Overall MCPS graduation rate down slightly, up for FARMs students and those with disabilities

While the 2023 graduation rate for all Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students decreased slightly compared to the previous school year, the rates increased for students from lower-income families and those receiving disability services, according to state data released Tuesday.

Overall, MCPS’ 2023 graduation rate decreased 0.71 percentage points to 89.63% from 90.34% in the 2021-2022 school year, according to new data included in the Maryland Public School Report Card released by the state Department of Education. The latest data comes about three months after the December report card showed that 91% of MCPS schools scored three or higher on the report card’s five-star rating and more than half of the district’s high schools lost one star in the state ratings.

According to an MCPS press release, despite the slight drop in the countywide rate, a handful of student demographics saw increases, such as:

• Students who receive Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMs), with an increase of nearly 2.8 percentage points to 86.76%;
• Students with disabilities, with an increase of nearly 2.5 percentage points to 77.75%;
• Black and African American students, with an increase of almost 0.3 percentage points to 90.83%; and
• Students of two or more races, with an increase of more than 2.6 percentage points.

Interim Superintendent Monique Felder said in the release the increases were “encouraging.”

She noted that the drop in the overall graduation rate reflects the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual learning had on students who graduated in 2023. The district has “unwavering confidence” in its ability to overcome the decline, Felder said, describing it as a “minor setback.”

No other MCPS officials were available to comment because the district is on spring break, according to MCPS spokesman Chris Cram.

Among the county’s 25 high schools, Poolesville High School topped the list with the highest graduation rate with 99.4% in 2023. In the 2021-2022 school year, Poolesville High had a graduation rate of more than 95%, according to the MCPS school profile dashboard.

In addition to increases among specific student demographics, graduation rates at six county high schools increased for the class of 2023 when compared to the class of 2022.

Among high schools with graduation rate increases:

• Rockville High School saw the biggest increase of 5.3 percentage points to 89.16%;
• Springbrook High School in Silver Spring gained 4.1 percentage points to 86.33%;
• Damascus High School saw an increase of 2.7 percentage points to 91.48%;
• Winston Churchill High School in Potomac increased by 2.4 percentage points to more than 95%;
• Col. Zadock Magruder High School in Rockville saw an increase of 1.5 percentage points to 93.86%; and
• Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville increased 1.1 percentage points to 90.27%.

The MCPS graduation ranked 15th among school districts in Maryland, according to the state data. Four counties tied for first place – Carroll, Queen Anne’s, Talbot and Worcester – with a graduation rate of more than 95% last school year. However, MCPS has the highest graduation rate when compared to school districts with enrollments above 100,000 students. The MCPS enrollment at 160,554 students is the largest in the state.

Baltimore County Public Schools, with 111,083 students, had a graduation rate of 84.99% and neighboring Prince George’s County Public Schools, with 131,143 students, had a graduation rate of 74.38%.

Below is a list of graduation rates at all MCPS high schools for the 2022-2023 school year, according to MCPS: