Press Release: On Maryland Report Card, More PGCPS Schools Rise In Ratings; Majority Earn Three Stars or Higher

November 4, 2025
For Immediate Release

CONTACT:
Office of Communications
301-952-6001
communications@pgcps.org

Nearly 20% of schools gain at least one star as progress in academics and school climate improve districtwide.

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has released the 2024–2025 Maryland School Report Cards, and the results show continued upward momentum for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). More than three in four schools (over 75 percent) earned ratings of three, four, or five stars, and more schools improved than declined compared to last year.

The Maryland School Report Card measures multiple academic and school climate indicators to provide families and educators with a comprehensive look at school performance and growth. 

This year, 34 PGCPS schools gained at least one star and more than half of all schools (124) improved their total points earned, signaling strong progress across elementary, middle, high, combination, and charter schools.

“Our students are making gains, and that’s no accident,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph. “The Maryland Report Card offers one view of student achievement, and together with our recent MCAP results, it tells a story of real progress. These outcomes reflect steady, measurable growth and a district that’s trending up. As we build on this momentum, our work ahead is about accelerating progress for every student.”

Academic and Climate Gains

The 2025 Maryland Report Card reinforces broad academic growth across the district — progress also reflected in this year’s Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) results, where students recorded broad academic gains across grade levels and student groups.

• Math proficiency rose 3.9 percentage points, nearly double the statewide increase of 2.0 points.
• English Language Arts (ELA) scores improved by 2.8 points, closely matching the statewide average.
• More than 30,000 students are within reach of proficiency, including nearly 10,000 within five points of meeting state standards.
• Multilingual learners and students with disabilities achieved consistent gains across both math and ELA, and Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools are closing gaps faster than comparable schools statewide.

Middle and high schools also recorded notable reductions in chronic absenteeism, while survey data show that students and staff feel more positive about school climate and engagement districtwide.

PGCPS Maryland School Report Card Ratings

Five-star: 6 schools (2 elementary, 1 high, 3 combination)
Four-star: 26 schools (16 elementary, 1 high, 9 combination)
Three-star: 111 schools (75 elementary, 13 middle, 14 high, 9 combination)
Two-star: 45 schools (23 elementary, 12 middle, 8 high, 2 combination)
One-star: 0 schools

Combination schools include those with elementary, middle, and/or high school grade configurations.

This year, the district’s number of five-star schools increased from four to six, reflecting growth at both the elementary and secondary levels. Five-star schools include Glenarden Woods Elementary, Heather Hills Elementary, Robert Goddard Montessori, Judith P. Hoyer Montessori, Dora Kennedy French Immersion, and the Academy of Health Sciences at Prince George’s Community College.

How the Ratings Work

School star ratings are based on multiple indicators, including non-academic measures.

Elementary and middle school indicators: Academic Achievement, Academic Progress, Progress in Achieving English Language Proficiency, and School Quality and Student Success.

High school indicators: Academic Achievement, Graduation Rate, Progress in Achieving English Language Proficiency, Readiness for Postsecondary Success, and School Quality and Student Success.

Schools earn between one and five stars based on the percentage of points earned across these indicators.

State, district, and school level results can be viewed on The Maryland Report Card website. 

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