La Plata High School

Q: Is La Plata High School a good school?

La Plata High School ranks 48 th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

La Plata High School is a public high school in La Plata, Maryland, serving 1,222 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Charles County Public Schools district.

La Plata High School stands out for its racial diversity, with a student population that is 54.58% White, 24.8% African American, and 7.86% Hispanic - higher than nearby schools. Academically, the school performs well, with 61.2% of 10th-graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 45.8% for the district and 55.3% for the state. La Plata High also ranks 48th out of 146 Maryland high schools, earning a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, a significant improvement from its previous 2-star rankings. Additionally, the school has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (25.04%) compared to other schools in the district.

While La Plata High School's overall performance is strong, the data shows that certain student subgroups, such as White students and male students, are performing below state and district averages in some areas. When compared to nearby schools, La Plata High generally outperforms them, though some schools, like North Point High School, have shown stronger performance in specific subject areas. La Plata High's per-student spending of $14,057 is also lower than some nearby schools, suggesting potential for improvement with additional resources.

Detail:

Public 9-12

6035 Radio Station Rd
La Plata, MD 20646

(301) 934-1100

District: Charles County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
48^th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,362

Feeder schools for La Plata High School:

Elementary:	Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School
	Mary H. Matula Elementary School
	Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School
Middle:	Piccowaxen Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.7

Number of students: 1,222

Racial breakdown:

White:

54.6%

African American:

24.8%

Two or more races:

9.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 25%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare La Plata High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details La Plata High School ranks better than 67.1% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks 2^nd among 6 ranked high schools in the Charles County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.44. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of La Plata High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (54.6%), African American (24.8%), two or more races (9.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 25% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Charles County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at La Plata High School is 17.7. 5 high schools in the Charles County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare La Plata High School employs 69 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at La Plata High School is $15,362. 4 high schools in the Charles County Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

La Plata High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks La Plata High School 48^th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See La Plata High School in the ranking list.)

Charles County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Charles County Public Schools 20^th of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for La Plata High School.

What do you think?

Your rating for La Plata High School?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for La Plata High School

Compare

Rank History for all students at La Plata High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	50.60	70^th	201	65.2%
2005	53.40	90^th	204	55.9%
2006	60.80	76^th	204	62.7%
2007	66.80	62^nd	209	70.3%
2008	70.58	81^st	214	62.1%
2009	66.75	96^th	213	54.9%
2010	72.72	67^th	220	69.5%
2011	76.80	36^th	183	80.3%
2012	74.96	44^th	187	76.5%
2013	76.09	38^th	185	79.5%
2014	79.32	41^st	231	82.3%
2015	55.66	95^th	233	59.2%
2016	53.96	103^rd	233	55.8%
2017	56.15	63^rd	180	65.0%
2018	53.96	71^st	197	64.0%
2019	48.37	66^th	138	52.2%
2021	48.31	20^th	32	37.5%
2022	36.57	122^nd	225	45.8%
2023	46.53	67^th	127	47.2%
2024	52.44	48^th	146	67.1%

See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at La Plata High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	54.05	21^st	31	32.3%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at La Plata High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	46.92	25^th	35	28.6%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at La Plata High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	34.41	32^nd	40	20.0%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

by a parent
Sunday, September 19, 2021

As a parent, I love that my son loves going to school! The athletics department is organized and are invested in the kids. Principal values communication with the community. Diverse and small town feel. Close Quote

Enrollment information for La Plata High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	1339	273	7	3	2	n/a	n/a	0	1624
1990	1255	240	11	5	3	n/a	n/a	0	1514
1991	1159	228	12	8	2	n/a	n/a	0	1409
1992	1142	227	12	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	1388
1993	1099	219	14	6	3	n/a	n/a	0	1341
1994	1057	221	18	5	5	n/a	n/a	0	1306
1995	999	236	14	8	11	n/a	n/a	0	1268
1996	999	236	14	8	11	n/a	n/a	0	1268
1997	1019	260	13	9	13	n/a	n/a	0	1314
1998	1018	291	14	8	15	n/a	n/a	0	1346
1999	1040	307	21	4	15	n/a	n/a	0	1387
2000	1051	302	22	5	16	n/a	n/a	0	1396
2001	1068	300	30	10	17	n/a	n/a	0	1425
2002	1091	346	31	16	14	n/a	n/a	0	1498
2003	1091	346	31	16	14	n/a	n/a	0	1498
2004	1124	385	31	20	16	n/a	n/a	0	1576
2005	1186	423	35	23	11	n/a	n/a	0	1678
2006	1173	387	27	19	9	n/a	n/a	0	1615
2007	1161	356	26	24	11	n/a	n/a	0	1578
2008	1136	311	32	28	7	n/a	n/a	0	1514
2009	1062	280	29	26	11	n/a	n/a	0	1408
2010	1032	277	37	31	11	n/a	n/a	0	1388
2011	1000	259	28	53	8	0	48	0	1396
2012	1011	276	35	53	8	0	60	0	1443
2013	1016	283	43	47	7	1	61	0	1458
2014	944	307	40	45	5	1	70	0	1412
2015	861	250	48	40	5	0	67	0	1271
2016	764	221	51	48	10	0	50	0	1144
2017	720	215	42	52	6	0	49	0	1084
2018	744	203	43	51	6	1	60	0	1108
2019	771	216	40	52	5	0	68	0	1152
2020	750	225	33	57	4	2	88	0	1159
2021	703	247	38	73	4	2	107	0	1174
2022	706	287	34	89	3	3	103	2	1227
2023	667	303	34	96	5	5	111	1	1222

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at La Plata High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1624	85.5	18.9	n/a
1990	1514	89.0	17.0	1.3
1991	1409	89.0	15.8	2.4
1992	1388	85.0	16.3	6.3
1993	1341	78.4	17.1	6.5
1994	1306	79.8	16.4	9.6
1995	1268	68.1	18.6	12.1
1996	1268	68.1	18.6	12.1
1997	1314	68.5	19.2	9.3
1998	1346	70.0	19.2	10.3
1999	1387	70.0	19.8	13.7
2000	1396	74.0	18.9	13.5
2001	1425	76.0	18.8	12.6
2002	1498	77.2	19.4	13.1
2003	1498	77.2	19.4	13.1
2004	1576	89.0	17.7	13.6
2005	1678	90.0	18.6	13.9
2006	1615	92.0	17.6	16.7
2007	1578	91.5	17.2	10.7
2008	1514	90.5	16.7	12.1
2009	1408	87.0	16.2	12.1
2010	1388	84.4	16.4	13
2011	1396	82.0	17.0	13.3
2012	1443	83.0	17.3	14.1
2013	1458	88.0	16.5	15.7
2014	1412	88.0	16.0	17.8
2015	1271	82.0	15.5	16.8
2016	1144	78.0	14.6	17.9
2017	1084	73.0	14.8	21
2018	1108	72.0	15.3	13.1
2019	1152	69.0	16.6	18.3
2020	1159	70.0	16.5	20.1
2021	1174	71.0	16.5	21.7
2022	1227	67.0	18.3	21.2
2023	1222	69.0	17.7	25

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio La Plata High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1624	85.5	18.9	n/a
1990	1514	89.0	17.0	1.3
1991	1409	89.0	15.8	2.4
1992	1388	85.0	16.3	6.3
1993	1341	78.4	17.1	6.5
1994	1306	79.8	16.4	9.6
1995	1268	68.1	18.6	12.1
1996	1268	68.1	18.6	12.1
1997	1314	68.5	19.2	9.3
1998	1346	70.0	19.2	10.3
1999	1387	70.0	19.8	13.7
2000	1396	74.0	18.9	13.5
2001	1425	76.0	18.8	12.6
2002	1498	77.2	19.4	13.1
2003	1498	77.2	19.4	13.1
2004	1576	89.0	17.7	13.6
2005	1678	90.0	18.6	13.9
2006	1615	92.0	17.6	16.7
2007	1578	91.5	17.2	10.7
2008	1514	90.5	16.7	12.1
2009	1408	87.0	16.2	12.1
2010	1388	84.4	16.4	13
2011	1396	82.0	17.0	13.3
2012	1443	83.0	17.3	14.1
2013	1458	88.0	16.5	15.7
2014	1412	88.0	16.0	17.8
2015	1271	82.0	15.5	16.8
2016	1144	78.0	14.6	17.9
2017	1084	73.0	14.8	21
2018	1108	72.0	15.3	13.1
2019	1152	69.0	16.6	18.3
2020	1159	70.0	16.5	20.1
2021	1174	71.0	16.5	21.7
2022	1227	67.0	18.3	21.2
2023	1222	69.0	17.7	25

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for La Plata High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$564 (4.2%)	$12,956 (95.8%)	$13,521
2020	$604 (4.4%)	$12,970 (95.6%)	$13,574
2021	$413 (2.9%)	$13,644 (97.1%)	$14,057
2022	$596 (4.4%)	$12,858 (95.6%)	$13,453
2023	$366 (2.4%)	$14,997 (97.6%)	$15,362

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on La Plata High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 66^th of 138 High schools	Ranks 67^th of 127 High schools	4.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1152	1222	6.1%
African American	216	303	40.3%
American Indian	5	5
Asian	40	34	15%
Hispanic	52	96	84.6%
Pacific Islander	0	5
White	771	667	13.5%
Two or More Races	68	111	63.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	18.3%	25%	6.7%

Schools Near La Plata High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCAP Mathematics (2024)	MCAP English Language Arts (2024)		MCAP Algebra I (2024)	MCAP Algebra II (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
La Plata High School	Public	9-12	6035 Radio Station Rd	La Plata	20646	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 934-1100	1,222	69	17.7	25.0%	667 (54.6%)	303 (24.8%)	96 (7.9%)	34 (2.8%)	5 (0.4%)	5 (0.4%)	111 (9.1%)	52.4	48^th of 146 public high schools	67.1%		46.5	67^th of 127 public high schools	47.2%	19	6.8	61.2	61.2		16.5	$15,362	$366	$14,997
St. Charles High School	Public	9-12	5305 Piney Church Rd	Waldorf	20602	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 753-2090	1,569	89	17.6	47.8%	115 (7.3%)	1,116 (71.1%)	185 (11.8%)	30 (1.9%)	8 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	112 (7.1%)	12.8	140^th of 146 public high schools	4.1%		23.5	114^th of 127 public high schools	10.2%	26	5.1	30.1	30.1	5.4		$15,254	$622	$14,632
Maurice J. McDonough High School	Public	9-12	7165 Marshall Corner Rd	Pomfret	20675	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 934-2944	1,087	64	16.9	32.2%	279 (25.7%)	577 (53.1%)	136 (12.5%)	23 (2.1%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	68 (6.3%)	52.1	49^th of 146 public high schools	66.4%					(n/a)	9.1	55.7	55.7		27.7	$16,393	$473	$15,920
Westlake High School	Public	9-12	3300 Middletown Rd	Waldorf	20603	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 645-8857	1,229	66	18.6	43.6%	59 (4.8%)	914 (74.4%)	131 (10.7%)	50 (4.1%)	3 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	69 (5.6%)	22.6	131^st of 146 public high schools	10.3%		21.8	115^th of 127 public high schools	9.4%	16		37.7	37.7		9.5	$15,329	$780	$14,549
Thomas Stone High School	Public	9-12	3785 Leonardtown Rd	Waldorf	20601	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 645-2601	1,177	78	15.1	61.0%	106 (9.0%)	732 (62.2%)	236 (20.1%)	23 (2.0%)	2 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	73 (6.2%)								(n/a)		30.8	30.8			$18,333	$840	$17,493
North Point High School	Public	9-12	2500 Davis Rd	Waldorf	20603	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 753-1759	1,867	124	15.1	30.3%	221 (11.8%)	1,198 (64.2%)	188 (10.1%)	112 (6.0%)	7 (0.4%)	12 (0.6%)	128 (6.9%)	56.2	39^th of 146 public high schools	73.3%		58.8	32^nd of 127 public high schools	74.8%	7	8.9	62.3	62.3		20.1	$16,560	$567	$15,993
Henry E. Lackey High School	Public	9-12	3000 Chicamuxen Rd	Indian Head	20640	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 743-5431	1,042	70	14.9	49.5%	244 (23.4%)	587 (56.3%)	102 (9.8%)	26 (2.5%)	3 (0.3%)	4 (0.4%)	74 (7.1%)	22.7	129^th of 146 public high schools	11.6%					(n/a)		36.4	36.4		16.4	$17,548	$613	$16,936
Gwynn Park High	Public, Magnet	9-12	13800 Brandywine Rd	Brandywine	20613	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 372-0140	1,140	66	17.2	51.1%	30 (2.6%)	895 (78.5%)	169 (14.8%)	16 (1.4%)	2 (0.2%)	6 (0.5%)	22 (1.9%)								(n/a)		31.8	31.8			$18,190	$1,737	$16,453
Friendly High	Public	9-12	10000 Allentown Rd	Fort Washington	20744	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 449-4900	881	54	16.3	64.7%	36 (4.1%)	518 (58.8%)	289 (32.8%)	21 (2.4%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	11 (1.2%)								(n/a)		23.1	23.1			$20,476	$1,811	$18,665
Surrattsville High	Public	9-12	6101 Garden Dr	Clinton	20735	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 599-2453	772	52	14.8	60.5%	14 (1.8%)	587 (76.0%)	147 (19.0%)	11 (1.4%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	8 (1.0%)								(n/a)		31.4	31.4			$21,076	$1,980	$19,096

Frequently Asked Questions about La Plata High School

What schools feed into La Plata High School?

La Plata High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School
Elementary : Mary H. Matula Elementary School
Elementary : Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School
Middle : Piccowaxen Middle School

Is La Plata High School a good school?

La Plata High School ranks 48^th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of La Plata High School?

Students at La Plata High School are 55% White, 25% African American, 9% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic, 3% Asian.

What district is La Plata High School in?

Charles County Public Schools

How many students attend La Plata High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,222 students attended La Plata High School.

Rate La Plata High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MDMaryland High School Rankings

MDMaryland District Rankings

Schools in La Plata, MD

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for La Plata High School!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.