The opening of Margaret J. Thornton Elementary School at the start of the 2025-2026 school year spurs the need for elementary school redistricting. This redistricting will create an attendance zone for a school while addressing overcrowding issues at existing schools.

When redistricting, Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) looks at a school’s capacity, the impact of the educational program quality of affected schools, student enrollment trends, the age and/or condition of school buildings involved in the redistricting and financial considerations. Other considerations include transportation, the division of neighborhoods and financial factors such as operating costs per student.

Redistricting committee members were announced — after being randomly selected — at the Oct. 10, 2023, Board of Education meeting. There was a public information meeting 1at St. Charles High School on Oct. 25. Committee members include parents, community members and school principals who are supported by county government planners and CCPS staff. After meeting weekly to develop and finalize two alternatives, the committee shared its recommendations with the Board at the March 12 Board meeting.

Two public hearings will be held to gather feedback. The first will be 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, St. Charles at 5350 Piney Church Road in Waldorf. The second public hearing is set for 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, at Thomas Stone High School at 3785 Leonardtown Road in Waldorf. To view the committee’s redistricting plans, visit the CCPS redistricting website.

The redistricting committee’s Alternative A — which will move 567 existing CCPS students — has the state-rated capacity for Thornton at 778 students with an opening enrollment projected at 536 students. The projected enrollment at the school by the 2028-2029 school year is 629 students. Alternative A will shift students from Billingsley, Malcolm, Mary H. Matula, Arthur Middleton Mary B. Neal, J.P. Ryon and other elementary schools to create an attendance zone for Thornton.

The committee’s Alternative B moves 1,044 existing CCPS students and has Thornton’s state-rated capacity at 778 students for the 2025-2026 school year with 618 students at the start of 2025-2026 and a projected 731 students by the beginning of the 2028-2029 school year. Alternative B will shift students from Berry, Billingsley, William A. Diggs, Mary H. Matula, T.C. Martin, Arthur Middleton, Walter J. Mitchell, J.P. Ryon, William B. Wade and other elementary schools others to create an attendance zone for Thornton.

Superintendent of Schools Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., will make her redistricting recommendation to the Board during the May 21 Board meeting with a public hearing on her recommendation set for May 22. The Board will vote to approve a redistricting plan at its June 11 Board meeting.

About the school

Margaret J. Thornton Elementary School is the 23rd elementary school in Charles County. The 91,000-square foot school is currently under construction in White Plains at 5860 St. David Drive, within the new Highlands neighborhood development. It was named for the late Margaret Jamieson Thornton, an advocate of early childhood education and one of CCPS’s first kindergarten teachers.

Email ideas and comments about redistricting to redistrict@ccboe.com.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).