St. Mary's County Public Schools

Leonardtown, Maryland — 26 schools

17,493
Total Enrollment
26
Schools
$17,616
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

St. Mary's County Public Schools operates 26 public schools serving 17,493 students, placing it in the mid-size range in Maryland. The school portfolio breaks down into 15 other, 4 middle, 4 elementary, 3 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 16,905 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in St. Mary's County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,616 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 45.1% local, 41.2% state, and 13.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $88,063 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 21/100, ranked #23 of 24 in Maryland against a state average of 52 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 26 schools offering Advanced Placement (78 AP courses district-wide), a 379.9:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 29.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 58.2% White, 19.1% African American, 9.9% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

St. Mary's County Public Schools school enrollment varies 10× across entities

St. Mary's County Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 209 students (lowest) to 2,118 students (highest), a spread of 1,909 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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

St. Mary's County Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 380:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

St. Mary's County Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 29.5% — 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 St. Mary's County Public Schools is typically wider than the St. Mary's 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?

13.6%
Federal
41.2%
State
45.1%
Local

Funding Equity

21
Equity Score
23 / 24
State Rank
52
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in St. Mary's County county, where this district is located.

$1,394
Studio/mo
$1,672
1 BR/mo
$1,833
2 BR/mo
$2,264
3 BR/mo
$2,889
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$88,063
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 26 schools in St. Mary's County Public Schools.

White 58.2%
Hispanic or Latino 9.9%
African American 19.1%
Asian 2.2%
Multiracial 10.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

3 / 26
Schools with AP
78 AP courses total
379.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in St. Mary's County Public Schools

School Enrollment
Leonardtown High
2,118
Great Mills High
1,697
Chopticon High
1,526
Leonardtown Middle
969
Spring Ridge Middle
913
Margaret Brent Middle
878
Esperanza Middle
835
Evergreen Elementary School
715
Park Hall Elementary
569
Benjamin Banneker Elementary
543
Chesapeake Charter School
Charter
539
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary
516
Leonardtown Elementary
509
Lettie Marshall Dent Elem
479
Green Holly Elementary School
478
George Washington Carver Elementary
460
Piney Point Elementary
435
Dynard Elementary
422
Hollywood Elementary
414
Lexington Park Elementary
383
Greenview Knolls Elementary
294
Oakville Elementary
291
Mechanicsville Elementary
273
Town Creek Elementary
220
White Marsh Elementary
220
Ridge Elementary
209

Nearby Districts in Maryland

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

Compare St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's County Public Schools?

St. Mary's County Public Schools has 26 schools, including 3 high, 4 middle, 4 elementary, 15 other. Total enrollment is 17,493 students.

How much does St. Mary's County Public Schools spend per student?

St. Mary's County Public Schools spends $17,616 per student. The district has an equity score of 21/100, ranking #23 in Maryland.

What is the average teacher salary in St. Mary's County Public Schools?

The average teacher salary in St. Mary's County Public Schools is $88,063 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near St. Mary's County Public Schools?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in St. Mary's County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of St. Mary's County Public Schools?

St. Mary's County Public Schools students are 58.2% White, 19.1% African American, 9.9% Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% Asian, averaged across 26 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for St. Mary's County Public Schools?

St. Mary's County Public Schools has an equity score of 21/100, ranking #23 out of 24 districts in Maryland. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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