Maurice J. McDonough High School

Q: Is Maurice J. McDonough High School a good school?

Maurice J. McDonough High School ranks 49 th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Maurice J. McDonough High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Pomfret, Maryland, part of the Charles County Public Schools district. The school has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 25.67% White, 53.08% African American, and 12.51% Hispanic.

Academically, Maurice J. McDonough High School has had a mixed performance compared to state and district averages. While the school performed better than the district and state in 10th grade English Language Arts, its proficiency rates were below average in mathematics and Algebra II. The school's statewide ranking has fluctuated, ranging from 26th out of 32 Maryland high schools in 2020-2021 to 49th out of 146 in 2023-2024. The school's performance for specific student subgroups, such as female students and white students, has also been below average. However, the school has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

When comparing Maurice J. McDonough High School to nearby schools, some interesting patterns emerge. North Point High School consistently outperforms Maurice J. McDonough High School in academic metrics, while La Plata High School also performs better, though still below the state average in some areas. The other nearby schools, such as Henry E. Lackey High School and St. Charles High School, generally have lower academic performance and statewide rankings compared to Maurice J. McDonough High School.

Detail:

Public 9-12

7165 Marshall Corner Rd
Pomfret, MD 20675

(301) 934-2944

District: Charles County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
49^th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,393

Feeder schools for Maurice J. McDonough High School:

Elementary:	Billingsley Elementary School
	Dr. James Craik Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.9

Number of students: 1,087

Racial breakdown:

African American:

53.1%

White:

25.7%

Hispanic:

12.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 32.2%

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Compare Maurice J. McDonough High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Maurice J. McDonough High School ranks better than 66.4% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks 3^rd among 6 ranked high schools in the Charles County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 52.15. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Maurice J. McDonough High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a 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 Student population at Maurice J. McDonough High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (53.1%), White (25.7%), Hispanic (12.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 32.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Maurice J. McDonough High School is 16.9. 3 high schools in the Charles County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Maurice J. McDonough High School employs 64 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Maurice J. McDonough High School is $16,393. 3 high schools in the Charles County Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Maurice J. McDonough High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Maurice J. McDonough High School 49^th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See Maurice J. McDonough 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.)

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Rank History for Maurice J. McDonough High School

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Rank History for all students at Maurice J. McDonough High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	47.79	92^nd	201	54.2%
2005	55.27	80^th	204	60.8%
2006	51.23	108^th	204	47.1%
2007	51.51	107^th	209	48.8%
2008	62.08	111^th	214	48.1%
2009	57.49	125^th	213	41.3%
2010	50.41	140^th	220	36.4%
2011	26.17	150^th	183	18.0%
2012	41.55	124^th	187	33.7%
2013	47.61	113^th	185	38.9%
2014	64.29	121^st	231	47.6%
2015	48.66	123^rd	233	47.2%
2016	38.26	147^th	233	36.9%
2017	25.79	134^th	180	25.6%
2018	30.01	123^rd	197	37.6%
2019	22.94	122^nd	138	11.6%
2021	39.18	26^th	32	18.8%
2022	43.11	96^th	225	57.3%
2024	52.15	49^th	146	66.4%

See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at Maurice J. McDonough High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	44.90	23^rd	31	25.8%

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

Rank History for White students at Maurice J. McDonough High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	38.64	29^th	40	27.5%

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

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Enrollment information for Maurice J. McDonough High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1989	1075	196	21	10	6	n/a	n/a	1308
1990	1037	211	20	10	8	n/a	n/a	1286
1991	1019	223	17	14	6	n/a	n/a	1279
1992	1134	231	18	18	4	n/a	n/a	1405
1993	1110	268	20	19	8	n/a	n/a	1425
1994	1082	244	20	18	7	n/a	n/a	1371
1995	966	205	12	13	9	n/a	n/a	1205
1996	966	205	12	13	9	n/a	n/a	1205
1997	984	208	18	13	8	n/a	n/a	1231
1998	1006	228	16	18	15	n/a	n/a	1283
1999	988	292	28	19	17	n/a	n/a	1344
2000	951	359	26	27	15	n/a	n/a	1378
2001	952	422	31	27	16	n/a	n/a	1448
2002	798	509	33	33	16	n/a	n/a	1389
2003	798	509	33	33	16	n/a	n/a	1389
2004	768	532	36	41	11	n/a	n/a	1388
2005	693	562	33	42	11	n/a	n/a	1341
2006	663	562	35	47	12	n/a	n/a	1319
2007	628	611	27	50	10	n/a	n/a	1326
2008	554	665	21	54	10	n/a	n/a	1304
2009	514	683	24	56	7	n/a	n/a	1284
2010	489	705	30	55	15	n/a	n/a	1294
2011	448	650	38	67	9	0	44	1256
2012	434	646	30	65	8	0	43	1226
2013	424	599	27	69	7	0	51	1177
2014	405	585	24	58	2	1	43	1118
2015	367	448	23	88	2	1	32	961
2016	336	373	20	93	3	1	33	859
2017	317	395	24	138	4	1	35	914
2018	311	407	22	110	5	0	52	907
2019	294	417	14	88	1	0	58	872
2020	287	438	20	95	1	1	60	902
2021	310	479	27	116	1	2	64	999
2022	280	524	28	124	0	1	60	1017
2023	279	577	23	136	3	1	68	1087

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 Maurice J. McDonough High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1308	68.0	19.2	n/a
1990	1286	74.5	17.2	1.8
1991	1279	76.5	16.7	1.3
1992	1405	75.5	18.6	3.1
1993	1425	71.0	20.1	3
1994	1371	73.1	18.8	5.1
1995	1205	63.9	18.9	7.4
1996	1205	63.9	18.9	7.4
1997	1231	64.7	19.0	7.8
1998	1283	65.9	19.5	5.5
1999	1344	66.0	20.4	7.9
2000	1378	70.0	19.7	8
2001	1448	76.0	19.1	8.7
2002	1389	74.0	18.8	11.6
2003	1389	74.0	18.8	11.6
2004	1388	77.0	18.0	12.2
2005	1341	74.0	18.1	15.1
2006	1319	74.0	17.8	18.7
2007	1326	72.0	18.4	16.4
2008	1304	79.3	16.4	17.9
2009	1284	73.3	17.5	21.7
2010	1294	73.5	17.6	25.7
2011	1256	65.0	19.3	25.4
2012	1226	73.0	16.7	25.8
2013	1177	69.7	16.8	27.8
2014	1118	67.0	16.6	29.7
2015	961	63.0	15.2	25.1
2016	859	64.0	13.4	23.9
2017	914	66.0	13.8	29.2
2018	907	64.0	14.1	17
2019	872	57.5	15.1	24
2020	902	60.5	14.9	24.6
2021	999	63.0	15.8	29.1
2022	1017	62.0	16.4	28.6
2023	1087	64.0	16.9	32.2

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 Maurice J. McDonough High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1308	68.0	19.2	n/a
1990	1286	74.5	17.2	1.8
1991	1279	76.5	16.7	1.3
1992	1405	75.5	18.6	3.1
1993	1425	71.0	20.1	3
1994	1371	73.1	18.8	5.1
1995	1205	63.9	18.9	7.4
1996	1205	63.9	18.9	7.4
1997	1231	64.7	19.0	7.8
1998	1283	65.9	19.5	5.5
1999	1344	66.0	20.4	7.9
2000	1378	70.0	19.7	8
2001	1448	76.0	19.1	8.7
2002	1389	74.0	18.8	11.6
2003	1389	74.0	18.8	11.6
2004	1388	77.0	18.0	12.2
2005	1341	74.0	18.1	15.1
2006	1319	74.0	17.8	18.7
2007	1326	72.0	18.4	16.4
2008	1304	79.3	16.4	17.9
2009	1284	73.3	17.5	21.7
2010	1294	73.5	17.6	25.7
2011	1256	65.0	19.3	25.4
2012	1226	73.0	16.7	25.8
2013	1177	69.7	16.8	27.8
2014	1118	67.0	16.6	29.7
2015	961	63.0	15.2	25.1
2016	859	64.0	13.4	23.9
2017	914	66.0	13.8	29.2
2018	907	64.0	14.1	17
2019	872	57.5	15.1	24
2020	902	60.5	14.9	24.6
2021	999	63.0	15.8	29.1
2022	1017	62.0	16.4	28.6
2023	1087	64.0	16.9	32.2

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 Maurice J. McDonough High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$853 (5.4%)	$14,938 (94.6%)	$15,791
2020	$973 (6.0%)	$15,345 (94.0%)	$16,318
2021	$550 (3.5%)	$14,995 (96.5%)	$15,545
2022	$834 (5.4%)	$14,679 (94.6%)	$15,513
2023	$473 (2.9%)	$15,920 (97.1%)	$16,393

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Maurice J. McDonough 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 122^nd of 138 High schools	Ranks 96^th of 225 High schools	45.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	872	1087	24.7%
African American	417	577	38.4%
American Indian	1	3	200%
Asian	14	23	64.3%
Hispanic	88	136	54.5%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	294	279	5.1%
Two or More Races	58	68	17.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	24%	32.2%	8.2%

Schools Near Maurice J. McDonough 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Maurice J. McDonough High School

What is the racial makeup of Maurice J. McDonough High School?

Students at Maurice J. McDonough High School are 53% African American, 26% White, 13% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Maurice J. McDonough High School in?

Charles County Public Schools

What schools feed into Maurice J. McDonough High School?

Maurice J. McDonough High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Billingsley Elementary School
Elementary : Dr. James Craik Elementary School

Is Maurice J. McDonough High School a good school?

Maurice J. McDonough High School ranks 49^th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Maurice J. McDonough High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,087 students attended Maurice J. McDonough High School.

Rate Maurice J. McDonough High School!

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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.