Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Anne Arundel County Public Schools serves 123 schools (82 elementary, 19 middle, 16 high, and 6 alternative) in Maryland, ranking 13th out of 25 districts statewide.

The district shows a stark performance divide, largely tied to poverty levels. Top high schools like Severna Park High (6th in state) and Crofton High School (22nd) boast high ELA proficiency (89.3% and 87.4%) and low chronic absenteeism (11.1% and 15.3%), while schools like Annapolis High and Glen Burnie High have math proficiency below 5%. At the middle school level, Severna Park Middle (2nd in state) and Magothy River Middle (15th) excel, while MacArthur Middle and Marley Middle struggle. Elementary standouts include Benfield Elementary (23rd) and Shipley's Choice Elementary (49th), contrasting with Van Bokkelen Elementary and Georgetown East Elementary, which rank in the bottom 8% and 6% respectively.

Chronic absenteeism is a crisis in some schools, with Phoenix Academy at 84.2% and Mary Moss at Adams Academy at 91%, while top schools like Folger Mckinsey Elementary have rates as low as 5.7%. Math proficiency lags across the district, even at high-performing schools. Per-student spending varies widely, from $14,000 at some elementary schools to over $60,000 at specialized schools, but higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes. Newer schools like Two Rivers Elementary School show promise, and graduation rates are mixed, with Northeast High (94.5%) outperforming some schools with higher test scores.