CALIFORNIA, Md. — The Maryland State Department of Education released a statewide report card last week that detailed the performance of students across Maryland during the 2024–2025 school year. State report cards can help identify areas where students need extra help, and this year’s breakdown revealed that children across Southern Maryland have been steadily improving.
We’ve broken down the most important results from the report cards released for Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. Here’s a look at how Southern Maryland students have been performing, along with how the report’s results will help push children further toward their dreams.
How Did Calvert County Perform?
Calvert County students displayed improvement during the 2024–2025 school year. High schools saw an upgrade in every category, while elementary and middle school students improved in every area except the Progress in Achieving English Language Proficiency category.
Academic achievement scores were lacking in elementary and middle schools, so students may need more guidance for core subjects like language arts and math.
While annual target goals weren’t reached in Calvert County according to the report card, students had around a 95% graduation rate — the highest in Southern Maryland. Overall, Calvert County schools saw improvement in the last year, so more growth may be on the horizon.
How Did Charles County Perform?
Elementary and middle school students throughout Charles County improved in nearly all categories, including academic achievements, progress, and school quality. The only exception was middle school students, who didn’t see an improvement in the Progress in Achieving English Language Proficiency category, indicating that students aiming to learn English or become multilingual may need some extra attention.
In contrast, high school students in Charles County only saw improvement in graduation rates and school quality. Teenagers in Charles County might require more assistance with post-secondary education preparedness, English language proficiency, and common academic subjects. Despite the lack of improvement compared to nearby counties, graduation rates in Charles County were just over 90%.
Charles County didn’t achieve its annual target goals on the state report card, but the report revealed that academic subjects and readiness for post-secondary education are areas that need improvement.
How Did St. Mary’s County Perform?
The elementary and middle school students in St. Mary’s County improved significantly in the 2024–2025 school year. The Academic Progress category for middle schoolers was the only area that didn’t see a boost, so math, social studies, science, and language arts likely need attention.
The report card’s results for high school students were mixed. While 9th through 12th graders advanced in academic achievement, English language proficiency, and school quality, there was no improvement in the graduation rate or post-secondary education preparedness.
At about 91%, the graduation rate in St. Mary’s County is similar to that in Charles County. A few areas could be better in St. Mary’s, but most students and schools displayed improvement in the majority of categories throughout the 2024–2025 school year.
Conclusion: Southern Maryland Schools Have Been Improving Overall, But A Few Areas Could Use Some Attention
Though the students of Southern Maryland could improve in a few areas, the 2024–2025 state report card proved that growth is constant. Graduation rates are high across every southern county, indicating that students are learning effectively in the classroom.
Despite a year of growth, some students in Southern Maryland struggle with common classes. Academic subjects like math and reading are due for improvement, though the specific areas that need attention vary by county and grade level.
The State Board of Education remains committed to improving Maryland schools in 2026 and beyond, which is why statewide report cards are so important to identify the areas where students are thriving or struggling.
“The Maryland School Report Card is a vital tool for transparency and continuous improvement,” said State Board of Education President Joshua L. Michael. “While we remain focused on refining our accountability system to better support schools and students, this progress demonstrates that educators and district leaders are deeply engaged in the work of school improvement.”
By taking notes from the state report card, educators and administrators throughout Maryland can target areas that need attention to further improve the quality of each and every classroom.
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