LA PLATA, Md. — Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) reported steady progress in student achievement and participation during the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, with Superintendent Maria V. Navarro citing improvements on state assessments and a record increase in students taking Advanced Placement exams. Board members also heard from school leaders about new state standards set to take effect next year that will reshape reading and math instruction across all grade levels.
Navarro said more than 27,000 students are enrolled this fall, with the school year beginning Aug. 25. Early data show gains across the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) in grades 3 through 8, as well as in Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry. The strongest increases came in third-, fifth- and seventh-grade math and in English language arts for third and seventh grades, along with English II.
Although CCPS scores remain slightly below the state average, Navarro said the district is “moving in an upward direction toward more students demonstrating proficiency.”
The system also saw an increase in Advanced Placement participation. Nearly 600 more students took AP exams in 2024-25, and 59% of the more than 3,500 test-takers earned a score of 3 or higher, qualifying them for college credit.
Revised Standards Will Reshape Math, Add Daily Instruction Requirement
Kevin Lowndes, the school system’s chief of teaching and learning, and Steve Roberts, director of accountability, briefed the board on student performance results and outlined upcoming state standards. The 2024-25 school year marked the final round of testing under the current Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (MCCRS) framework. On July 29, 2025, the Maryland State Board of Education adopted the revised MCCRS for mathematics and English language arts, with implementation beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
The revisions align with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the state’s sweeping education reform plan, which requires all students to demonstrate college and career readiness by the end of 10th grade.
Lowndes said the math changes will be especially significant. Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II will be consolidated into two integrated courses, and schools must provide 60 minutes of math instruction daily — adjustments that will require schedule changes in elementary and middle schools.
Lowndes said the state’s revisions will require major adjustments in math. “The math is a little bit more of a major adjustment because they are consolidating Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II into two courses,” Lowndes told the board. “Instead of offering it over three years where each one is an individual course, it’s going to be a combination of courses, two combination courses.”
He said the restructuring is intended to better align future math courses with students’ career interests but acknowledged the transition will not be simple. “And the reasons why they’re doing that is because then they want the next math to be more aligned with what a child’s career aspirations are,” he told the board.
Charles Schools to Host Virtual State of the Schools on Oct. 16
Navarro encouraged families to mark their calendars for Thursday, Oct. 16, when she will host a Virtual State of the Schools address at 7 p.m. The event will be held on Zoom and livestreamed on the CCPS website at www.ccboe.com.
During the presentation, she will outline the new 2025-29 strategic plan, which focuses on student achievement and college and career readiness; safe and inclusive learning environments; employee recruitment and retention; and family and community engagement.
Community members may ask questions live or through the Zoom chat. A Spanish interpreter will be available, and a recording of the event will be posted online afterward.
Charles County Virtual State of the Schools Event
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 | 7 p.m.
Click for Zoom link (active account required)
The event will also livestream on the CCPS website at www.ccboe.com.
See the complete Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program and Advanced Placement presentation here.
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Notice no mention of History/Social Studies (aka. indoctrination), nor Science.
Hmm!