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Carroll County Public Schools


At a glance
2ndof 25 Maryland districts
Better than 92% of Maryland districts
125 North Court Street
Westminster, MD 21157
·(410) 751-3000·All Maryland district rankings →
Statewide performance 2018–2026
2026: better than 92% of districts
44
Schools
26,141
Students
6
5-star schools
Top rankedPiney Ridge Elementary51st of 864 Maryland elementary schools
Biggest riser
Friendship Valley Elementary up 77 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
Robert Moton Elementary 9.4 students per teacher
SchoolDigger ratings
5★
4★
3★
7 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

Carroll County Public Schools serves 43 schools across Maryland, including 23 elementary, 9 middle, and 10 high schools, plus specialized programs, and is ranked the 2nd best district in the state with a 5-star rating. The district excels in English Language Arts (ELA), with an average proficiency of 67.5% compared to the state's 51.7%, but faces a notable "Math Gap," as its math proficiency of 41.9% is much closer to the state average of 27.1%. Liberty High stands out as the top high school, ranking 10th in Maryland with 91.5% ELA and 39.4% math proficiency, while Piney Ridge Elementary leads elementary schools with 77.3% ELA and 65.5% math proficiency, and Oklahoma Road Middle is the top middle school with 75.9% ELA and 41.7% math proficiency.

Chronic absenteeism is a powerful predictor of performance, with a district average of 19.5%. Schools like Mechanicsville Elementary (8.9% absenteeism, 64.1% math) and Freedom District Elementary (11.3% absenteeism, 60.8% math) thrive, while Gateway School (77.9% absenteeism, 2.3% math) and Crossroads Middle School (79.5% absenteeism, 0% math) struggle significantly. Socioeconomic status correlates with outcomes, but Spring Garden Elementary defies trends with strong math (58.8%) and ELA (67%) proficiency despite a 32.8% free/reduced lunch rate, outperforming many wealthier schools.

High school performance varies widely: Century High (ranked 16th) and Liberty High lead, while Winters Mill High (ranked 83rd) and Francis Scott Key High (ranked 63rd) face higher dropout rates and absenteeism. Middle schools are a bright spot for math, with Sykesville Middle (42.9% math) and Mount Airy Middle (40.8% math) excelling, and advanced Algebra I courses at these schools achieving over 66% proficiency. Overall, CCPS offers strong academic opportunities, but families should consider individual school performance, especially in math and attendance rates, when choosing a school.

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private




Districts nearby

See the top MD Maryland districts
SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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