Frederick County Public Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Frederick, Maryland - 67 schools

An equity score of 12/100 ranks Frederick County Public Schools #24 of 24 districts in Maryland (state average 52). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,981 per pupil, Frederick County Public Schools ranks #23 of 24 Maryland districts by per-pupil spending (Maryland districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

46,899
Total Enrollment
67
Schools
$14,981
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Frederick County Public Schools operates 67 public schools serving 46,899 students, placing it among the larger districts in Maryland. The school portfolio breaks down into 33 combined, 13 middle, 11 elementary, 10 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage across a sizeable portfolio before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Frederick County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,981 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 3 of 24 Maryland districts by per-pupil spending. See how Maryland compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 50.4% local, 38.3% state, and 11.2% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 12/100, ranked #24 of 24 in Maryland against a state average of 52, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 10 of 67 schools offering Advanced Placement (264 AP courses district-wide), a 289.2:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 25.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 51.3% White, 20.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Ballenger Creek Elementary, with a diversity index of 77.3/100.

Its largest campus is Gov. Thomas Johnson High, enrolling 2,066 students (4% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Heather Ridge, at 50 students, a 41x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Frederick County Public Schools school enrollment varies 41× across entities

Frederick County Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 50 students (lowest) to 2,066 students (highest), a spread of 2,016 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity, the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Frederick County Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 289:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Frederick County Public Schools is typically wider than the Frederick County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Frederick County Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 25.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Frederick County Public Schools is typically wider than the Frederick County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

11.2%
Federal
38.3%
State
50.4%
Local

Funding Equity

12
Equity Score
24 / 24
State Rank
52
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 67 schools in Frederick County Public Schools.

White 51.3%
Hispanic or Latino 20.2%
African American 13.8%
Asian 6.8%
Multiracial 7.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 58.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Frederick County Public Schools's schools, above the Maryland average of 52.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Ballenger Creek Elementary 77.3
  2. 2 Tuscarora Elementary 76.6
  3. 3 Centerville Elementary 75.7
  4. 4 Orchard Grove Elementary 75.6
  5. 5 Whittier Elementary 75.1

Programs & Resources

10 / 67
Schools with AP
264 AP courses total
289.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Frederick County Public Schools

School Enrollment
Gov. Thomas Johnson High
2,066
Urbana High
1,989
Frederick High
1,821
Tuscarora High
1,735
Oakdale High
1,702
Linganore High
1,647
Walkersville High
1,181
Oakdale Elementary
1,167
Urbana Middle
1,090
Oakdale Middle
1,085
Middletown High
1,059
Crestwood Middle
996
Waverley Elementary
965
Brunswick High
910
Green Valley Elementary
850
Sugarloaf Elementary
845
Catoctin High
823
West Frederick Middle
820
Windsor Knolls Middle
812
Brunswick Elementary
804
Tuscarora Elementary
793
Middletown Middle
784
Walkersville Middle
779
Whittier Elementary
779
Ballenger Creek Middle
777
Urbana Elementary
736
Ballenger Creek Elementary
715
Monocacy Middle
710
Twin Ridge Elementary
703
Walkersville Elementary
692
Blue Heron Elementary
680
New Market Middle
676
North Frederick Elementary
660
Brunswick Middle
638
Yellow Springs Elementary
628
Lincoln Elementary
615
Orchard Grove Elementary
613
Butterfly Ridge Elementary
607
Spring Ridge Elementary
605
Hillcrest Elementary
581
Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle
573
New Market Elementary
571
Glade Elementary
561
Carroll Manor Elementary
530
Deer Crossing Elementary
528
Valley Elementary
525
Monocacy Elementary
523
Thurmont Middle
507
Centerville Elementary
471
Middletown Primary
463
Middletown Elementary
460
Kemptown Elementary
448
Myersville Elementary
402
Monocacy Valley Montessori
Charter
386
Frederick Classical Charter
Charter
376
Thurmont Primary
350
Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter
Charter
317
Thurmont Elementary
283
New Midway/Woodsboro Elementary
269
Liberty Elementary
265
Parkway Elementary
263
Emmitsburg Elementary
211
Sabillasville Environmental School
Charter
196
Wolfsville Elementary
163
Lewistown Elementary
152
Rock Creek
73
Heather Ridge
50

How Frederick County Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Maryland districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Harford County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Howard County Public Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Charles County Public Schools Smaller Similar spending Similar funding mix
Carroll County Public Schools Smaller Similar spending Similar funding mix
Washington County Public Schools Smaller Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Frederick County Public Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Maryland

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Compare Frederick County Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Montgomery County Public Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Frederick County Public Schools?

Frederick County Public Schools has 67 schools, including 10 high, 11 elementary, 13 middle, 33 combined. Total enrollment is 46,899 students.

How much does Frederick County Public Schools spend per student?

Frederick County Public Schools spends $14,981 per student. The district has an equity score of 12/100, ranking #24 in Maryland.

What is the demographic composition of Frederick County Public Schools?

Frederick County Public Schools students are 51.3% White, 20.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% African American, 6.8% Asian, averaged across 67 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Frederick County Public Schools?

Frederick County Public Schools has an equity score of 12/100, ranking #24 out of 24 districts in Maryland.