Press Release: Promising Student Gains Mark Start of 2025-26 School Year in PGCPS
August 26, 2025
For Immediate Release
CONTACT:
Office of Communications
301-952-6001
communications@pgcps.org
New leadership, rising achievement signal upward momentum.
UPPER MARLBORO, MD — On Tuesday, August 26, more than 130,000 students returned to Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) as the 2025–26 school year began with fresh momentum and a focus on accelerating growth for every learner. Newly released Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) results — coinciding with the first day of school — show steady gains in reading and math, with especially strong progress among multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
“These results send a powerful message — our students are moving forward,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph. “It’s the best way to start a school year and the perfect moment to push harder. For multilingual learners and students with disabilities, that means high expectations, excellent instruction, and systems designed to deliver results. Our goal is to meet every student where they are and ensure they make measurable progress.”
To highlight the academic momentum, Dr. Joseph — joined by County and district leaders — visited several schools that posted significant MCAP gains. Some of these campuses are designated Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools that have historically struggled, making their progress especially noteworthy.
At District Heights Elementary School, English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rose 12% and math 5%, with multilingual learners achieving double-digit growth in literacy. Andrew Jackson K-8 Academy posted one of the district’s strongest year-over-year ELA gains, climbing 13% — a result the school attributes to focused community partnerships. Crossland High School students recorded a 12% jump in math proficiency and continued a multi-year upward trend in graduation rates. Catherine T. Reed Elementary, recognized for success and innovation serving special education students, posted gains of 11% in math and 8% in ELA.
Third grade teachers at Catherine T. Reed Elementary were recognized for their role in student MCAP gains.
Dr. Joseph closed the day at two high schools aligned with his school year priorities: boosting attendance and advancing multilingual learners. Largo High School reduced chronic absenteeism by more than 11%, and the International High School at Largo improved literacy proficiency for multilingual learners by 6%.
This academic growth comes at a pivotal moment, as PGCPS implements key elements of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future while also launching a new multi-year strategic planning process centered on academic excellence, equity, innovation and whole-child development.
Academic Achievement & Innovation
PGCPS enters the new school year with a sharp academic charge: accelerate learning, act early and ensure resources, leadership and instruction are aligned for impact — especially in schools that have historically struggled. Several of these campuses are now part of the new Innovation Zone, a focused improvement initiative that pairs proven principals with greater resource flexibility, targeted supports for multilingual learners and students with disabilities, and real-time data monitoring to speed progress.
Short-term benchmarks and formative assessments are now central to measuring and responding to student learning.
“We can’t wait until May to find out a student didn’t master a concept in September,” Dr. Joseph said. “Real-time data must drive real-time action.”
Twenty-four schools identified as consistently underperforming will receive targeted support beginning with proven principals, sustained coaching, and strengthened operational assistance. A new Associate Superintendent for Innovation and Performance will lead improvement efforts across high-need campuses.
The district is also reviewing Title I and Community School resource use with a focus on transparency and measurable outcomes, and has introduced real-time dashboards — soon to include an additional public-facing dashboard offering a performance snapshot highlighting academic outcomes and school climate measures, with an emphasis on growth and gains, for every school.
Community-Centered Leadership
Dr. Joseph’s 100-Day Plan includes countywide community sessions — nine virtual sessions completed in July and nine in-person sessions underway — to elevate stakeholder voices. Feedback will directly shape the new strategic plan.
Transportation Improvements
PGCPS begins the school year navigating a bus driver shortage — part of a national trend — that is expected to cause delays and longer travel times for some students. To help families plan, the district launched a new online portal with regularly updated route and delay information. The district is also piloting a new mobile app offering real-time bus tracking and arrival alerts, ahead of a wider rollout later this year.
New School Construction
PGCPS recently broke ground on Hyattsville Elementary School and Brandywine Area 3-8, part of the second phase of the Blueprint Schools initiative. These projects join four other Blueprint Phase II schools already in progress with staggered delivery of eight total schools through 2028.
Ribbon-cutting at Andrew Jackson K-8 Academy with partner Heart of America — the first of 47 across the district!