St. Mary’s County public school cafeterias and kitchens have earned high marks for food safety, with 23 schools receiving the 2025 Gold Star Achievement Awards from the St. Mary’s County Health Department.
The annual awards recognize food service facilities that demonstrate superior standards in food handling and sanitation. This year’s recipients include all listed St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) facilities that met stringent criteria during inspections throughout the year.
The honored schools are: Banneker Early Childhood Center, Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary, Chesapeake Public Charter School, Dynard Elementary, Esperanza Middle, Evergreen Elementary, George Washington Carver Elementary, Great Mills High, Green Holly Elementary, Hollywood Elementary, Leonardtown Elementary, Leonardtown High, Leonardtown Middle, Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary, Lexington Park Elementary, Margaret Brent Middle, Mechanicsville Elementary, Oakville Elementary, Park Hall Elementary, Piney Point Elementary, Ridge Elementary, Spring Ridge Middle, and Town Creek Elementary.
To qualify for the Gold Star, facilities must achieve zero critical violations and zero temperature violations during monitoring inspections, correct all noted violations by the 30-day follow-up inspection, have no confirmed unsafe food handling complaints, and ensure at least one food service worker completed a recognized Food Service Sanitarian and Safety Class within the past two years.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for April 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in the Chesapeake Room of the Chesapeake Building at 41770 Baldridge Street in Leonardtown. The event will honor the 2025 recipients and celebrate their commitment to safe, healthy meals for students.
The Gold Star program, administered by the St. Mary’s County Health Department, promotes excellence in food safety across restaurants, schools, and other facilities in the county. It underscores the importance of rigorous standards to protect public health, particularly in environments serving children daily.
In recent years, SMCPS has consistently performed well in this program. For example, all 28 St. Mary’s County public schools earned the award in 2024, as reported in local coverage of the Health Department’s recognitions. The 2025 awards, with 23 schools honored, reflect continued strong performance amid annual inspections and training requirements.
This recognition highlights the dedication of school nutrition staff, administrators, and health inspectors in maintaining safe dining environments. Proper food handling prevents foodborne illness, supports student wellness, and aligns with broader public health goals in Southern Maryland’s St. Mary’s County.
The awards build on the program’s ongoing efforts to encourage best practices in food service. Recipients serve as models for consistent compliance with state and local regulations, contributing to a healthier community through reliable, safe school meals.