Maryland Public School Enrollment: 2019-2020 vs 2023-2024

February 25, 2024

Background and Source Data

Public school enrollment numbers by Maryland county and by school level was determined for the school years:

  • 2019-2020
  • 2023-2024

2019-2020 was the last pre-pandemic school year, 2023-2024 is the current school year.

School levels are:

  • All schools
  • Elementary schools
  • Middle schools
  • High schools
  • Pre-kindergarten

Data sources are official enrollment from the State of Maryland.

Results and Conclusions

Table 1.  Enrollment for All Grades

Total enrollment decreased from 909,414, to 890,137. This was a decrease of 19,277 students (2%). Montgomery County schools had a decrease of 3% (5,044 students). 21 of the 24 districts showed a decrease.  Three districts (Carroll, Charles, and Frederick) had increases. Frederick County Schools had the largest increase (9%). Garrett County and Kent County Schools had the largest decreases (10%).

MCPS Elementary Enrollment

Table 2. Enrollment for All Elementary Grades

Total elementary school enrollment decreased from 337,808, to 323,622. This was a decrease of 14,186 students (4%). Montgomery County schools had a decrease of 5% (3,020 students). 21 of the 24 districts showed a decrease.  Three districts (Carroll, Frederick, and Harford) had increases. Frederick County Schools had the largest increase (9%). Kent County Schools had the largest decrease (12%).

MCPS Middle School Enrollment

Table 3. Enrollment for All Middle School Grades

Total middle school enrollment decreased from 207,994, to 197,033. This was a decrease of 10,991 students (5%). Montgomery County schools had a decrease of 6% (2,097 students). 22 of the 24 districts showed a decrease.  Two districts (Carroll, Frederick) had increases. Frederick County Schools had the largest increase (3%). Dorchester County Schools had the largest decrease (14%). Additionally, the SEED schools had a 33% decrease. According to the MSDE website, The SEED School of Maryland is a statewide college-preparatory public boarding school.

MCPS High School Enrollment

Table 4. Enrollment for All High School Grades

Total high school enrollment increased from 266,322 to 277,617. This was an increase of 11,295 students (4%). Montgomery County schools had an increase of 3% (1,483 students). 18 of the 24 districts showed an increase.  Frederick County Schools had the largest increase (14%). Garrett County Schools had the largest decrease (11%). Additionally, the SEED schools had a 36% increase.

MCPS Prekindergarten Enrollment

Table 5. Enrollment for Pre-Kindergarten

Total pre-kindergarten enrollment decreased from 32,203 to 31,381. This was a decrease of 822 students (3%). Montgomery County schools had decrease of 5% (245 students). 15 of the 24 districts showed an increase.  Queen Anne County Schools had the largest increase (35%). St. Mary’s County Schools had the largest decrease (45%).

MCPS vs. State Trends

MCPS has followed the state trend of:

  • Decreased total student enrollment (3% decrease MCPS vs 2% decrease statewide)
  • Decreased elementary student enrollment (5% decrease MCPS vs 4% decrease statewide)
  • Decreased middle school student enrollment (6% decrease MCPS vs 5% decrease statewide)
  • Increased high school student enrollment (3% increase MCPS vs 4% increase statewide)
  • Decreased pre-K student enrollment (5% decrease MCPS vs 3% decrease statewide)

Projections from Maryland Department of Planning

The Maryland Department of Planning report has projected public school enrollment through 2030.

MCPS is projected to have peak elementary school enrollment in 2023 with progressive decreases through 2030.

Additionally, MCPS is projected to have peak middle school enrollment in 2027 with subsequent decreases through 2030.

MCPS high school enrollment is projected to increase through 2030.

Conclusions

The MCPS enrollment projections differ from the entire state of Maryland for elementary school (peak MCPS enrollment in 2023 vs peak state enrollment in 2030). MCPS middle school enrollment trend is similar (peak MCPS enrollment in 2027 vs peak state enrollment in 2028). Lastly, the MCPS high school enrollment trend is also similar to the state (highest enrollment in 2030 for both).

Therefore, the trend of decreased elementary school enrollment and increased high school enrollment is expected to continue in MCPS.

See more articles by Moderately MOCO on enrollment here

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