Maurice J. Mcdonough High School

Maurice J. McDonough High School describes its approach as educating all students in a safe, supportive, and challenging environment, with equal access to opportunities regardless of background. The school emphasizes developing the whole student through academic growth, self-knowledge, responsibility, respect for others, and well-being, while offering varied coursework and programs that support different needs, interests, and paces of learning. It also stresses college and career preparation through equity, creativity, collaboration, and a well-rounded curriculum.

For regular enrollment, Maurice J. McDonough High School is a zoned Charles County public high school rather than a competitive-admissions school: families of new students assigned to McDonough should complete CCPS online registration first, and after the information is confirmed, the school contacts the parent/guardian to schedule a registration appointment. (mcdonough.ccboe.com) At the appointment, the school says families should bring a parent/guardian photo ID, two current proofs of domicile within the McDonough attendance zone, the student’s immunization record, birth certificate, academic record, and any IEP/504 documents; CCPS also requires a physical exam, proof of required immunizations, proof of prior grade completion, and proof of the enrolling adult’s relationship to the student. (mcdonough.ccboe.com) No fixed general enrollment deadline was posted for McDonough, but the school lists enrollment hours as Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. by appointment only and says students can usually start the day after registration; for transfer requests for the following school year, CCPS says applications must be submitted after January 1 and no later than May 1. (mcdonough.ccboe.com) Standard zoned enrollment does not show a published waitlist, but transfers are only considered if the receiving school has space; for McDonough’s separate application-based CTE programs, qualified applicants are considered for their first choice and, if not selected, are waitlisted in random order and offered seats if openings occur. (ccboe.com) Priority is mainly based on domicile in the school’s attendance zone (with listed feeder middle schools), while district transfer categories include students who move after second semester, seniors who move, prospective homeowners, children of CCPS employees, certain nonresident children of CCPS employees, students seeking a course of study not offered at the zoned school, and unusual-hardship cases; for the 2025-26 McDonough CTE cycle, the posted dates were October 23, 2025 to November 13, 2025 for applications, December 16 for auditions, and acceptance letters mailed in February. (mcdonough.ccboe.com)