DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Headed by the Superintendent of Schools, the Department of Education oversees three divisions: Fiscal Services and Human Resources; Instruction; and Supporting Services.St. Mary's County Public Schools include: 4 high schools, 5 middle schools, 19 elementary schools, 1 career and technology center, and alternative learning centers and programs. In Fiscal Year 2025, some 16,905 students were enrolled in the County's public schools.
With the approval of the State Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education appoints the County Superintendent of Schools to four-year terms.
DIVISION OF SUPPORTING SERVICES
Wellness & Aquatics Center (Building D), Leonardtown Campus, College of Southern Maryland, Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Maryland, November 2017. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
As a subunit of the University System of Maryland, the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland is governed by the University System's Board of Regents.
Based in California, Maryland, the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland offers graduate degree and certificate programs, as well as upper-level undergraduate programs, for the tri-county region encompassing Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties.
The Executive Director of the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland is appointed by the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland.
Although the Board of Advisors serves as an advisory body to the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland, it has no legal or fiduciary responsibility for its operation. The Board's charge is to advise the Executive Director of the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland, and through that position the University System of Maryland, on the education and economic needs of the region, and how the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland can best meet those needs. Further, the Board assists in community relations, assists in institutional development, and provides other forms of assistance as requested by the Executive Director.
The Board consists of no fewer than twenty, and no more than thirty members. Appointed by the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, Board members serve three-year terms. The Board chooses the Chair (MOU, Jan. 31, 2018; Bylaws, approved Oct. 17, 2023).
Former St. Mary's County Library System building, 23250 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Maryland, November 2017. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
CHARLOTTE HALL LIBRARY
LEONARDTOWN LIBRARY
Leonardtown Library, 23630 Hayden Farm Lane, Leonardtown, Maryland, July 2020. Photo courtesy of Department of Aging & Human Services, St. Mary's County.
LEXINGTON PARK LIBRARY
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SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
The Superintendent of Schools administers the St. Mary's County Public School System (Code Education Article, secs. 4-102; 4-201 through 4-206).
The Division of Supporting Services formerly was called the Division of Schools and Operations. It reorganized under its present name in 2015.
COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND
![[photo, Wellness and Aquatics Center (Building D), Leonardtown Campus, College of Southern Maryland, Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/sm/images/1198-1-08317c.jpg)
The College of Southern Maryland is the community college for southern Maryland. In St. Mary's County, the Leonardtown Campus of the College of Southern Maryland originated in 1978 when St. Mary's Community College was established at Great Mills High School. The Community College moved to its present site in 1997, and merged to become the Leonardtown Campus of the College of Southern Maryland on July 1, 2000.
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND AT SOUTHERN MARYLAND
The University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland began as the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. In response to the expanded role of the U.S. Navy at the Patuxent Naval Air Station, the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center was authorized by the General Assembly in 1994 (Chapter 282, Acts of 1994; Code Education Article, secs. 24-301 through 24-309). On January 31, 2018, the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland and the Chair of the Center's Board of Governors signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which placed the Center within the System to create the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (MOU, Jan. 31, 2018). This merger took effect on March 1, 2019 (Chapter 402, Acts of 2018).
BOARD OF ADVISORS
The Board of Advisors to the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland originated as the Board of Governors of the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center in 1994 (Chapter 282, Acts of 1994). In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding that merged the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center with the University System of Maryland, the Board of Governors was dissolved and replaced by the Board of Advisors on March 1, 2019 (Chapter 402, Acts of 2018; MOU, Jan. 31, 2018).
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Based in Leonardtown, the St. Mary's County Public Library has branch libraries in Charlotte Hall and Lexington Park.
BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
For the St. Mary's County Public Library, the Board of Library Trustees sets policy.
![[photo, St. Mary's County Library System, 23250 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/sm/images/1198-1-08359b.jpg)
The Board's seven members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to five-year terms. Annually, the Board chooses the President (Code Education Article, secs. 23-401; 23-403 through 23-407).
37600 New Market Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622
23630 Hayden Farm Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650
![[photo, Leonardtown Library, 23630 Hayden Farm Lane, Leonardtown, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/sm/images/1198-1-10654b.jpg)
In April 2020, the Leonardtown branch moved from 23250 Hollywood Road into a new building at 23630 Hayden Farm Lane, Leonardtown. Due to COVID-19 restrictions the new library did not open to the public until June 2020.
21677 FDR Blvd., Lexington Park, MD 20653
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