Press Release: PGCPS Graduation Rate Climbs Across All Student Groups

Historic gains for Hispanic and English Learner grads drive growth

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) saw a significant leap in its graduation rate, solidifying the district’s commitment to academic excellence and student success. The Class of 2024’s graduation rate jumped to 80.02% — rising by 5.6 percentage points from last year, a rate of improvement more than three times higher than the state’s overall growth.

This improvement underscores the district’s focus on breaking barriers, particularly for historically underserved student groups. 

• Hispanic students saw a nearly 12 percentage point increase in graduation rates, from 59.7% in 2023 to 71.3% in 2024. This improvement is even more pronounced given the smaller Hispanic cohort, dropping from 4,092 in 2023 to 3,476 in 2024, proving that targeted support is driving success.

• English Learners saw a 14.6 percentage point jump, climbing from 52.3% in 2023 to 66.9% in 2024. 

• Black or African American students also made modest gains, with their graduation rate increasing to 84.7%, building upon an already strong foundation.

“Our students are not just graduating at higher rates — they are defying the odds and proving that with the right support, anything is possible,” said Superintendent Millard House II. “This surge in success is a direct result of the hard work of our educators, students, families, and community partners.”

While Maryland’s statewide graduation rate rose by 1.8 percentage points to 87.6% (its highest level since 2017), PGCPS saw a much larger increase, highlighting the district’s substantial progress. Of the 759 additional graduates statewide, 251 (33%) were from Prince George’s County. Among multilingual learners, the state saw 499 more graduates, with 153 of them — nearly a third — coming from PGCPS.

PGCPS continues to refine its strategic initiatives, ensuring every student has the resources and support to excel. The district’s work is aligned with the broader goals of the state’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, aiming to provide equitable opportunities for academic success across the state.

For more details on graduation data, visit MDReportcard.org.