{boy running track} Fast Facts About FCPS (View the most recent School Report for more about FCPS!) FCPS has 63 schools and serves grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Enrollment increased by 4,000 in the last decade.  Projected 2009-10 enrollment:  40,064 students.   Of FCPS' 5,452 employees, 2,904 are teachers. FCPS' dropout rate is among the lowest in Maryland, while our graduation rate is among the highest. Our students consistently surpass state and national averages on the College Board SAT. Eight Frederick County high schools ranked in the nation’s top 6% in encouraging students to take challenging Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate tests, according to Newsweek's 2009 Challenge Index.  They are, in rank order:  Middletown, Linganore, Urbana, Walkersville, Frederick, Catoctin, Brunswick and Governor Thomas Johnson High. The index is designed to identify schools that challenge average students. FCPS students took 324 more AP exams in 2009 than 2008, for a total of 4,879 exams. Our mean score increased to 3.02, up from 2.95 in 2008. About 70% of FCPS high school seniors indicate a desire to further their education by attending college, technical schools or joining the military.  Frederick County's per-student educational investment averages $11,657.  79% of the school system's operating budget directly supports students and schools. 99% of 900 employers surveyed feel that FCPS students are well prepared for the workforce after completing their education. Frederick County schools outpace the state average by providing one computer for every four students. Every school in the county is connected to the Internet. Every teacher has email and voicemail. Forbes' Best and Worst School Districts for the Buck ranked FCPS 21st in the nation for value, in the top quarter for high performance at low cost. For information about specific schools, visit the Schools section.      updated 8-18-09