The graduation rates for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Class of 2025 revealed concerning trends, as fewer than 89% of students completed their high school education within four years. This figure marks a decline of approximately 3 percentage points from the previous year, according to the Maryland State Department of Education’s data released on Tuesday.
In total, 12,166 out of 13,705 students from the Class of 2025 graduated within this timeframe, reflecting a drop from the Class of 2024’s 92% graduation rate. This decrease is especially pronounced within MCPS, where the four-year graduation rate hit a five-year low, contrasting with a modest state-wide decline of 1.2 points.
Certain high schools in the district were significantly affected, most notably Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg, which experienced a nearly 10-point drop from about 92% to 83%. This school serves a diverse population, with approximately 61% of students identifying as Hispanic/Latino and about 66% of its students qualifying for free and reduced-price meals. Montgomery Blair High School also saw a decline, dropping by 8.3 percentage points to around 86% despite its historically high rates.
Brigid Howe, president of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs, pointed out that the Class of 2025 was in seventh grade during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have contributed to gaps in their academic preparedness. She emphasized the importance of focusing on core curriculum and academic excellence in response to these trends, expressing hope that the district’s attention would not be divided across too many initiatives.
The data also highlighted significant disparities among vulnerable student populations. The graduation rate for Hispanic/Latino students fell from 86% to nearly 79%, while multilingual learners saw a drop from 73% to around 67%. Moreover, students facing homelessness experienced an even steeper decline, with their graduation rate decreasing from almost 70% to 62%.
Maryland State Board of Education President Joshua Michael expressed concern over these declines, particularly among multilingual learners and Hispanic students. He noted that heightened political tensions regarding immigration have compounded the challenges these students face, affecting their sense of safety and belonging.
In a more positive light, some high schools, such as Walter Johnson High School, managed to maintain relatively high graduation rates—with only a slight decline—and even two schools, Rockville High School and John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents, saw increases in their graduation rates. The overall graduation rates for students with disabilities in the district also showed improvement, rising from 75% in the previous year to 76%.
Efforts are poised to continue as MCPS works to address these challenges and strive for improvements in graduation rates, particularly by focusing on the needs of at-risk student populations. The district’s commitment to academic excellence and equity underscores a hopeful outlook for future classes.