Education in Maryland
Maryland educates roughly 870,000 public K–12 students in an unusually simple structure: exactly 24 school systems — one for each of the state's 23 counties, plus Baltimore City — overseen by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the State Board. The largest systems, Montgomery County and Prince George's County, are among the biggest in the nation.
Maryland education in 2026 is defined by one thing above all: the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, a landmark 2021 reform law investing billions to expand pre-K, raise teacher pay, and build career pathways. Maryland also has limited private-school choice (the means-tested BOOST scholarship, but no ESA or voucher), mandates gifted education, and rates schools with a 1–5 star system. This guide walks through it all — for the student, the family, the school, and the educator — and points to the official source throughout.
Who must attend school
Maryland requires children ages 5 to 18 to attend school — an early start and a long compulsory window. A child who is 5 by September 1 is of compulsory age, continuing through 18. Attendance can be met through a public school, a nonpublic (private) school, or a home instruction program.
- Start age5 (by September 1)
- End of compulsory age18
- Systems24 (one per county + Baltimore City)
- Satisfying itPublic, nonpublic, or home instruction
Pre-K & the Blueprint
Expanding early childhood education is Pillar One of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Maryland is scaling up full-day prekindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds — prioritizing children from families with incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level — with a growing role for approved private and community providers (which must meet quality standards and enroll in Maryland EXCELS). The goal is broad, high-quality pre-K access statewide.
Maryland also runs Judy Centers (family engagement/early-learning hubs), Head Start, and Infants & Toddlers early-intervention programs. Availability is growing but not yet universal, so families should apply early. See our Kindergarten Readiness and Early Childhood toolkits, and check options with MSDE.
The 24 systems & charters
Maryland's 24 county-and-city school systems range from very large suburban districts to small rural ones. The largest are Montgomery County Public Schools and Prince George's County Public Schools (both among the nation's largest), followed by Baltimore County, Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, and Howard County. A notable feature: Maryland has a relatively weak charter-school law — charters are public schools authorized by local boards with limited autonomy, and there are few of them (concentrated mainly in Baltimore).
Public-school choice within systems (magnet programs, transfers) varies by county. Find Maryland public and charter schools in our schools directory.
Private & independent schools in Maryland
Maryland has a large private-school sector, concentrated in the Baltimore area and the Washington suburbs, spanning:
- Independent schoolsNonprofit, board-governed schools such as Gilman School, McDonogh, Bryn Mawr, and the Park School (Baltimore), and Landon, Holton-Arms, and Bullis (Washington suburbs)
- Catholic & parochial schoolsA large network across the Archdiocese of Baltimore (the nation's oldest) and the Archdiocese of Washington — including Loyola Blakefield, Calvert Hall, and the Jesuit Georgetown Prep
- Other religious schoolsQuaker (Friends), Jewish, Christian, and other faith-based schools
- Specialty schoolsMontessori, Waldorf, and schools for specific learning needs
Maryland requires nonpublic schools to be approved/registered with the state (through the Maryland State Department of Education), and accreditation is otherwise voluntary — many independent schools belong to the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS) or are accredited through Middle States. Maryland's BOOST scholarship helps some lower-income students attend nonpublic schools. Families should ask about a school's accreditation, curriculum, and outcomes directly.
How choice works in Maryland
Maryland has limited private-school choice. Its main program is BOOST (Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today) — a state-funded scholarship for lower-income students to attend participating nonpublic schools (funded by an annual state appropriation, and means-tested). Maryland has no ESA or voucher program, and its charter sector is small.
- BOOST scholarshipsMeans-tested awards for low-income students to attend nonpublic schools
- No ESA/voucherMaryland has no universal private-choice program
- ChartersFew, with limited autonomy (mostly in Baltimore)
- Public optionsMagnet programs and transfers vary by county
So Maryland choice centers on public options within each county system, homeschooling, and BOOST for eligible lower-income families. See our School Types toolkit for how these compare.
Homeschooling in Maryland
Maryland offers two ways to homeschool, with a moderate level of oversight in each:
- Supervised by the local school systemNotify your county school system, then have the district review a portfolio of your child's work twice a year (at the end of each semester) to confirm regular, thorough instruction.
- Supervised by an approved umbrellaHomeschool under a state-approved nonpublic school or organization (such as a church or private-school "umbrella"), which supervises your program instead of the local district.
Either way, you provide regular, thorough instruction in the required subjects (English, math, science, social studies, arts, health, and physical education). Maryland homeschool parents set their own curriculum and graduation approach and issue their own credentials. See our Homeschooling toolkit, and review the options with your county system and the MSDE.
The MCAP
Maryland public schools use the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) — testing English language arts and mathematics (grades 3–8) and, in high school, English 10, Algebra I, Government, and Biology (MISA), with the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) also given in grades 5 and 8. Entering kindergartners are assessed with the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA).
Homeschooled students are not part of the MCAP. See the MSDE assessment pages for current details.
Earning a Maryland high school diploma
Maryland's high school diploma requires a state minimum of 21 credits — generally 4 English, 3 mathematics, 3 science, 3 social studies, 1 fine arts, 1 technology education, health and physical education, and electives. A distinctive Maryland requirement is student service-learning: students must complete 75 hours of service-learning (or a locally approved program) to graduate. Students also participate in the required MCAP assessments.
- State minimum21 credits
- Service-learning75 hours required (a Maryland hallmark)
- MCAP assessmentsRequired participation
- Local additionsCounties may require more
Special education & gifted
Maryland serves students with disabilities under the federal IDEA, providing eligible students a free appropriate public education through an IEP in the least restrictive environment, with full procedural safeguards (mediation and due process) overseen by the MSDE. Maryland also provides early intervention through its Infants & Toddlers program.
Maryland requires gifted and talented education: state law directs districts to identify gifted and talented students and provide appropriately differentiated programs and services (implementation varies by county). See our Special Education and Gifted & Talented toolkits, and verify with the MSDE.
Maryland's star ratings
Rather than assigning A–F letter grades, Maryland rates each public school with a rating of one to five stars on the Maryland School Report Card, based on multiple measures — including academic achievement and growth, progress in English-language proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and (for high schools) graduation rate and readiness. The star rating gives an at-a-glance signal while the report card shows the details.
As always, a star rating is a starting point, not the whole story — visit schools and look deeper (see our Choosing the Right School toolkit). Explore the Maryland School Report Card, and find schools in our directory.
Immunizations & school entry
To enroll in a Maryland school, students must show proof of required immunizations per the schedule set by the Maryland Department of Health, or a valid exemption. Requirements follow the state schedule, with additional doses at certain grades (including 7th-grade entry).
Maryland allows medical exemptions and religious exemptions (via a signed statement) — it does not offer a broad personal-belief/philosophical exemption. Confirm current requirements with the Maryland Department of Health and your county school system before enrolling.
State grants & the Community College Promise
Maryland's main need-based programs are the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance and Guaranteed Access Grants — for eligible Maryland students at in-state colleges. Maryland also offers the Community College Promise Scholarship (which can make community college tuition-free for eligible students) and Senatorial and Delegate Scholarships awarded through legislators, all administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).
Students apply by filing the FAFSA (or the Maryland State Financial Aid Application) by the state deadline (typically March 1). Use our Net Price, SAI Estimator, and Award Letter tools to plan costs, and see programs at mhec.maryland.gov.
Colleges & universities in Maryland
Maryland's public higher education centers on the University System of Maryland (USM) — 12 institutions, including the flagship University of Maryland, College Park, UMBC, Towson, Salisbury, and historically Black institutions such as Bowie State and UMES — plus the independent Morgan State University (a historically Black university) and St. Mary's College of Maryland (a public honors college). Maryland's 16 community colleges add associate degrees, workforce training, and transfer pathways.
Maryland is also home to prominent private institutions (Johns Hopkins among them). Explore Maryland's colleges and universities in our directory.
Becoming a teacher in Maryland
Maryland certifies teachers through the MSDE, and candidates must pass the required Praxis examinations after completing an approved preparation program. A major current focus: the Blueprint's push to raise teacher pay and build a career ladder, along with Grow Your Own and Registered Teacher Apprenticeship pathways that help school staff become licensed teachers.
Maryland also provides reciprocity for many out-of-state educators. See our Teacher Certification, Praxis, and Job & Interview Tips for Educators toolkits, and the MSDE certification pages for specifics.
Where to get the authoritative details
Requirements change — this guide is a well-organized starting point, not the final authority. For the current, official word, go straight to the source:
Also essential: your county (or Baltimore City) school system office (for enrollment and options), the BOOST program, your school counselor, and the K12 Academics toolkits linked throughout this page.