Nine Calvert Schools Earn Purple Star Designation for Supporting Military-Connected Families

Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) is proud to announce that nine of its schools have been awarded the prestigious Purple Star School designation by the Maryland State Department of Education for 2026. This honor recognizes schools that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families.

Established by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022, The Purple Star Schools Program identifies schools that go above and beyond to provide welcoming, supportive environments and smooth transitions for military families. Maryland is one of 42 states to implement a Purple Star initiative, and this year’s designation was awarded to only 27 schools across seven local education agencies.

Calvert County leads the state again with the most newly awarded Purple Star Schools in 2026:

• Barstow Elementary School


• Dowell Elementary School


• Huntingtown Elementary School


• Huntingtown High School


• Mt. Harmony Elementary School


• Mutual Elementary School


• Patuxent High School


• Southern Middle School


• Sunderland Elementary School

Additionally, 10 CCPS schools (Beach Elementary, Calvert Elementary, Calvert High School, Calvert Career & Technology Academy, Northern High School, Northern Middle School, Patuxent Appeal Elementary Campus, Plum Point Elementary, St. Leonard Elementary, and Windy Hill Elementary) were awarded the Purple Star School designation in 2025 and continue to maintain their status.

Mt. Harmony Elementary School, originally designated in 2024, earned redesignation in 2026 for its continued outstanding support of military-connected students.

To earn this designation, schools must meet rigorous criteria that demonstrate a comprehensive commitment to military-connected students. This includes appointing a dedicated military liaison to support students and their families, providing accessible digital resources specifically tailored for military families, implementing student-led transition programs to help new students acclimate, and ensuring that staff receive training on the unique challenges military-connected students may face.

For more information about CCPS services for military-connected families, visit:  Military-Connected Student Support.

Photo credit:  MSDE Communications