A District on the Rise:

Accelerating Excellence in Prince George's County
PGCPS is not waiting for the future.
PGCPS is not waiting for the future.

We are architecting it.


Prince George’s County Public Schools is redefining what’s possible when brilliance is nurtured, equity is intentional, and progress is accelerated.

The 2026 State of the Schools address is not a report on deficits — it is a declaration of momentum. Viewed through an equity-honest lens, the evidence is undeniable: PGCPS scholars are making measurable gains, our educators are pioneering innovation, and our district is poised to expand pockets of excellence, into excellence everywhere.

Scaling that excellence requires smart, targeted investment. In a moment shaped by fiscal constraints and historic inequities, PGCPS is choosing focus over fear and investment over retreat. Every decision, every dollar, every strategy answers the same question: What moves learning forward fastest and most equitably for our students


This year's address spotlights five strategic accelerants:

Special Education | Safety and Security | Professional Development | AI Literacy | Employee Compensation

These high-impact investment areas are designed to fuel lasting gains for students while stabiliizing and strengthening the system that serves them. Together, they signal a district modernizing with purpose, safeguarding the conditions where learning thrives, and preparing students to lead in a rapidly changing world.

Click on the videos below to see how Prince George's County shows what's possible when a school system refuses to settle for minimums and instead builds pathways to purpose, power, and possibility.

   
Our Focus: The "Big Rocks"
Before we accelerate, we anchor our work in five non-negotiable outcomes — the Big Rocks that define success:
Mathematics & Literacy:
Mathematics & Literacy:
Ensuring every student masters foundational skills.
Special Education & Multilingual Learners:
Special Education & Multilingual Learners:
Prioritizing outcomes for our most diverse learners.
Internships & Dual Enrollment
Internships & Dual Enrollment
Creating clear pathways to college and high-wage careers
Organizational Culture
Organizational Culture
Building a system where every student and staff member can thrive.
Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic Absenteeism
Removing barriers to daily learning and engagement.
~Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph
Even
more
powerful
than
any
device
is
a
culture
of
trust—a
culture
where
students
feel
safe
speaking
up,
and
adults
are
prepared
to
act
~Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph
On Safety & Security
Even
more
powerful
than
any
device
is
a
culture
of
trust—a
culture
where
students
feel
safe
speaking
up,
and
adults
are
prepared
to
act
~Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph
~Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph
On Safety & Security

2026 Superintendent's Exemplar of Excellence Award Recipients

We are proud to recognize these members of Team PGCPS for their leadership in moving our "Big Rocks":

FY27 Budget Snapshot:
FY27 Budget Snapshot:
The proposed FY27 Operating Budget is not an expansion budget — it is a stabilization budget. Developed after $150 million in reductions, the largest single-year adjustment in district history, it is designed to restore predictability, protect classroom instruction, and address urgent legal, operational, and student needs.

Even amid unprecedented cuts, PGCPS is prioritizing high-impact investments to sustain momentum in teaching and learning and accelerate student outcomes.


Thank You

 

An event of this magnitude is made
possible only through the dedicated
collaboration of our students, staff,
and community partners who
believe in the vision of our schools.

Suitland High School Principal

Maurice Wright

Suitland High School Asst. Principal

Shonda Pegram

Suitland CVPA Choir

McKinsey Allen
Jordin Pope
Aliyah Alexander
Alexis Carson
Skyy Ingraham
Cynae Mabry
Amy Perla
Madisen Pope
Aiden Bray
Malachi Pike
Javian Jackson
Kenneth Owens
Jelani Swift

Students of the Charles Herbert Flowers High School Culinary Arts Program
Suitland CVPA Choir
(Ramshead Jazz Band)

Lawrence Pryor
Matthew Woods
Taniyah Gavin
Tyler Rock
Jacqueline Laboard
Joshua Hill
Matthew Williams
Randy Madrid
Kianni Hawley-Hearns
Kolby Cobham
Jeremiah Williams

Visual Arts Students
JROTC Students

 



Watch the 2026 State of the Schools Address