St. Mary's County Public Schools

St. Mary's County Public Schools (SMCPS) is a school district that serves St. Mary's County, Maryland, USA, at the confluence of the Potomac River, Patuxent River, and Chesapeake Bay. The area is a mixture of rural and suburban communities. Many of the families are employed by NAS Patuxent River, government contractors, St. Mary's College of Maryland, county government, and others involved in the traditional agriculture and water related businesses. It has an approximate enrollment of almost 17,000 students. SMCPS operates 17 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 4 high schools, an Alternative Learning Center, and a Vocational Training Center, serving students in Grades Pre-K through 12th grade. The school system is overseen by the Maryland State Department of Education.

The current Interim Superintendent of Schools is James Scott Smith, who assumed duties in August 2014, after the departure of the previous Superintendent, Dr. Michael J. Martirano, who accepted an offer to serve as the State Superintendent of Schools for the State of West Virginia.

On March 20, 2013, Rush Limbaugh commented on a few of the policies of St. Mary's County Public Schools, including the "no cupcake" rule, "no hugs" rule, and "no birthday party" rule. All these rules are the subjects for the creation, growth and sustainability of the political correctness of the American Public Educational system or systems.

On May 20, 2015 at approximately 3:40 am, four students, who were seniors, forced open a door at Chopticon High School and released 72,000 ladybugs into the school as part of a prank. Those four students were arrested and charged with 4th degree battery along with property destruction under $1,000 and disruption of school activities, but were released into the custody of their parents. Three other suspects were to be charged by criminal summons.

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