Best School Districts in Maryland 2025 — Top Rated

Q: How are school districts in Maryland ranked?

Rankings use NCES Common Core of Data metrics: student enrollment, per-pupil expenditure, number of operational schools, and grade span coverage, normalized to a 1-10 scale. See /how-ratings-work/ for full methodology.

Top 24 Districts Maryland Sorted by rating — highest first

#	District	City	Rating
#1	Howard County Public School System	Ellicott City	9/10 Great
#2	Allegany County Public Schools	Allegany	6/10 Average
#3	Anne Arundel County Public Schools	Anne Arundel	6/10 Average
#4	Baltimore County Public Schools	Baltimore	6/10 Average
#5	Calvert County Public Schools	Calvert	6/10 Average
#6	Caroline County Public Schools	Caroline	6/10 Average
#7	Carroll County Public Schools	Carroll	6/10 Average
#8	Charles County Public Schools	Charles	6/10 Average
#9	Dorchester County Public Schools	Dorchester	6/10 Average
#10	Frederick County Public Schools	Frederick	6/10 Average
#11	Garrett County Public Schools	Garrett	6/10 Average
#12	Harford County Public Schools	Harford	6/10 Average
#13	Howard County Public Schools	Howard	6/10 Average
#14	Kent County Public Schools	Kent	6/10 Average
#15	Montgomery County Public Schools	Montgomery	6/10 Average
#16	Prince George's County Public Schools	Prince George's	6/10 Average
#17	Queen Annes County Public Schools	Queen Annes	6/10 Average
#18	Somerset County Public Schools	Somerset	6/10 Average
#19	St. Marys County Public Schools	St. Marys	6/10 Average
#20	Talbot County Public Schools	Talbot	6/10 Average
#21	Washington County Public Schools	Washington	6/10 Average
#22	Wicomico County Public Schools	Wicomico	6/10 Average
#23	Worcester County Public Schools	Worcester	6/10 Average
#24	Baltimore City Public Schools	Baltimore	3/10 Below Average

Best School Districts in Maryland (2025)

This ranking covers all 24 public school districts in Maryland, scored using the NCES Common Core of Data for the 2024–2025 school year. Four metrics are combined into the final 1–10 rating: student enrollment, per-pupil expenditure, number of operational schools, and grade span coverage.

Higher-rated districts tend to have stable, larger enrollment bases, above-average per-pupil spending, and full Pre-K–12 grade coverage. These are administrative and resource metrics — not direct measures of teaching quality, test scores, or parent satisfaction. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →

How to Use This List

Click any district name to see its zip codes and enter your address to confirm your assignment. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school district in Maryland? ▼

Based on NCES 2024–2025 data, the top-rated school district is Howard County Public School System in Ellicott City, MD, rated 9/10 (Great).

How are these rankings calculated? ▼

Rankings use NCES Common Core of Data: enrollment, per-pupil spending, operational school count, and grade span — normalized to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.

Are ratings based on test scores? ▼

No. Ratings use NCES administrative data (enrollment, spending, school count, grade span) — not test scores, graduation rates, or parent reviews. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.

Best School Districtsin Maryland

Best School Districts in Maryland (2025)

How to Use This List

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Best School Districts
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