Ready to Reconnect: 2021-22 Year in Review

Ensuring a Safe Return to School

Prince George’s County Public Schools began the 2021-22 school year with most students returning to classrooms after two years of virtual and hybrid learning.

Although the majority of the school system’s 132,000 students returned to in-person learning, PGCPS served some students virtually. An innovative Online Campus launched as a new specialty program for approximately 500 seventh through 12th graders who thrived in the virtual learning environment. In addition, more than 10,000 kindergarten through sixth grade students were enrolled in a temporary virtual option; the program ended in January when the COVID-19 vaccine became available for children under age 12. 

To support safe learning and work environments, PGCPS implemented universal mask-wearing, COVID-19 vaccination and testing policies, sanitizing protocols and school vaccination clinics. Families were encouraged to allow their children to participate in weekly random testing to help track COVID-19 trends. Home test kits, KN95 masks, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer were also distributed to staff.

Class of 2021

The PGCPS four-year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate increased by 1.5 percentage points to nearly 78 percent for the Class of 2021 with 10 schools registering a graduation rate of more than 90 percent. 

According to Maryland State Department of Education data, the high school dropout rate fell to a five-year low with gains among several student groups, including a 4 percentage point-increase for Hispanic students. There were also increases among English language learners and students who come from families with low-income. High schools with graduation rate gains of three or more percentage points included High Point, Largo, Laurel, Northwestern, Potomac, International High School at Largo and College Park Academy.

Future engineers — Eleanor Roosevelt and Charles Herbert Flowers high schools are among the state's top producers of graduates accepted to the University of Maryland (UMD) A. James Clark School of Engineering, ranked 21st nationally among undergraduate engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report. 

Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2021— Honorees included stylist Zerina Akers (Suitland High School ‘04), attorney Laurie Robinson-Haden (Oxon Hill High School ‘90), filmmaker David E. Talbert (Central High School ‘84), retired educator and lawmaker Dr. Beatrice P. Tignor (Frederick Douglass High School ‘56), and Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams (Potomac High School ‘89). Kaiser Permanente and Prince George’s County Health Department jointly received the CEO’s Award of Excellence for providing employee vaccinations.

Class of 2022 

The Class of 2022 boasts approximately $200 million in scholarship awards and acceptances to hundreds of colleges and universities nationwide. This year’s highlights include the first graduates from the Online Campus and College Track at the Durant Center. The Online Campus launched in the fall as a new specialty program for seventh through 12th graders who thrived in the virtual learning environment. College Track at the Durant Center, which bears the name of NBA player Kevin Durant, provides scholarships, after-school tutoring and emotional and financial support to Suitland High School students all the way through college. 

• Charles Herbert Flowers High School reported more than $45 million in scholarships, the highest total in the school system.
• Eleanor Roosevelt High School senior Cora L. Jackson is a National Merit Scholarship finalist, receiving $2,500 in scholarship funds. 
• Twins Imrane Oumarou Ba and Mounira Oumarou Ba are valedictorian and salutatorian at Central High School. Their GPAs differed by just .04 (Imrane 4.53 and Mounira 4.49). Both will attend Louisiana State University.
• Seven seniors received the C.D. Mote Jr. Incentive Award, a full four-year scholarship to the University of Maryland: 
• Kimber Gonzalez Lopez, Academy of Health Sciences
• Babatunde Sanni, Charles Herbert Flowers High School
• Alyssa Hutchinson, College Park Academy 
• Lester Paz, DuVal High School
• Jeraldin Espana, Laurel High School)
• George Jamaldinian, Eleanor Roosevelt High School
• Maha Idsassi, Eleanor Roosevelt High School
• 12 seniors received four-year, full-tuition college scholarships from The Posse Foundation:
• Michèe Brika, Largo High School – Lewis & Clark College
• Christopher Brown, Bowie High School – University of Rochester
• Realyn Mae Del Campo, Parkdale High School – Bucknell University
• Aaron Dent, Oxon Hill High School – University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Samuel Grace-Conyers, Suitland High School – Sewanee: The University of the South
• Muna Kamara, Chesapeake Math & IT Academy – Bucknell University
• Jasmin Maldonado, Parkdale High School – Sewanee: The University of the South
• Daphne Nwobike, Charles H. Flowers High School – Sewanee: The University of the South
• Christianah Olufade, Eleanor Roosevelt High School – Lewis & Clark College
• Morgan Pringle, Chesapeake Math & IT Academy – Bucknell University
• Jimmi Rios, International High School at Langley Park – Lewis & Clark College
• Jefferson Turcios, Parkdale High School – University of Rochester
• Eleanor Roosevelt High School Truc Le, Ruhama Negussie and Princess-Nicole Thomas students among the recipients of college scholarships from the Carson Scholarship Fund for outstanding academic achievement and humanitarian qualities, joining nearly 600 students from across the country and five elementary and middle school students in PGCPS.