Executive Summary

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) shows a district with notable strengths in educator quality and Blueprint governance, alongside areas where early childhood capacity and student support outcomes still need attention. The Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) approved all seven 2024 Blueprint plan components on November 21, 2024^[1], and approved the 2025 Career Ladder with no further revisions on November 20, 2025^[2]. Teacher quality is the district's strongest pillar, rated Exceeds: the minimum teacher salary of $61,071 exceeds the $60,000 requirement^[1], and new National Board Certification (NBC) achievements grew from 0 in 2021-22 to 64 in 2024-25, with NBPTS ranking WCPS 8th nationally for newly certified NBCTs^[3].

College and career readiness and governance are both rated Meets. Grades 3-8 ELA proficiency reached 53.7% in 2025-26, up from 47.6% in 2021-22, and grades 3-8 math proficiency rose to 32.2% from 28.0%^[1]. The district's career counseling program is backed by an AIB-approved MOU, 18 career coaches, 86 external partners, and post-graduation plans for 100% of grade 12 students^[4]. On governance, WCPS exceeded aggregate minimum school funding in all eight program categories in FY25^[5] and expanded its accounting code structure from about 5,000 to 70,000 codes to track spending at the school level^[5].

Two pillars are rated Approaching. In early childhood education, total Pre-K enrollment of 1,094 in 2025-26 is down from a peak of 1,172 in 2023-24, and facility capacity limits public three-year-old enrollment^[1]. In student resources, community schools grew from 7 to 18 between SY21-22 and SY24-25 and community school proficiency improved, but chronic absenteeism rose to 29.0% in 2024-25 from 26.9% the prior year^[1]. Priorities for the coming year include retaining teachers (74.4% against a 77.5% target)^[1], accelerating upper-elementary math, and documenting tiered attendance and behavioral health supports.