73% of FCPS Schools Earn Four or Five Stars, but Test Results Are Mixed
The latest report card shows strong statewide rankings, higher high-school math proficiency and declines in several other measures.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
FCPS says 73% of its schools received four or five stars, compared with 50% statewide. High school math proficiency increased, while high school English language arts proficiency declined. Elementary and middle school math proficiency also declined. The four-year graduation rate edged down to 94.05%, although some student groups recorded gains.
Frederick County Public Schools reported that 73% of its schools earned four or five stars on the latest Maryland Report Card, compared with 50% of schools statewide.
Seven FCPS schools earned the highest five-star rating, and 15 ranked in the top 15% statewide, according to district information reported by The Frederick News-Post.
The detailed academic results, however, show a mix of gains and declines rather than improvement across every subject or student group.
The report compares the latest school-year results with 2024–2025. Star ratings, academic-achievement points, student proficiency percentages and graduation rates measure different aspects of school performance.
At the elementary level, academic achievement slipped from 12 to 11.9 points out of 20. Academic progress increased from 21.2 to 21.5 points out of 35. Math proficiency declined from 49.5% to 48.4%, while English language arts proficiency eased from 62.6% to 62.1%.
Middle schools maintained an academic-achievement score of 10.9 out of 20, while academic-progress points fell from 20.7 to 18.2 out of 35. Math proficiency declined from 34.1% to 33.1%, but English language arts proficiency rose from 62.4% to 63.2%.
High schools held steady at 18.7 academic-achievement points out of 30. Math proficiency increased from 41.4% to 45.6%, while English language arts proficiency fell from 78.8% to 74.4%.
FCPS ranked fifth among Maryland’s 24 districts for elementary and middle school academic achievement and fourth for high school achievement.
Results also varied within student groups. Middle school students with disabilities improved in both math and English language arts proficiency. High school Black students’ math proficiency rose from 28.7% to 32.7%, while their English language arts proficiency declined from 76.2% to 66%.
High school Hispanic students, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students also recorded math gains alongside English language arts declines in the figures supplied.
The overall four-year graduation rate decreased slightly from 94.31% to 94.05%, while still meeting the district’s annual target. FCPS ranked sixth statewide on that measure.
Graduation rates increased for Black students, from 92.17% to 94.27%, and economically disadvantaged students, from 89.90% to 92.38%.
Superintendent Cheryl Dyson credited educators and staff for the district’s performance while acknowledging further work is needed.
The report provides evidence of strong school ratings and specific areas of progress, but also identifies subjects and student groups requiring closer attention.
WHAT IT MEANS
Strong overall ratings can coexist with uneven subject results and persistent differences among student groups. Parents should distinguish a school’s star rating from the percentage of students proficient in a particular subject. A 0.1-point change in an achievement score is not the same measure as a percentage-point change in proficiency.
Original reporting referenced by Everything Frederick:
The Frederick News-Post — Reporting by Sarah Rubinstein.
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