📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: August 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (MCAP 2024–25)

Best School Districts
in Maryland

Maryland has 24 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

📊 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
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Worcester County Public SchoolsBerlin10/10  Excellent98th
#2Howard County Public SchoolsAnnapolis Junction10/10  Excellent94th
#3Carroll County Public SchoolsFinksburg10/10  Excellent90th
#4Frederick County Public SchoolsFrederick9/10  Excellent86th
#5Calvert County Public SchoolsBroomes Island9/10  Excellent82th
#6Montgomery County Public SchoolsGlen Echo8/10  Good78th
#7St. Marys County Public SchoolsAbell8/10  Good74th
#8Queen Annes County Public SchoolsBarclay8/10  Good70th
#9Harford County Public SchoolsAberdeen7/10  Good66th
#10Anne Arundel County Public SchoolsLothian7/10  Good62th
#11Washington County Public SchoolsBig Pool6/10  Average58th
#12Allegany County Public SchoolsCumberland6/10  Average54th
#13Garrett County Public SchoolsAccident6/10  Average50th
#14Caroline County Public SchoolsDenton5/10  Average46th
#15Cecil County Public SchoolsNorth East5/10  Average42th
#16Baltimore County Public SchoolsBaldwin4/10  Below Average38th
#17Talbot County Public SchoolsEaston4/10  Below Average34th
#18Wicomico County Public SchoolsSalisbury4/10  Below Average30th
#19Charles County Public SchoolsWaldorf3/10  Below Average26th
#20Dorchester County Public SchoolsCambridge3/10  Below Average22th
#21Kent County Public SchoolsBetterton2/10  Poor18th
#22Prince George's County Public SchoolsAccokeek2/10  Poor14th
#23Somerset County Public SchoolsCrisfield2/10  Poor10th
#24Baltimore City Public SchoolsBaltimore1/10  Poor6th

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 →

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.