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La Plata High School

Q: Is La Plata High School a good school?

La Plata High School ranks 88 th of 220 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

88^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 220 Maryland High Schools

Better than 60% of Maryland high schools

Summary

La Plata High School is a public high school in La Plata, Maryland, serving 1,217 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Charles County Public Schools district. While the school has some academic strengths, it also faces challenges in certain areas compared to nearby high schools.

Academically, La Plata High School outperforms the district and state averages in English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency, with 67.8% of 10th-grade students proficient or better in 2024-2025, compared to 55.5% for the district and 59.5% for the state. However, the school struggles in mathematics, with only 8.5% of students proficient or better, significantly lower than the district (16.9%) and state (26.5%) averages. The school's four-year graduation rate is strong, ranging from 89.6% to 93.5% in recent years, on par with nearby high schools.

While La Plata High School performs well in ELA compared to the district and state, it lags behind some higher-performing nearby schools, such as North Point High School and Maurice J. McDonough High School, which have significantly higher ELA proficiency rates. Additionally, the school faces challenges with a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 27.0% to 33.4% in recent years, which is higher than the state average and nearby high schools. The school's resource allocation and staffing, with a higher student-teacher ratio compared to some nearby schools, may be contributing factors to its academic performance.

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: Holding steady — 59th percentile in 2015 → 60th in 2025

Strengths

✓94% graduate within 4 years

✓Above the Maryland median (60th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (26% vs 37% meeting standards)

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

!Algebra I scores 19 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school26%

District avg28%

Maryland avg37%

88^th of 220

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 40%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 7High Schools in the Charles County Public Schools

21^st 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
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 (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts68%+17 vs state

Algebra II18%-6 vs state

Mathematics8%-18 vs state

Algebra I2%-19 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

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAP Mathematics (2025)	MCAP English Language Arts (2025)		MCAP Algebra I (2025)	MCAP Algebra II (2025)	MCAP Science (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	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%)	44.7	88^th of 220 public high schools	60.0%		52.4	48^th of 146 public high schools	67.1%	40	8.5	67.8	67.8	2.3	18.5		$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%)	25.6	149^th of 220 public high schools	32.3%		12.8	140^th of 146 public high schools	4.1%	9	3.3	49.1	49.1	2.5	9.7		$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 ()								(n/a)	0.0		5.3	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%)	40.2	106^th of 220 public high schools	51.8%		52.1	49^th of 146 public high schools	66.4%	57	6.5	65.0	65.0	3.7	18.3		$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%)	24.2	154^th of 220 public high schools	30.0%		22.6	131^st of 146 public high schools	10.3%	23	3.6	46.3	46.3	1.4	17.4		$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%)	18.8	176^th of 220 public high schools	20.0%					(n/a)	1.6	39.9	39.9	1.5	1.8		$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%)	45.5	85^th of 220 public high schools	61.4%		56.2	39^th of 146 public high schools	73.3%	46	10.7	67.5	67.5	5.8	20.0		$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%)	23.2	157^th of 220 public high schools	28.6%		22.7	129^th of 146 public high schools	11.6%	28	4.6	43.3	43.3	1.3	23.3		$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%)	19.9	168^th of 220 public high schools	23.6%					(n/a)	4.9	38.1	38.1	4.9			$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%)	19.1	170^th of 220 public high schools	22.7%					(n/a)	0.0	38.3	38.3	0.0			$21,447	$1,472	$19,975

Frequently Asked Questions about La Plata High School

Is La Plata High School a good school?

La Plata High School ranks 88^th of 220 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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.

How many students attend La Plata High School?

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

What district is La Plata High School in?

Charles County Public Schools

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

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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.