Chesapeake Charter School

20945 Great Mills Road
Lexington Park, MD 20653

Charter School 539 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Chesapeake Charter School, located on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, Maryland, is a public charter school serving students in grades K–8. As part of the St. Mary’s County Public School system, the school operates on a philosophy that emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning and a strong connection to the local environment and community. It is known for its commitment to the "EL Education" (formerly Expeditionary Learning) model, which prioritizes critical thinking, character development, and academic achievement through long-term, inquiry-based projects.

The school is distinct for its focus on integrated, thematic instruction that encourages students to see the relevance of their studies in the real world. By fostering a collaborative classroom culture and an inclusive environment, Chesapeake Charter aims to develop students who are not only academically proficient but also engaged, responsible citizens. Its location in Lexington Park allows the school to leverage the unique cultural and geographic assets of Southern Maryland, often incorporating local history and ecology into its broader curriculum.

539

Total Students

38.0

Full-Time Teachers

14.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

26.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Chesapeake Charter School
Demographic	Student Count
White	326
Hispanic	33
Black	89
Asian	21
Two or More	69
American Indian	1

White
326 (60.5%)
Black
89 (16.5%)
Two or More
69 (12.8%)
Hispanic
33 (6.1%)
Asian
21 (3.9%)
American Indian
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	St. Mary's County Public Schools
Phone:	(301)863-9585
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	539
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	38.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	104
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	41

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 54

Grade 1 61

Grade 2 63

Grade 3 65

Grade 4 63

Grade 5 63

Grade 6 56

Grade 7 61

Grade 8 53