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La Plata High School

Q: Is La Plata High School a good school?

La Plata High School ranks 113 th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

113^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 50% of Maryland high schools

Summary

La Plata High School is a mid-sized high school in La Plata, MD, serving 1,217 students in grades 9-12 within the Charles County Public Schools district, and it stands out for its exceptional English Language Arts (ELA) performance and high graduation rate, though it faces a significant challenge in math proficiency.

La Plata High School is a clear leader in ELA, with 63% of students proficient in the 2025-2026 school year—far exceeding the district average of 45.6% and the state average of 51.7%. This strength is a major differentiator from nearby schools like Thomas Stone High School and Henry E. Lackey High School, which have lower ELA scores. The school also boasts a 94.7% graduation rate, the highest among its peers, and a low dropout rate of 3.2%. However, math proficiency is a critical weakness, with only 5.3% of students proficient, well below the district (17%) and state (27.1%) averages. This "math paradox" is a key area for parents to investigate, especially since the Algebra I exam shows just 1.7% proficiency.

Compared to its closest competitor, North Point High School, La Plata has a slightly lower chronic absenteeism rate (25.6% vs. 20.6%) but a higher graduation rate. La Plata also spends less per student ($17,385) than many nearby schools, yet achieves better outcomes in ELA and graduation, suggesting efficient resource use. While the school has a lower rate of economic disadvantage (30.98% free/reduced lunch) than peers like Maurice J. McDonough High School (45.5%), chronic absenteeism is a growing concern, with over a quarter of students missing significant school. Parents should also note that limited subgroup data suggests performance may not be evenly distributed across all student groups, a point worth exploring further.

1,217

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,385

Per pupil spending ?

31%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6035 Radio Station Rd
La Plata, MD 20646

(301) 934-1100

District: Charles County Public Schools

Feeder schools for La Plata High School:

Elementary:	Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School
	Mary H. Matula Elementary School
	Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School
Middle:	Piccowaxen Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.7%

African American:

26.8%

Hispanic:

9.4%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare La Plata High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 56th percentile in 2016 → 50th in 2026

Strengths

✓95% graduate within 4 years

✓Above the Maryland median (50th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (24% vs 38% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school24%

District avg29%

Maryland avg38%

113^th of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 50%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 44% (2016) to top 50% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 8High Schools in the Charles County Public Schools

20^th of 25Charles County Public Schools among Maryland districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	39.8	113 of 227	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	44.7	88 of 220	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.4	48 of 146	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.5	67 of 127	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.6	122 of 225	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.3	20 of 32	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.4	66 of 138	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.0	71 of 197	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	56.2	63 of 180	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	54.0	103 of 233	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.7	95 of 233	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	79.3	41 of 231	82.3%	★★★★☆
2013	76.1	38 of 185	79.5%	★★★★☆
2012	75.0	44 of 187	76.5%	★★★★☆
2011	76.8	36 of 183	80.3%	★★★★☆
2010	72.7	67 of 220	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	66.7	96 of 213	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2008	70.6	81 of 214	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	66.8	62 of 209	70.3%	★★★★☆
2006	60.8	76 of 204	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	53.4	90 of 204	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2004	50.6	70 of 201	65.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	54.0	21 of 31	32.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	46.9	25 of 35	28.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	34.4	32 of 40	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2021)32nd percentile-5 vs school

Male (2021)29th percentile-9 vs school

White (2021)20th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts63%+11 vs state

Algebra II10%-17 vs state

Mathematics5%-22 vs state

Algebra I2%-20 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, September 19, 2021

As a parent, I love that my son loves going to school! The athletics department is organized and are invested in the kids. Principal values communication with the community. Diverse and small town feel. Close Quote

Schools Near La Plata High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAP Mathematics (2026)			MCAP English Language Arts (2026)				MCAP Algebra I (2026)	MCAP Algebra II (2026)	MCAP Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
La Plata High School	Public	9-12	6035 Radio Station Rd	La Plata	20646	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 934-1100	1,217	74	16.4	31.0%	641 (52.7%)	326 (26.8%)	114 (9.4%)	31 (2.5%)	4 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	96 (7.9%)	39.8	113^th of 227 public high schools	50.2%		44.7	88^th of 220 public high schools	60.0%	25			5.3			63.0	63.0	1.7	10.0		$17,385	$350	$17,034
St. Charles High School	Public	9-12	5305 Piney Church Rd	Waldorf	20602	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 753-2090	1,617	96	16.8	50.3%	95 (5.9%)	1,160 (71.7%)	222 (13.7%)	26 (1.6%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	111 (6.9%)	19.3	175^th of 227 public high schools	22.9%		25.6	149^th of 220 public high schools	32.3%	26			5.7			36.8	36.8	4.3	12.9		$16,666	$297	$16,369
Robert D. Stethem Educational Center	Public	5-12	7775 Marshall Corner Rd	Pomfret	20675	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 932-1003	0	37	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	9.6	216^th of 227 public high schools	4.8%					(n/a)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	6.3	19.2	10.3	0.0		0.0	$7,455	$347	$7,108
Maurice J. McDonough High School	Public	9-12	7165 Marshall Corner Rd	Pomfret	20675	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 934-2944	1,163	74	15.7	40.9%	241 (20.7%)	618 (53.1%)	191 (16.4%)	19 (1.6%)	6 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	84 (7.2%)	40.8	106^th of 227 public high schools	53.3%		40.2	106^th of 220 public high schools	51.8%				3.5			68.6	68.6	2.5	6.8		$18,227	$504	$17,723
Westlake High School	Public	9-12	3300 Middletown Rd	Waldorf	20603	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 645-8857	1,216	74	16.4	51.2%	38 (3.1%)	888 (73.0%)	141 (11.6%)	61 (5.0%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	82 (6.7%)	25.3	161^st of 227 public high schools	29.1%		24.2	154^th of 220 public high schools	30.0%	7			3.6			48.2	48.2	3.0	7.4		$17,638	$641	$16,997
Thomas Stone High School	Public	9-12	3785 Leonardtown Rd	Waldorf	20601	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 645-2601	1,230	85	14.4	56.4%	76 (6.2%)	781 (63.5%)	270 (22.0%)	23 (1.9%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	74 (6.0%)	18.2	177^th of 227 public high schools	22.0%		18.8	176^th of 220 public high schools	20.0%	1			0.6			38.9	38.9	0.0	3.2		$21,315	$1,293	$20,022
North Point High School	Public	9-12	2500 Davis Rd	Waldorf	20603	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 753-1759	1,960	127	15.4	35.8%	183 (9.3%)	1,267 (64.6%)	235 (12.0%)	114 (5.8%)	8 (0.4%)	9 (0.5%)	141 (7.2%)	42.7	97^th of 227 public high schools	57.3%		45.5	85^th of 220 public high schools	61.4%	12			6.0			69.8	69.8	3.5	11.2		$17,647	$497	$17,150
Henry E. Lackey High School	Public	9-12	3000 Chicamuxen Rd	Indian Head	20640	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 743-5431	1,033	63	16.3	59.6%	224 (21.7%)	578 (56.0%)	118 (11.4%)	18 (1.7%)	3 (0.3%)	4 (0.4%)	87 (8.4%)	29.5	145^th of 227 public high schools	36.1%		23.2	157^th of 220 public high schools	28.6%	12			5.3			52.2	52.2	2.5	16.4		$19,573	$634	$18,939
Gwynn Park High	Public, Magnet	9-12	13800 Brandywine Rd	Brandywine	20613	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 372-0140	1,147	67	17.1	47.7%	26 (2.3%)	865 (75.4%)	199 (17.3%)	20 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (0.7%)	28 (2.4%)	26.3	155^th of 227 public high schools	31.7%		19.9	168^th of 220 public high schools	23.6%	13			8.7			46.4	46.4	8.7			$18,660	$1,061	$17,599
Friendly High	Public	9-12	10000 Allentown Rd	Fort Washington	20744	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 449-4900	894	61	14.6	63.5%	35 (3.9%)	468 (52.3%)	361 (40.4%)	15 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.4%)	10 (1.1%)	16.6	186^th of 227 public high schools	18.1%		19.1	170^th of 220 public high schools	22.7%	16			2.1			35.5	35.5	2.1			$21,447	$1,472	$19,975

Frequently Asked Questions about La Plata High School

What is the racial makeup of La Plata High School?

Students at La Plata High School are 53% White, 27% African American, 9% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What schools feed into La Plata High School?

La Plata High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School
Elementary : Mary H. Matula Elementary School
Elementary : Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School
Middle : Piccowaxen Middle School

How many students attend La Plata High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,217 students attended La Plata High School.

Is La Plata High School a good school?

La Plata High School ranks 113^th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is La Plata High School in?

Charles County Public Schools

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresNewJul 28, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCAP test scoresAug 26, 2025

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.