Total enrollment
28,162
+1,394 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Charles County
Maryland · Public K-12
The 40 public K-12 schools in Charles County cover all standard grade bands (23 elementary, 9 middle, and 8 high), with combined enrollment around 28,162.
4-year change in Charles County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
38
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Charles County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Maryland | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 33.9% | #21 of 24 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 28,162 | #9 of 24 | #359 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 38 | #11 of 24 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.4:1 | #21 of 24 | #1,886 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 49.8% | #14 of 24 | #1,630 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 61.3% | #13 of 23 | #500 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Charles County school rankings
Residents
170,527
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
40
1 districts
Enrollment
28,162
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$122,816
Above Maryland avg
Free/reduced lunch
49.8%
Below Maryland avg
Elementary
23
12,525 students
Middle
9
6,201 students
High
8
9,436 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Charles County Public Schools
28,162 students · 1 district in Charles County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Charles County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
33.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.8%
civilian labor
Median age
39
23.9% under 18
Test scores in Charles County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 38 schools ranked. Maryland state average: 51.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- La Plata High School· 67.8%
- North Point High School· 67.6%
- Maurice J. McDonough High School· 65.0%
- T. C. Martin Elementary School· 63.7%
- Gale-Bailey Elementary School· 62.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Charles County
About Charles County
Across the moderately sized Maryland county of Charles County of about 170,527 residents, the public-school footprint covers 40 schools and about 28,162 students.
For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $122,816, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 27% noticeably above the Maryland median.
For a sense of the school types, Charles County is built around 23 elementary schools (12,525 students), 9 middle schools (6,201), and 8 high schools (9,436).
The largest single district in Charles County is Charles County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 28,162 students.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Charles County has expanded 5% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 26,768 students to 28,162.
On this page, the community for Charles County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data