gathered feedback from families, students and staff.
• Development began on the district's new three-year strategic plan, Forward by Design.
• A Strategic Realignment Workgroup was launched to explore sustainable solutions and future opportunities.

Operational Excellence & Transparency

• Student immunization noncompliance dropped from approximately 4,000 cases to just 44, restoring nearly $20 million in state funding.
• A new districtwide transportation app improved communication and service reliability for families.
• Public dashboards were launched to provide real-time information on student achievement, attendance, graduation rates and staffing.
• A public 100-Day Plan Tracker increased transparency and accountability.
• PGCPS hosted its first State of the Schools address in more than a decade.  

National Recognition

• Blueprint Schools Phase II was named the nation's 2025 Best Social Infrastructure Project.
• PGCPS earned the 2026 NSBA Magna Award Grand Prize for environmental excellence and indoor air quality improvements.
• The district achieved a record-breaking 164 certified Maryland Green Schools, the highest total in Maryland.  

Looking Ahead

The progress made this year belongs to our entire community.

Every academic gain, every opportunity created and every operational improvement reflects the collective efforts of our students, families, educators, staff and community partners.

While these highlights capture some of the district's most significant accomplishments, they represent only a fraction of the remarkable work taking place every day. Together, we are moving Forward by Design to and build even greater opportunities for every student in the years ahead!