Best Public Schools in Prince Frederick, MD

The city of Prince Frederick, Maryland, is home to six schools within the highly-rated Calvert County Public Schools district, serving approximately 2,859 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels, including two specialized alternative schools. For parents, the standout traditional school is Calvert Elementary, which leads in academic performance with math proficiency (53.7%) and ELA proficiency (68.7%) well above district and state averages, while Barstow Elementary also performs solidly in math (46.2%). In contrast, Calvert High presents a mixed picture: it excels in English Language Arts (81.1% proficiency) and has shown a remarkable jump in state ranking, but struggles significantly with math proficiency (14.3%), a high dropout rate (10.6%), and chronic absenteeism (28.0%). Calvert Middle performs moderately, with strong ELA scores (68.8%) but math proficiency (23.9%) that lags behind the district average.

Key metrics reveal a stark "math gap" between elementary and secondary levels, as math proficiency plummets from over 46% at the elementary schools to under 24% at the middle and high schools. Chronic absenteeism is a major red flag at the alternative schools—Calvert County Alternative School (84.8%) and Calvert Country School (51.0%)—and is also elevated at Calvert High (28.0%), correlating with lower academic outcomes. Per-student spending varies dramatically, with Calvert Country School spending $123,114 per student—over six times more than traditional schools like Calvert Elementary ($20,532)—reflecting the intensive resources needed for its specialized population.

An interesting takeaway is that while the district ranks 3rd in Maryland, individual school performance is uneven. Calvert High is a school of extremes, excelling in ELA while facing deep challenges in math and student engagement. The data strongly suggests that chronic absenteeism is a key predictor of poor performance, and the transition from elementary to middle school math instruction may need targeted improvement. For parents, Calvert Elementary offers the strongest academic foundation, while Calvert High provides excellent ELA education but requires careful attention to math support and attendance.