Maryland may be the ninth smallest county, but staying here has several perks. It is home to some of the best crabs in the country, as well as fantastic sports teams and stunning scenery. Furthermore, its proximity to the nation’s capital provides people with all of the benefits of D.C. without the high cost of living. Another important factor of Maryland is that it hones some of the nation’s best school districts that are well-known to many.

If you are on the lookout for the best school district in MD, you may look no further. There are different counties in Maryland, serving students with the best public schools. These districts have been in the game for too long and have a good reputation. In the following list, you will find some of the highly ranked best school districts in Maryland.

Howard County Public Schools

Howard County, Maryland, is a residential city with a population of over 323,000 people located halfway between Baltimore and Washington. It’s a county of contrasts, with an amalgamation of old and modern, urban and industrial, historical and revolutionary elements. Ellicott City, one of the country’s oldest cities, and Columbia, a planned community conceived and built by The Rouse Company 50 years ago, are both within the county’s boundaries. A great city needs great schools, and the Howard County Public School System is well-known in the community. Based on student achievement on state assessments, the school system regularly ranks among Maryland’s best school districts. On standardized tests, Howard County students outperform the national average.

Founded In: 1601
Location: Ellicott City, MD
Ranking: 1
Contact: 410-313-6600
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Montgomery County Public Schools

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is a Maryland public school system that serves the county of Montgomery. It is the largest school district in Maryland and the 16th largest in the United States, with 206 schools. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award was given to MCPS in 2010. The county’s public education system consumes about half of the county’s annual spending. A student member of the Board of Education is nominated by all secondary students and has equal voting powers, with the exception of unfavorable staff intervention. Dr. Jack R. Smith is the superintendent of schools.

Founded In: 1860
Location: Rockville, MD
Ranking: 2
Contact: 240-740-3000
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Worcester County Public Schools

Worcester County Public Schools is a Maryland public school system located in Worcester County. Worcester County Public Schools is dedicated to ensuring that every pupil graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in higher education or the global workforce. The district includes five elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. The district also has a special school known as the Cedar Chapel Special School.

Founded In: N/A
Location: Newark, MD
Ranking: 3
Contact: 410-632-5000
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Carroll County Public Schools

The Baltimore and Washington, D.C. urban areas are both close to Carroll County Public Schools. The area is best described as a rural area that is quickly becoming residential. They have more than 25,200 students enrolled in their schools, making them Maryland’s tenth largest school district. The Board of Education, which is made up of five elected officials and a student representative, oversees the system. Carroll County Public Schools is classified as one of Maryland’s highest performing school districts. Numerous honors are given to instructional workers at the state and national levels for their achievements. On standardized student assessments, Carroll County students significantly outperform the state and national averages. Carroll County also boasts one of the state’s highest graduation rates and lowest dropout rates.

Founded In: N/A
Location: Westminster, MD
Ranking: 4
Contact: 410-751-3000
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Federick County Public Schools

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is a public school district in Frederick County, Maryland that serves students in grades K through 12. Several schools are part of the system, which serves the educational interests of Frederick and the nearby areas of Frederick County’s youth. As of the 2014–2015 academic year, there are 67 schools in the district. There were 42,204 students enrolled in the 2017–2018 academic year. The student to teacher ratio is 16 to 1.

Founded In: N/A
Location: Federick, MD
Ranking: 5
Contact: 301-644-5000
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Calvert County Public Schools

Calvert County is a scenic peninsula bordered on the east by the Chesapeake Bay and on the west by the Patuxent River, located 35 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. and 55 miles south of Baltimore. Over 90,000 people live in the county, which is Maryland’s smallest at 213 square miles. By meaningful coordination and involvement with all Calvert County Public Schools partners, including parents, teachers, employees, and the community, the Calvert County Board of Education promotes success in education for their students. Calvert County Public Schools, the state’s 13th largest school district by student enrollment among the state’s 24 school systems, routinely ranks among Maryland’s best districts. There are twelve elementary schools, six middle schools, four high schools, and one career and technology center, and one special education center.

Founded In: N/A
Location: Prince Frederick, MD
Ranking: 6
Contact: 443-550-8000
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Harford County Public Schools

The Harford County Public School System has a fairly standardized instructional system for all students, with educational activities and resources tailored to suit individual student needs. The curriculum is created, adopted, reviewed, and updated on a systemwide basis in different expertise fields, academic disciplines, and the arts to ensure that each pupil provides a well-balanced, carefully articulated, and sufficiently diversified curriculum. In Harford County, there are thirty-three elementary schools. Harford County currently has nine middle schools, and ten high schools, including one technical high school.

Founded In: N/A
Location: Bel Air, MD
Ranking: 7
Contact: 410-838-7300
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Queen Anne’s County Public Schools

The Queen Anne’s County Public Schools system is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited all of the schools. Queen Anne’s County Public Schools’ goal is to ensure that every student shows a dedication to high achievement and everyday excellence, having the skills and expertise to enable them to succeed and continue to develop mentally, psychologically, emotionally, and socially in a constantly evolving, globally competitive society. The school district consists of 15 successful and thriving districts, with 8 primary schools, 4 middle schools, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative education program.

Founded In: 1966
Location: Centreville, MD
Ranking: 8
Contact: 410-758-2403
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Washington County Public Schools

Washington County Public Schools is in Western Maryland, which is part of a tri-state area that encompasses Pennsylvania and West Virginia. WCPS is the third-largest employer in Washington County, with over 22,000 students attending 46 schools run by almost 2,500 staff. The Washington County Board of Education, which is headquartered at 10435 Downsville Pike in Hagerstown, houses the central offices of WCPS. Dr. Boyd Michael was elected Superintendent of Schools in February 2017. There are twenty-six elementary schools, seven middle schools, nine high schools, and three special programs in the district.

Founded In: N/A
Location: Hagerstown, MD
Ranking: 9
Contact: 301-766-8784
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St. Mary’s County Public Schools

SMCPS is a school district in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, United States, located at the confluence of the Potomac River, Patuxent River, and the Chesapeake Bay. There is a blend of rural and suburban communities in the district. It has a student population of almost 17,000 people. SMCPS serves students in grades Pre-K to 12th through 18 primary schools, 5 middle schools, 4 secondary schools, an Alternative Learning Center, and a Vocational Training Center. The Maryland State Department of Education is in charge of the school system. James Scott Smith took over as Interim Superintendent of Schools in August 2014.

Founded In: 1879
Location:  Leonardtown, MD
Ranking: 10
Contact: 301-475-5511
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