2024 Best Preschools in Maryland

Everything You Need to Know About Navigating preschools In Maryland

Preschool can be a very informative time for special little one's, as they take their first step at socializing daily with other small children on a daily basis. Spread across various cities like Baltimore and Rockville, the state of Maryland has an impressive amount of preschools to choose from, the current total is 1400. That calculates to be about 42% more than the average state. When adjusted for population, Maryland has about 1% fewer preschools per capita, so it does not stray too far from the average. Although not perfect, preschools on average in the state score a B which matches the national average. The preschools in Maryland have an average enrollment of 373 students, just above the national average by about 1%. This suggests that Maryland may offer slightly larger options for families than other states. It’s worth noting that almost half of all preschools in Maryland (41%) have an enrollment above the national average, meaning that active parents have access to approximately 573 above-average options. Furthermore, Maryland boasts a student-to-teacher ratio of 13 to 1, which is 7% lower than the average class size in most states. Since the ratio is lower than average, this may contribute to superior academic outcomes, as research shows a correlation between individual attention from teachers and student achievement.

Key Facts About Public preschools in Maryland

Jumping now into public schools, which make up 63% of all schools in the state, there are about 882 school options. Most preschools in the nation are around 400 Students, and in the state of Maryland, the typical public school is about 28% larger than the national average, with the average public preschool having about 474 students in the state. The state’s public schools in aggregate score a B–, but that's not much to be concerned with as it aligns with the national average.

Traditional public preschools

The largest type of public school in the state (and in the nation) traditional public schools, in other words those that are not charter, or magnet, or otherwise specialized. There are several hundred of those (831 to be exact), and they also score better than the national average in the state of Maryland, hailing a grade of a B on average. Traditional schools make up about 94% of all public schools. Among those 800+ schools, about 54% are rated above the national average. Although metrics like this shouldn't be the only input into a family's decision, it can be helpful to know that this 54% equates to about 448 different preschools that are scored above the national average in the state, so there's still plenty of great options. It's also worth noting that the typical traditional public school is likewise a bit larger than most preschools, those in Maryland are about 28% larger for example.

Maryland's Top Traditional Public Preschool: Stone Mill Elementary School

In North Potomac, Maryland parents will find Stone Mill Elementary School which is widely considered one of the best traditional public preschools in the state. Stone Mill elementary is highly lauded for its rigorous academic standards combined with its commitment to fostering a great learning environment for its students. With an enrollment of around 521 students and a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1, Stone Mill elementary provides its students individualized attention from teachers and staff alike. Parents often applaud Stone Mills education approach making it top choice for families seeking quality education in Maryland . Another great option if you're set on going traditional is Carderock Springs Elementary School. The school is located in Bethesda and has an enviable student count totaling 319 students with a low student to faculty ratio of 13:1 (which beats national averages by 7%).

All About Charter Preschools in Maryland

Another common type of public school nationally is the charter school. Although these are far less common than traditional public schools, there are still 36 available options in the state. That puts Maryland down at 31st per capita which means there’s only 32% fewer charter schools per capita than there are on average nationally Unfortunately this district wide performance has resulted in an overall C grade – significantly lower than most states nationally which manage at least a B– rating on average. Although difficult to say exactly why this may be due to some charters schools having larger class sizes – such as their 42 % higher than normal enrollment, typically clocking around 526 students per school on average. Fortunately even with this data, parents can still find 19% of charters scoring above national averages – giving them 7 great options when selecting their child's education.

What is The Best Charter Preschool In Maryland?

In terms of which charter school option wins out amongst its peers , Chesapeake Charter School is perhaps best rated. For starters, Chesapeake has earned itself a solid A– grade despite having slightly larger class sizes (13:1) , still beating nationwide averages by seven percent . Although located further south towards Lexington Park, Chesapeake seems to be well worth considering if you're looking for an alternative public education.