Frederick County, known for its blend of modern developments and historical landmarks, has experienced significant growth in the last five years.
The county’s growth, largely due to its proximity to D.C and Baltimore and it’s affordability compared to nearby counties, raised concerns over school infrastructure and overcapacity. County officials and FCPS are taking these issues head on.
According to U.S. Census Bureau, from April 1, 2020 to July, 2023, Frederick County’s population grew by 8.0% at a population of 293,391 making it the fastest growing county in the state.
Compared to nearby Montgomery County which lost -0.3% and Carroll County at 2.2% in the same time period, this is a significant shift.
Although the official annual estimates for 2024 are not yet available, Frederick County already surpassed its 2025 population projection of 284,300 and the 2030 projection of 304,500 will likely arrive sooner than expected.
Following this trend, FCPS Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP) has also stated that enrollment increased by over 10%, making it the fastest growing public school system in the state.
In August 2023, on the radio show “Midday,” host Tom Hall, stated that in the summer of 2023 the county’s school board approved a $910 million budget for FCPS to address these issues.
During this discussion, Jessica Fitzwater, the county executive, affirmed the county’s increasing commitment to accommodate incoming students.
“As an educator myself with over 17 years of experience teaching in Frederick County Schools, I know how important it is to have high quality educators and to have class sizes and school buildings that set students up for success.” Fitzwater said on Midday.
The county’s most populous high schools, Frederick, Oakdale, Urbana and Walkersville exceed State Rated Capacity (SRC). In the next 10 years, Linganore, Oakdale and Urbana are expected to be at 121%, 164%, and 145% respectively by the next 10 years.
“Frederick County can no longer wait for the State. Oakdale Elementary School is projected to be over 170% of its capacity when it opens later this year,” the County Executive said to the county’s news release in July 2024. “I have a plan to lessen the impact of school overcrowding and new residential growth.”
In the same release, FCPS Board of Education President Karen Yoho approved the Fitzwater’s decision to address overcrowding in school by allocating funds through developers fees and using nearby land for temporary facilities.
“By leveraging existing resources and acquiring strategic land,” President Yoho said, “we are laying a solid foundation to meet the educational demands of our growing community.”
As Frederick County faces rapid population growth, joint efforts between county officials and FCPS to commit investments towards public education infrastructure is well under way. 
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