Charles County Board cites winter i‑Ready math gains, flags dropout rises at some schools

Charles County Board of Education members on March 11 were presented with winter i‑Ready assessment results showing significant math improvement across nearly all grades and heard concerns about rising dropout rates at a small number of schools.

Chief of teaching and learning Mr. Lowndes told the board many grades posted double‑digit gains from fall to winter in the 2024–25 school year and described interventions for students who are two or more grade levels behind, including targeted small‑group practice and regular educator data dives to determine next steps.

Board members were urged to encourage parents to review individual i‑Ready reports and make use of the resources included with the reports; parents who have questions were advised to contact their child’s teacher. Mr. Lowndes also presented an update on graduation rates, which he said remain above the state average overall, but the board discussed concerns about particular schools that have seen increased dropout rates.

Board discussion included the ninth‑grade tracker required by the district blueprint, which staff said helps schools identify students who are on track and those who may need additional support. Dr. Navarro noted that the proposed fiscal 2026 budget includes a request to expand counselor hours to assist with progress tracking and interventions.

No formal vote on the tracker or the staffing request was recorded at the March 11 meeting. Board members and district staff said they will continue to monitor the data and bring further recommendations to future meetings.