St. Charles High School

Summary:

St. Charles High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Waldorf, Maryland, part of the Charles County Public Schools district. With a diverse student population, the school has consistently underperformed compared to the district and state in academic metrics, ranking among the lowest-performing high schools in Maryland.

St. Charles High School's academic performance lags behind nearby schools, with only 5.1% of students proficient in MCAP/Mathematics and 30.1% proficient in MCAP/English Language Arts, significantly lower than the district and state averages. The school has a low statewide ranking, placing between 114th and 155th out of 225-146 Maryland high schools, and has received a 0-2 star rating from SchoolDigger. Additionally, the school has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a higher proportion of students from low-income families, and a higher student-teacher ratio compared to nearby schools like North Point High School and La Plata High School.

The combination of low academic performance, high free and reduced-price lunch rates, and a relatively high student-teacher ratio at St. Charles High School suggests that socioeconomic factors, resource availability, and class sizes may be contributing to the school's challenges. Further analysis of these factors and targeted interventions could help address the disparities in educational outcomes observed at St. Charles High School compared to its peers within the Charles County Public Schools district and the state of Maryland.

Detail:

Public 9-12

5305 Piney Church Rd
Waldorf, MD 20602

(301) 753-2090

District: Charles County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
140^th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,254

Feeder schools for St. Charles High School:

Elementary:	Arthur Middleton Elementary School
	Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary
	Eva Turner Elementary School
	Mary B. Neal Elementary School
Middle:	Benjamin Stoddert Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 18.0

Number of students: 1,598

Racial breakdown:

African American:

71.7%

Hispanic:

13.0%

Two or more races:

6.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 48.5%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details St. Charles High School ranks worse than 95.9% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks last among 6 ranked high schools in the Charles County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 12.79. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at St. Charles 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 Racial makeup is: African American (71.7%), Hispanic (13%), two or more races (6.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 48.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at St. Charles High School is 18, which is the highest among 8 high schools in the Charles County Public Schools District! (See more...)

Compare St. Charles High School employs 88.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at St. Charles High School is $15,254. 6 high schools in the Charles County Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

St. Charles High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks St. Charles High School 140^th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See St. Charles 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:

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Rank History for St. Charles High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile
2016	65.90	64^th	233	72.5%
2017	26.44	133^rd	180	26.1%
2018	22.60	145^th	197	26.4%
2019	13.69	130^th	138	5.8%
2022	26.53	155^th	225	31.1%
2023	23.53	114^th	127	10.2%
2024	12.79	140^th	146	4.1%

See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

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

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for St. Charles High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2015	193	649	22	47	9	2	56	0	978
2016	225	861	26	64	11	3	74	0	1264
2017	215	886	32	59	11	1	75	0	1279
2018	189	908	30	60	12	0	82	0	1281
2019	179	954	29	76	11	2	84	0	1335
2020	175	1005	29	90	11	3	97	0	1410
2021	154	997	30	101	11	3	96	0	1392
2022	134	1093	31	120	10	2	107	1	1498
2023	115	1116	30	185	8	1	112	2	1569
2024	97	1146	30	208	5	0	111	1	1598

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 St. Charles High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	978	63.0	15.5	34.6
2016	1264	85.0	14.8	32.8
2017	1279	85.0	15.0	36.2
2018	1281	85.0	15.0	26.2
2019	1335	86.0	15.5	34.2
2020	1410	86.0	16.3	40.8
2021	1392	89.0	15.6	41.9
2022	1498	89.0	16.8	41.1
2023	1569	89.0	17.6	47.8
2024	1598	88.4	18.0	48.5

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 St. Charles High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	978	63.0	15.5	34.6
2016	1264	85.0	14.8	32.8
2017	1279	85.0	15.0	36.2
2018	1281	85.0	15.0	26.2
2019	1335	86.0	15.5	34.2
2020	1410	86.0	16.3	40.8
2021	1392	89.0	15.6	41.9
2022	1498	89.0	16.8	41.1
2023	1569	89.0	17.6	47.8
2024	1598	88.4	18.0	48.5

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 St. Charles High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$791 (5.7%)	$13,130 (94.3%)	$13,921
2020	$851 (6.1%)	$13,088 (93.9%)	$13,939
2021	$461 (3.1%)	$14,316 (96.9%)	$14,777
2022	$901 (6.3%)	$13,473 (93.7%)	$14,373
2023	$622 (4.1%)	$14,632 (95.9%)	$15,254

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on St. Charles 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 130^th of 138 High schools	Ranks 114^th of 127 High schools	4.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1335	1569	17.5%
African American	954	1116	17%
American Indian	11	8	27.3%
Asian	29	30	3.4%
Hispanic	76	185	143.4%
Pacific Islander	2	1	50%
White	179	115	35.8%
Two or More Races	84	112	33.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	34.2%	47.8%	13.6%

Schools Near St. Charles 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
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	1,598	88	18.0	48.5%	97 (6.1%)	1,146 (71.7%)	208 (13.0%)	30 (1.9%)	5 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	111 (6.9%)	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
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	1,217	75	16.1	28.7%	642 (52.8%)	323 (26.5%)	108 (8.9%)	36 (3.0%)	4 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	101 (8.3%)	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
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	1,173	85	13.8	62.1%	91 (7.8%)	735 (62.7%)	237 (20.2%)	23 (2.0%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	82 (7.0%)								(n/a)		30.8	30.8			$18,333	$840	$17,493
Westlake High School	Public	9-12	3300 Middletown Rd	Waldorf	20603	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 645-8857	1,185	70	17.0	46.9%	47 (4.0%)	870 (73.4%)	130 (11.0%)	62 (5.2%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	71 (6.0%)	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	1,914	126	15.2	31.6%	199 (10.4%)	1,221 (63.8%)	223 (11.7%)	110 (5.7%)	8 (0.4%)	10 (0.5%)	141 (7.4%)	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
Robert D. Stethem Educational Center	Public	5-12	7775 Marshall Corner Rd	Pomfret	20675	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 932-1003	0	35	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)	7.1		7.7			$48	$01	$47
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	1,130	69	16.2	36.7%	269 (23.8%)	596 (52.7%)	159 (14.1%)	25 (2.2%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (6.6%)	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
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	1,155	65	17.7	49.6%	26 (2.3%)	883 (76.5%)	195 (16.9%)	17 (1.5%)	1 (0.1%)	10 (0.9%)	23 (2.0%)								(n/a)		31.8	31.8			$18,190	$1,737	$16,453
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	1,058	65	16.1	54.5%	223 (21.1%)	599 (56.6%)	112 (10.6%)	24 (2.3%)	2 (0.2%)	5 (0.5%)	91 (8.6%)	22.7	129^th of 146 public high schools	11.6%					(n/a)		36.4	36.4		16.4	$17,548	$613	$16,936
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	943	57	16.5	65.5%	42 (4.5%)	522 (55.4%)	346 (36.7%)	19 (2.0%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	9 (1.0%)								(n/a)		23.1	23.1			$20,476	$1,811	$18,665

Frequently Asked Questions about St. Charles High School

How many students attend St. Charles High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,598 students attended St. Charles High School.

What schools feed into St. Charles High School?

St. Charles High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Arthur Middleton Elementary School
Elementary : Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary
Elementary : Eva Turner Elementary School
Elementary : Mary B. Neal Elementary School
Middle : Benjamin Stoddert Middle School

What district is St. Charles High School in?

Charles County Public Schools

Is St. Charles High School a good school?

St. Charles High School ranks in the bottom 4.1% of Maryland high schools.

What is the racial makeup of St. Charles High School?

Students at St. Charles High School are 72% African American, 13% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 6% White, 2% Asian.

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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.