📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (MCAP 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 24 Districts Maryland
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Worcester County Public Schools | Berlin | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #2 | Howard County Public Schools | Annapolis Junction | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #3 | Carroll County Public Schools | Finksburg | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #4 | Frederick County Public Schools | Frederick | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #5 | Calvert County Public Schools | Broomes Island | 9/10 Excellent | 82th |
| #6 | Montgomery County Public Schools | Glen Echo | 8/10 Good | 78th |
| #7 | St. Marys County Public Schools | Abell | 8/10 Good | 74th |
| #8 | Queen Annes County Public Schools | Barclay | 8/10 Good | 70th |
| #9 | Harford County Public Schools | Aberdeen | 7/10 Good | 66th |
| #10 | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | Lothian | 7/10 Good | 62th |
| #11 | Washington County Public Schools | Big Pool | 6/10 Average | 58th |
| #12 | Allegany County Public Schools | Cumberland | 6/10 Average | 54th |
| #13 | Garrett County Public Schools | Accident | 6/10 Average | 50th |
| #14 | Caroline County Public Schools | Denton | 5/10 Average | 46th |
| #15 | Cecil County Public Schools | North East | 5/10 Average | 42th |
| #16 | Baltimore County Public Schools | Baldwin | 4/10 Below Average | 38th |
| #17 | Talbot County Public Schools | Easton | 4/10 Below Average | 34th |
| #18 | Wicomico County Public Schools | Salisbury | 4/10 Below Average | 30th |
| #19 | Charles County Public Schools | Waldorf | 3/10 Below Average | 26th |
| #20 | Dorchester County Public Schools | Cambridge | 3/10 Below Average | 22th |
| #21 | Kent County Public Schools | Betterton | 2/10 Poor | 18th |
| #22 | Prince George's County Public Schools | Accokeek | 2/10 Poor | 14th |
| #23 | Somerset County Public Schools | Crisfield | 2/10 Poor | 10th |
| #24 | Baltimore City Public Schools | Baltimore | 1/10 Poor | 6th |
Best School Districts in Maryland (2026)
This ranking covers 24 rated public school districts in Maryland, scored using MCAP 2024–25 state assessment data. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Maryland School Districts at a Glance
- 24 of the 24 regular school districts operating in Maryland have a published rating on this site.
- 8 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from MCAP 2024–25, and every district is ranked against other districts in Maryland only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Worcester County Public Schools in Berlin, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Maryland is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. 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 state reading and math assessment proficiency (MCAP 2024–25), the top-rated district is Worcester County Public Schools in Berlin, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (MCAP 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Maryland? ▼
Maryland has 24 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 24 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Maryland school district ratings based on? ▼
MCAP 2024–25. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Maryland and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Maryland are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
8 of the 24 rated districts in Maryland score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Maryland, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Maryland? ▼
In Maryland nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Maryland is not one of them.