2024 Best School Districts in Maryland

• Ellicott City, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  266 reviews

Alum: Howard County Public Schools provide a great education experience especially when I was a student. I have been to two schools which were Howard and Long Reach High School. From my experience, the teachers and staff are interactive and will do their best in pathing you for success. I've had plenty of opportunities to grow my individual learning education, whether it'd be during class or after-school tutoring. Both schools showed a tremendous amount of school spirit with their sports and their club activities. The one thing that I would love to change is the school lunches. Although the nutritional value of the meals has been better, the overall quality of meals is not on par as I would have liked. School lunches and breakfast are fundamental tools for us students to regain our energy so we can continue to learn at our best. But for me, I found myself skipping lunch because the food was not appealing,... Read 266 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 77

• Students 57,325

• Rockville, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 4.07 out of 5  619 reviews

Senior: The academics are great and so are the athletics. To start off the teachers are insanely nice and will do anything to help the student succeed if asked for help. I have received a lot of help before and after school with my teachers. Our football team is outstanding, especially with our new coaching staff we have been better than ever. The track team is also very awesome. We have made states consecutive years! The coach is just amazing and wants to see the athlete do better and get them to their full potential. The academics are great and so are the athletics. To start off the teachers are insanely nice and will do anything to help the student succeed if asked for help. I have received a lot of help before and after school with my teachers. Our football team is outstanding, especially with our new coaching staff we have been better than ever. The track team is also very awesome. We have made states consecutive years! The coach is just amazing and wants to see the athlete do better a... Read 619 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 209

• Students 158,231

• Newark, MD•

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  9 reviews

Senior: The quality of education from this county's school system is better than most surrounding counties. It has allowed me to pursue my interests in science and math and has also granted me access to technology that I could not get in other places. The school is usually clean and the attitude of the students is sub-par. The children are constantly fighting and using illicit substances both during and after classes. There is a definite need to change drug use in the school system and have a more efficient way of preventing this from happening.... Read 9 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 14

• Students 6,803

• Westminster, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.99 out of 5  86 reviews

Alum: Loved the music and theater arts! Offered many opportunities to compete in regional, state and national music and theater events! Theater students support each other across schools even though competing against each other.... Read 86 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 44

• Students 25,054

• Prince Frederick, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 4 out of 5  46 reviews

Senior: The school system has both ups and downs. While most of the teachers there are truly great and engage with the students sometimes you have a teacher who does not teach in an accessible way. Another fact to touch on is all the problems with the buildings, between the faulty HVAC and the bathrooms constantly being shut down, it is a hindrance on students and teachers daily. But where there is bad there is also good. I’ve always gotten great help when it comes to my accessibility issues. I also have had some truly amazing teachers and admin. So the school system has both ups and downs just like any other place... Read 46 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 25

• Students 15,407

• Bel Air, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.82 out of 5  125 reviews

Alum: My experience with Harford County Public Schools, through the opportunities given to me by my magnet program and advanced educational programs, felt consistently a lot better than what was experienced by others, and I wish these privileges could be provided to more people. In Churchville Elementary and Edgewood High School I was put in advanced programs. These programs had extremely tight communities, with a diversity of people with a passion for learning. The schools did very well to facilitate this community and encourage our learning with dedicated spaces. However, there were a lot of elements outside of that space that needs work. For example, Edgewood High School had a ton of issues with its cleaning and policies that did not facilitate learning, but instead discouraged courage. The schools have shown the ability to tend to students properly, but (especially with recently announced budget cuts) I worry for its ability to give it to all students.... Read 125 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 55

• Students 37,920

• Frederick, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.83 out of 5  134 reviews

Alum: I was a part of FCPS K-12 and it was very enjoyable. Each school and classroom I was a part of made me feel at home. As I finished high school I started to notice that student behavior was starting to decline but overall, I never felt unsafe. I only ever got food in elementary school and it changed significantly since then. Teachers were always very good, and never had unreasonably bad ones. I would love to see overall school spirit and pride change. I felt as though many students were not proud to be attending the school that they were, especially in high school and it made participation in certain events pretty low.... Read 134 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 69

• Students 45,220

• Centreville, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.79 out of 5  43 reviews

Senior: I have had a good experience at QACHS, the diversity of educational pathways is amazing to see. Each pathway really has great teachers as well, and they all push their students to take new opportunities. All of the students that attend this school are from a wide range of backgrounds but everyone is able to find their place or have help searching for it. The worst parts of my experience I feel come from other students, and not necessarily the staff in any way. I have seen and heard of many fights and similar things go down in the school, however staff does a nice job at responding. I feel very content with my experience at this highschool.... Read 43 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 14

• Students 7,440

• Leonardtown, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.55 out of 5  22 reviews

Senior: I have always felt safe at my school. One of the best parts is the community of students and staff there. I would have to say that the worst part is the bathrooms because they are never clean or worling quite right.... Read 22 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 28

• Students 17,480

• Hagerstown, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  63 reviews

Senior: Washington public schools are a great school. Whenever I want extra help teacher offers us to stay after school and take some time to work with us. I would ask a lot of questions, and the teachers wouldn't get bothered to answer, matter of fact they would get eager for students to ask questions because they are helping us.... Read 63 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 44

• Students 22,171

• Annapolis, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.86 out of 5  282 reviews

Senior: Teaching staff in AACPS is great, with lots of experience and resources available. School properties are cleaned daily and don't have extreme damages, there is many construction projects throughout the school districts ranging from turf fields to building additions however they are typically done in the summer months. Water quality isn't great in some schools so it would be nice to see one of the upcoming projects be to replace the pipes in the schools. In addition to water quality, quite a few of the schools are over populated, though new schools are currently being built to combat this.... Read 282 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 126

• Students 83,163

• Towson, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.74 out of 5  265 reviews

Senior: The district serves a diverse student population, with students from various cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds. Baltimore County Schools offer a range of academic programs designed to meet the diverse needs of its students. These may include gifted and talented programs, special education services, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and other initiatives aimed at promoting academic excellence.... Read 265 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 177

• Students 111,136

• Salisbury, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  35 reviews

Senior: I love everything thing about Wihi. The teachers are great, I’m glad they’re aren’t any stairs, and the work is intriguing. The only thing I would change about Wihi is the bathroom. They flood too often and they smell horrible! Other than that Wihi is a great school.... Read 35 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 25

• Students 14,664

• La Plata, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.81 out of 5  120 reviews

Junior: I have been a part of Charles Count Public Schools since kindergarden. I believe it is a safe and welcoming community. They treat everyone with kindness and respect while celebrating each other's successes. There is a diverse atmosphere with a united front. Everyone is cared for in this positive environment and everyone feels like they belong. The board is always accepting suggestions to evolve with the people in the community and always answers questions that may be brought up. All in all, Charles County is a great home to feel seen and heard.... Read 120 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 39

• Students 26,875

• Easton, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.11 out of 5  18 reviews

Senior: I'm currently a senior of TCPS. All the schools in the district are very similar in rules, and learning curriculums. My school is one of the smaller schools, lacking certain sports and even funding for certain extracurriculars, especially the arts. I like that we students, do what we need to achieve our goals. In my school there are no cliques, all the kids are involved with mostly everything, music, art, drama, sports, and science/math/literature clubs and AP's. Teachers are very professional, patient, and open minded. Students experience one-on-one help with teachers whenever they are struggling. The relationship between schools should change in TCPS, allowing schools to share students for extracurricular activities, giving the students who go to a small school in TC to participate in productions or athletics of a bigger school that receives more attention and funding. In conclusion, my overall experience with TC is very good.... Read 18 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 8

• Students 4,533

• Denton, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.64 out of 5  11 reviews

Junior: North Caroline high school of Caroline county is like any other school, besides that we're a poor school. We make due with what we have as a community. What makes my school different is the students and teachers/ staff. There maybe, some knuckle head students. Out of that are some great students. An some teachers can be a grouch. But the teachers really love and care about their students and fun, and outgoing. Overall the school is great especially in academics and sports. I just wish the school had more funds.... Read 11 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 10

• Students 5,551

• Elkton, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.37 out of 5  60 reviews

Alum: I’ve gone to school in Cecil County for all of my education and it was great! I made many friends and was surrounded by staff that were always willing to help. It was a very comfortable environment and I felt like I belonged in the schools I attended. No doubt would I feel comfortable putting my future children through Cecil County Public Schools.... Read 60 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 29

• Students 14,780

• Cumberland, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.83 out of 5  23 reviews

Alum: The school was amazing and changed my life for the better. Ms saku was the best! Everyone was super sweet and helpful... Read 23 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 22

• Students 8,132

• Oakland, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.13 out of 5  8 reviews

Senior: Overall my experience at a Garrett County school has been very good. The teachers are very friendly and They teach well. The reason that I ranked it four out of five stars is because although the teachers are well rounded, some classes that I would like to take are not offered at my school.... Read 8 reviews

• grade B minus

• Total schools 12

• Students 3,502

• Rock Hall, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.88 out of 5  8 reviews

Parent: I quite enjoy the teachers who are fully passionate about their students and teaching! We have some amazing administrators as well. I've gone through two elementary schools and now a middle school with my children, but also myself went to these public schools, and I feel they are great! If you have any issues, speak up, BOE (board of education) will hear you out!... Read 8 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 5

• Students 1,786

• Baltimore, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.2 out of 5  136 reviews

Senior: I have been lucky enough to attend some of the best schools in Baltimore City since we don’t have to attend zoned schools, however city schools are drastically underfunded. Funding is made up from local revenue from property tax and money from the state, which has remained flat in regards to inflation since 2008. Due to the levels of concentrated poverty in Baltimore, we get very little local funding compared to wealthier counties. This leaves us at a major deficit and it shows through our lack of properly maintained school buildings. Many lack proper heat, fully functioning bathrooms and technology. Despite all this, there are some truly great schools in the district that you’re able to get into if you maintain good grades that will afford you priceless opportunities to follow your passions, which I am genuinely grateful for.... Read 136 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 156

• Students 77,807

• Westover, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3 out of 5  7 reviews

Senior: High school is a transformative period in one's life, full of both memorable and challenging moments. As a senior, reflecting on my high school experience, While it is impossible to encapsulate four years in one essay, I can certainly shed light on the best and worst aspects of my high school experience, as well as suggest some changes that would benefit future students. The best part of my high school experience was undoubtedly the friendships I formed. High school provides a unique setting where individuals from diverse backgrounds and interests come together. How ever amidst the joy one of the most challenging parts of high school is undoubtedly the academic workload. Students are expected to juggle coursework from various subjects, complete assignments, and prepare for exams. The sheer volume of information can often be overwhelming, particularly when coupled with extracurricular activities and other responsibilities.... Read 7 reviews

• grade C

• Total schools 9

• Students 2,741

• Cambridge, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3 out of 5  6 reviews

Senior: Dorchester county public schools are small but they get the job done. Every year was different and there were new things to learn. I liked some classes better then others but all together none of them were terrible.... Read 6 reviews

• grade C

• Total schools 13

• Students 4,573

• Upper Marlboro, MD•

• School District

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  Rating 3.58 out of 5  614 reviews

Senior: My experience with Prince Georges county hasn't been that bad. I started off in this county in Pre-K and as a now senior I've had a good experience. I feel prepared for the most part with the information taught to me, especially being in a science and technology program for my high school career. Overtime, I've had small situations with tough teachers and the environment, but nothing alarming. I would like to see change in certain policies that would allow students more freedom to express themselves. For example, the uniform policy at my school limits us to solid black hoodies and outerwear. This can be limiting especially in the cold weather.... Read 614 reviews

• grade C

• Total schools 206

• Students 128,770