The reported proficiency rate for Science is 31%.
Original Research by School Decision on La Plata High School
La Plata High School is a regular public high school serving ninth through twelfth grades in the town of La Plata, which is the county seat of Charles County. The school belongs to the Charles County Public Schools system, the only district in the county, so there are no other district peers within the county to set a context for comparison. It is not a charter or magnet school.
On state assessments from the most recent testing year, the school’s academic picture is uneven. A majority of students are meeting standards in English language arts, a fairly solid result that suggests the core literacy instruction is working for most. In mathematics, however, the proficiency rate is quite low, with far fewer students reaching the bar. This is a soft spot that parents should investigate further with the school, because low math performance at the high school level can limit options for college and careers. The school also has a science assessment result from a test taken by students in an earlier grade than the high school band; that result is from outside the school’s normal grade span and may not reflect current high school performance, so families may want to ask the school for more recent high school science data.
The student body is relatively large, spanning all four high school grades. Racially, the majority of students are white, with a substantial Black population, a smaller Hispanic share, and a modest multiracial group. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, placing the school in a moderately low-income context. The data does not include counts for students with disabilities or English learners, so those dimensions of student support are not available here; families with specific needs should check with the school directly.
Because Charles County is a single-district county, no within-county comparison to neighboring districts is possible. The school’s performance and profile stand on their own.
La Plata itself is an auto-oriented town centered on U.S. Route 301, with a downtown core that includes a town hall, a twice-weekly farmers’ market, shops, and restaurants. Major employers include Charles County government, the regional medical center, the main campus of the College of Southern Maryland just outside town, and large retail stores at the north edge. The town underwent a major downtown reconstruction after a tornado, producing new public buildings including a LEED-certified town hall. Home values and rents are above the state average, making this a relatively expensive place for families to live, reflecting its location within commuting distance of Washington D.C., Waldorf, and military bases.
No data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or course access was available. The school’s graduation rate is also not reported, which is a notable gap for a high school; families should ask the school for that figure and for details on postsecondary pathways. The district brief found no recent parent-relevant changes affecting the school.
La Plata High School provides a standard comprehensive high school education in a growing commuter town. Its strongest academic area is English language arts; math proficiency is a clear concern that warrants close attention. The absence of several key data points means families should supplement this overview with direct inquiries and visits to the school.
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