Schools Achieve Significant Gains on State Report Card: 95.5% Earn Three Stars or Higher

On Our Way to Four or More by 2035

MCPS continues to demonstrate strong academic momentum, according to the 2024–2025 Maryland School Report Card released by the Maryland State Department of Education. Of the 200 MCPS schools included in the performance evaluation, 95.5% earned a rating of three stars or higher, significantly outpacing the statewide average of 86%. This year, 53.5% of schools obtained a 4-star or 5-star rating (the highest rating), marking a robust 3.5 percentage-point increase over the 2023–2024 school year results. Read more.

Read the news release.

MCPS Schools on the Rise: A Story of Progress and Possibility

Across the county, schools are bringing the MCPS Strategic Plan to life, with a focus on ensuring all schools earn more than 4 stars by 2035. Among the success stories this year are Rosemont Elementary School, William H. Farquhar Middle School and Watkins Mill High School. Rosemont and Farquhar moved from three to four stars, while Watkins Mill moved from two to three stars. Read more.

Now You Know: Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences will be held Nov. 24-25 and are a great opportunity to talk with your child’s teacher about how your child is doing — academically and socially. For questions you can ask and tips to help you prepare, read more. 

Watch in English | Spanish | French | Chinese | Vietnamese | Amharic | Korean | Portuguese

Report Cards Coming Nov. 7

Report cards for the first marking period will be available in ParentVue by 5 p.m. on Nov. 7.

Here are the step-by-step directions for accessing report cards and interim progress reports on ParentVue. Report cards are sent home via backpack with all students for the first three marking periods; the final report card of the year is mailed to students’ homes. For the first quarter, parents can expect report cards by Nov. 12. Read more.

Important: Take the Climate Survey Today and Improve Your School!

MCPS invites parents/caregivers to share your experiences and thoughts on academics, communication and overall satisfaction with your school and the district. We want to improve our teaching and make our schools and district a more welcoming place for all students, staff and families. 

Surveys are now available in eight languages:
English | Spanish | French | Chinese | Vietnamese | Amharic | Korean | Portuguese

The survey will ask for your child’s student ID number. You can find this by going into ParentVue and clicking on Student Information. Responses are confidential; the student ID helps us make sure responses are linked to the right school.

MCPS Cross-Functional Teams Supporting School Success

Every school community has its own strengths and challenges, and no single solution fits all. That’s why Superintendent Thomas Taylor launched MCPS Cross-Functional Teams: groups of school-focused subject specific experts who work directly with schools and clusters to provide coordinated, customized support to advance and strengthen teaching, learning and school operations.

These teams include specialists in leadership, equity, special education, multilingual learning, literacy and math, human resources and safety. Watch this short video to see how these collaborative teams are helping schools build stronger systems of support and drive continuous improvement across the district.

School Improvement Plans Now Available Online

School improvement plans (SIPs) are focused, data-informed roadmaps to monitor progress, strengthen instruction and improve outcomes for all learners. They are tools for reflection, collaboration and growth that keep schools focused on what matters most: helping every student thrive.

SIPs for all MCPS schools are now available online in three places:

• On the SIP webpage.

• In the School Info Box on each school's website – example: Arcola ES.

• On the School-Odex pages (for each school) – example: Arcola School-Odex under the Report tab.

Read more.

Refrigerator Curriculum’s Second Quarter Documents Now Available

The Refrigerator Curriculum — instructional materials for the second quarter, which began on Nov. 4 — are now available online. This curriculum is a one-page overview of what students will learn each marking period. These guides help families stay informed about key themes and texts, stay engaged in their student’s education, and, if needed, request alternative assignments if a text conflicts with religious views.

Families: Know Your Rights

MCPS schools are and will always remain safe places where every child — regardless of immigration status — is welcomed, valued, affirmed, validated, respected and loved. MCPS has distributed guidance to school staff on protocol in the event immigration officers come to school. The district is now providing further guidance to assist staff and other adults who support extracurricular activities, such as clubs, childcare and athletics. Read more.

Quarter One: Attendance is Strong — Where We’re Improving and What Needs Strengthening

The first report on student data through Sept. 30 provides an important look at how often students are at school and how MCPS is supporting positive behavior. These early numbers cover the first five weeks of the year — about 24 instructional days — and they already point to encouraging gains, as well as some areas needing attention.

Overall, the attendance rate across MCPS held strong at 94.9%, with most schools posting steady or climbing attendance rates. Read more for a school-by-school breakdown of the data.

Celebrating the Greatness Across Our MCPS Community

We love to celebrate, and it shows. Over the past few months, we’ve lifted up the incredible work of our students, staff, schools and partners. From hands-on learning and global exchange to community service, wellness, innovation and high-profile visits, these moments highlight the best of who we are. Here’s a look back at some of the moments that inspired us to start the school year strong.

How Do the Changes to SNAP Affect School Meals?

Students directly certified for free meals under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue to receive meal benefits for the rest of the 2025-2026 school year. Students newly eligible for SNAP benefits when their applications are processed will also qualify for free school meals this school year. Parents/guardians who are furloughed can apply for Free and Reduced-price Meals for their children here. Read more.

Board Accepting Public Feedback on Capital Improvements Plan through Nov. 10

The Board of Education is inviting community members to share feedback on the superintendent’s recommended Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Comments received by noon on Monday, Nov. 10, will be posted on BoardDocs and distributed to all Board members and leadership staff. Read more about how to submit video or written comments.

Don’t Miss Upcoming Boundary & Secondary Programs Analysis Engagement Sessions

MCPS invites the community to participate in a series of engagement sessions on the boundary studies and academic programs analysis efforts. See when and where they will be held. 

Why It Matters
Academic Programs Analysis Webpage

Don’t Miss the Mental Health and Wellness Fair on Nov. 8!

MCPS is participating in 2025 Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) from Nov. 3-8. Don’t miss the Mental Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.at Gaithersburg High School, 101 Education Blvd. in Gaithersburg. Open to students and families, this free event will include workshops, community partners sharing information about mental health and wellness, a student forum and line dancing, Zumba and yoga. RSVP to attend.

Prioritizing Safety in Our Schools

Last week, MCPS teams visited the Albert Einstein, Rockville and Col. Zadok Magruder clusters of schools and the district remains on track to complete the background check, fingerprinting and badging process by mid-December. Below is an update on the progress to date, reflecting the number of employees who have already been rescreened.

Additionally, on Nov. 3, 608 Division of Transportation Services (DOTS) employees were re-screened, bringing the number of DOTS staff to 54% complete.