BALTIMORE, MD—Nearly 890,000 students across Maryland are heading back to classrooms as the 2025-26 school year officially began on Wednesday, August 20 with Frederick and St. Mary’s counties being the first to open their doors. The remaining 22 school systems will follow in phases through September 2nd.
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is focusing on three key areas for the new academic year: regular student attendance, academic achievement and robust support for teachers and school leaders.
“As we begin this new school year, I want to thank our educators, school leaders, families, and community partners for their dedication and collaboration,” said Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools. “From the first day of school to the last, our mission is to prepare Maryland students for life beyond our classrooms through strong teaching, learning, and leadership.”
Dr. Joshua L. Michael, President of the State Board of Education, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our goal is to continue building a world-class public education system. The dawn of the new school year represents such great potential for our children and our young people.”
MSDE also announced that it will release results from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) next week, which will evaluate student progress and identify areas for improvement.
“We are proud of the gains Maryland students made last year,” Dr. Wright added. “This year, we will build on that momentum.”
Here’s a breakdown of when Maryland school systems are scheduled to begin classes:
- Wednesday, August 20: Frederick, St. Mary’s
- Monday, August 25: Anne Arundel*, Baltimore City, Baltimore, Charles, Howard, Kent*, Queen Anne’s*, Talbot, Washington
- Tuesday, August 26: Calvert, Montgomery, Prince George’s
- Wednesday, August 27: Allegany
- Tuesday, September 2: Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Dorchester*, Garrett, Harford, Somerset, Wicomico*, Worcester
*Note: Asterisks denote staggered openings for certain grades.
Photo via Pixabay
