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MD 68 eb in St. James (2), July 2025Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0
B
Schools in St. James · Washington County Public Schools

St. James’s public schools outscore 64% of Maryland districts

The grade covers the public school district serving St. 28% of students in St. James’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Maryland average (25%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Maryland, not nationally.

#93of 261 Maryland townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Maryland state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
49%
▲ 4 pts vs MD 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▲ 3 pts vs MD 25%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 5 pts vs MD 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.5K
▼ 14% vs MD $20.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.1
MD 14.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
2
12,525 students on the public path
In brief

St. James’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 28% in spring 2022, against 45% and 25% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,516 per student, against $20,258 across Maryland (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then eight middle and eight high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. James School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind St. James’s grade

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 64% of Maryland school districts, #93 of 261 Maryland towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Maryland average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Maryland school districts we grade (25)Better than 64%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maryland towns with similar household incomes (196)Better than 62%
BB+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 10,861 test results and a graduating class of 1,687 could put St. James anywhere from B to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of St. James’s students in the tested grades sat them (10,827 in math, 10,895 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve St. James, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Rockland Woods ElementaryWashington County Public SchoolsB−
6–88 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to B+
9–128 high schoolsDepends on your addressB to A+

St. James’s public schools are run by Washington County Public Schools, which also serves Boonsboro, Clear Spring, Funkstown and Hagerstown and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Washington County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 42 schools · 22,772 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 15.1 per teacher (MD 14.5)
$17,516MD $20,258 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading49%
State average 45.1% · 10895 students tested
Math28%
State average 24.6% · 10827 students tested

St. James vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Maryland towns that share St. James’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
St. JamesBWashington County

Every school in St. James

17 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Maryland’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in St. Jamesby address
Rockland Woods Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Hagerstown
B−
655 students15:1Rate it →
Also serving St. Jamesin other towns
Western Heights Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hagerstown
C+
883 students12:1Rate it →
E. Russell Hicks Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hagerstown
B−
841 students14:1Rate it →
Northern Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hagerstown
B−
841 students14:1Rate it →
Springfield Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Williamsport
B
808 students16:1Rate it →
Boonsboro Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Boonsboro
B+
673 students17:1Rate it →
Smithsburg Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Smithsburg
B
554 students16:1Rate it →
Clear Spring Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Clear Spring
B
301 students13:1Rate it →
Hancock Middle Senior High
High · Grades 6–12 · Hancock
B
239 students11:1Rate it →
South Hagerstown High
High · Grades 9–12 · Hagerstown
A
1,690 students18:1Rate it →
North Hagerstown High
High · Grades 9–12 · Hagerstown
A
1,583 students19:1Rate it →
Williamsport High
High · Grades 9–12 · Williamsport
A
1,061 students18:1Rate it →
Boonsboro High
High · Grades 9–12 · Boonsboro
A
838 students16:1Rate it →
Smithsburg High
High · Grades 9–12 · Smithsburg
A+
733 students18:1Rate it →
Clear Spring High
High · Grades 9–12 · Clear Spring
A+
478 students17:1Rate it →
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
High · Grades 9–12 · Hagerstown
A+
347 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. James School
High · Grades 8–12 · Hagerstown
Private · Religious
240 students8:1Rate it →

Questions about St. James’s schools

Are St. James’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Maryland: the public schools St. James children attend outscore 64% of Maryland’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #93 of 261 Maryland towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 62%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is St. James in?

Washington County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 22,772 students in 42 schools (2024–25).

Where do St. James kids go to high school?

One of 8 high schools, depending on your address: South Hagerstown High, North Hagerstown High, Williamsport High, Boonsboro High, Smithsburg High, Clear Spring High, Barbara Ingram School for the Arts and Hancock Middle Senior High.

What is St. James’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Washington County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across Maryland.

How much does St. James spend per student?

$17,516 in Washington County Public Schools (FY2024), against $20,258 across Maryland. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in St. James?

Yes: St. James School (religious, grades 8–12, 240 students).

Parents talk

What St. James families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near St. James → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Maryland. Stars are from neighbors.