Best Public Schools in Frederick, MD

The city of Frederick, Maryland is home to a diverse school district with 30 schools, including 19 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 5 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district as a whole is highly rated, ranking 6th out of 25 districts in Maryland and receiving 4 out of 5 stars from SchoolDigger.

Several schools stand out in the district, including Sugarloaf Elementary, Centerville Elementary, and Urbana Elementary, all of which consistently rank among the top elementary schools in the state with 5-star ratings and exceptional test scores. The public charter schools, Frederick Classical Charter and Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter, also stand out for their high performance. In contrast, the alternative high school, Heather Ridge, has the lowest performance in the district but serves a unique population of students with a very low student-teacher ratio.

The data also reveals a clear correlation between socioeconomic status, as measured by free and reduced lunch rates, and academic performance, with the schools serving the highest-poverty populations, such as Hillcrest Elementary and Lincoln Elementary, tending to have the lowest test scores. Overall, the Frederick County Public Schools district offers a diverse range of educational options, with standout schools as well as those facing challenges, providing a complex landscape for families to navigate.