Graduation rate data for the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Class of 2024 was released yesterday by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The data indicates that more than 90% of CCPS students in the Class of 2024 graduated on time with their peers, or within their four-year graduation cohort. The four-year graduation cohort rate tracks student progress from their freshman year through their senior year.
The CCPS graduation rate of 90.47% for the Class of 2024 exceeds the statewide average reported by MSDE as 87.6%. This is the fifth consecutive year that the graduation rate for CCPS seniors was reported as higher than the state average.
The four-year cohort graduation rate increased slightly from 90.2% in 2023 to 90.47% for 2024. All CCPS high schools graduated students at a rate of at least 84% or more. Graduation rates for the Class of 2024 by high school are below.
- Henry E. Lackey High School: 88.2%.
- La Plata High School: 93.5%.
- Maurice J. McDonough High School: 91.2%.
- North Point High School: >95%.
- St. Charles High School: 88.9%.
- Thomas Stone High School: 84.2%.
- Westlake High School: 87.7%.
The percentage of students for the CCPS Class of 2024 dropping out of school also decreased with this cohort and was reported by MSDE as 5.4%. The dropout rate for the CCPS Class of 2023 was 5.8%. MSDE reports the average statewide dropout rate at 8.3%.
With the Class of 2024, specific subgroups of students increased graduation rates among their peers. The graduation rate for students who identify as two or more races increased more than 7% in 2024, from 86.8% in 2023 to 94.1% with the Class of 2024. Additionally, the graduation rate for white students rose more than 2% from 2023 to 2024.
CCPS staff will present to the Board of Education of Charles County at its March 11 meeting additional graduation rate information and data, as well as share the work in progress at the school level to improve the graduation rate among students.
CCPS provides high school students with support to reach graduation. These supports include grade recovery and course recovery programs during the school year and summer, along with additional offerings for original credit that start in middle school and are offered to all high school students. Additionally, CCPS uses its student information system, Synergy, to track individual student progress toward graduation.
Data reports for CCPS high school students are calculated to indicate a student’s progress toward graduation. These reports are shared in ParentVue and StudentVue, with an additional report provided at the end of the school year once final grades are complete. This tracking system is part of the school system’s implementation of college and career readiness requirements within the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
Superintendent of Schools Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., said while the data shows progress in the right direction, her goal is to continue to push more students to graduate on time with their cohort.
“We remain committed to ensuring that all students have the support necessary to graduate on time. Our work since the pandemic related to the graduation rate has shown a slow but steady increase in overall success for our graduates. Staff consistently monitors student progress toward the goal of graduation, and steps in when additional support or interventions are needed. I am proud of our students, and of our teachers and staff who work hard to ensure all our graduates are leaving CCPS ready for life after high school,” Navarro said.
Graduation data for each Charles County high school is posted on the Maryland Report Card website.
