Southern Maryland’s public school systems in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties largely met state performance targets in the 2024-2025 Maryland School Report Cards. The reports, based on Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program tests and other metrics, show strengths in academic achievement and progress at elementary and middle levels, with high schools demonstrating solid graduation rates above 88 percent across all three counties. Officials use these indicators to gauge student proficiency in English language arts and math, alongside growth in skills and postsecondary preparation.
At the elementary level, Calvert County led with 55.9 points out of 60 possible, reflecting earned scores of 28.1 in academic achievement for English language arts and 27.8 in progress toward proficiency. St. Mary’s followed at 52.8 points, with 26.7 in achievement and 26.1 in progress. Charles County scored 53.9 points, earning 28.8 in achievement and 25.1 in progress. All three counties met their annual targets in these categories, indicating students achieved or exceeded expected proficiency levels on state assessments.
Middle schools presented a similar pattern of compliance. St. Mary’s earned 65.2 out of 90 points, including 16.4 in achievement, 18.7 in progress for English language arts proficiency and 30.1 in student success measures such as chronic absenteeism and suspension rates. Calvert matched St. Mary’s achievement score at 16.4 but added 20.8 in progress and 24.5 in student success for a total of 61.7 points. Charles County posted the highest middle school total at 57.2 points, with 18.0 in achievement, 18.0 in progress and 21.2 in student success. Each county met targets here, underscoring steady advancement in core subjects and school environment factors.
High schools focused on two primary indicators: academic achievement in English language arts proficiency and readiness for postsecondary success, which includes metrics like advanced coursework completion and college application rates. Calvert County stood out, earning 26 out of 30 points with 16.8 in achievement—exceeding the possible allocation—and 9.2 in postsecondary readiness. St. Mary’s scored 25 points, with 13.4 in achievement and 11.6 in readiness. Charles County totaled 20.6 points, reflecting 12.7 in achievement and 7.9 in readiness. All met their respective targets, though Charles lagged slightly in postsecondary metrics.
| Level | Indicator | St. Mary’s (Points Earned/Possible) | Calvert (Points Earned/Possible) | Charles (Points Earned/Possible) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Academic Achievement ELA | 26.7/30 | 28.1/30 | 28.8/30 |
| Elementary | Progress ELA Proficiency | 26.1/30 | 27.8/30 | 25.1/30 |
| Middle | Academic Achievement | 16.4/20 | 16.4/20 | 18.0/20 |
| Middle | Progress ELA Proficiency | 18.7/35 | 20.8/35 | 18.0/35 |
| Middle | Student Success | 30.1/35 | 24.5/35 | 21.2/35 |
| High | Academic Achievement | 13.4/15 | 16.8/15 | 12.7/15 |
| High | Postsecondary Success | 11.6/15 | 9.2/15 | 7.9/15 |
Disaggregated data highlights equity across student groups. In math proficiency for all students, St. Mary’s reported 41 percent proficient against a 35 percent target, meeting the mark. Calvert achieved 42 percent proficient, also meeting 35 percent, while Charles reached 40 percent against the same target. English language arts showed comparable results: St. Mary’s at 52 percent proficient versus 46 percent target; Calvert at 63 percent versus 58 percent; and Charles at 46 percent versus 42 percent. Subgroups, including Black or African American students, students with disabilities and English learners, generally met targets, though smaller groups like American Indian or Alaska Native students had suppressed data due to low enrollment.
Graduation rates reinforced these trends. St. Mary’s all-students rate stood at 90 percent, meeting the 90 percent target, with a four-year adjusted cohort rate of 92 percent. Black students graduated at 81 percent, meeting targets, and the five-year rate reached 86 percent. Calvert’s overall rate was 91 percent, exceeding 90 percent, with four-year at 92 percent; Black students hit 80 percent overall and 86 percent four-year. Charles recorded 88.4 percent overall, meeting targets despite falling short of 90 percent, bolstered by a four-year rate of 92.1 percent; Black students achieved 85.9 percent overall and 91.6 percent four-year. White students across counties graduated at rates from 89.5 to 95 percent, all meeting targets. Students with disabilities ranged from 64 to 72 percent overall, with four-year rates up to 74 percent.
These figures derive from the Maryland State Department of Education’s annual evaluation system, which assigns points based on performance relative to statewide benchmarks. Academic achievement measures the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced on state tests in English language arts and math, weighted by grade level. Progress tracks year-over-year growth, particularly for students below proficiency, using statistical models to credit improvement. English language proficiency assesses multilingual learners’ advancement toward fluency. Graduation rates count students completing high school within four or five years, adjusted for transfers and mobility. Postsecondary success evaluates access to rigorous courses and outcomes like enrollment in higher education or career programs.
The report cards, covering the 2023-2024 school year data released in fall 2025, provide a snapshot for local educators and families in Southern Maryland’s tri-county area. St. Mary’s County Public Schools, serving about 17,000 students across 28 schools, emphasized targeted interventions in literacy programs following prior reports. Calvert County, with roughly 15,000 students in 23 schools, focused on STEM initiatives to boost postsecondary readiness. Charles County, enrolling over 26,000 in 36 schools, invested in equity training to narrow subgroup gaps. Statewide, Maryland’s system aligns with federal Every Student Succeeds Act requirements, ensuring accountability without high-stakes penalties.
Parents can access individual school profiles through the Maryland Report Card website to compare local performance. As Southern Maryland communities grow, these metrics inform budget allocations for tutoring, technology and facility upgrades. Steady gains in proficiency—up 2 to 5 percentage points in math across counties from previous years—signal effective responses to pandemic-era disruptions. Future reports will incorporate chronic absenteeism trends, which remained below 20 percent in all counties, supporting overall student success.
