Governor Wes Moore, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, and FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson visited Oakdale High School on the first day of the second semester to highlight investments being made in school construction.
They were joined by Maryland State Education Board President Dr. Joshua Michael, Interagency Commission on School Construction Executive Director Alex Donahue, local elected officials, and FCPS leadership.
“Today, the amazing students and staff at Oakdale High School reminded me why families continue to choose Frederick County,” Gov. Moore said. “A world-class education system is the foundation on which we build everything else. That’s why our administration is committed to investing in our young people and ensuring that our schools have the capacity needed to deliver on our promise.”
Oakdale High School has grown by approximately [500 students] over the last four years, reflecting increases in population and housing development in the east side of Frederick County since 2020. Currently,19 FCPS schools are over capacity, including Oakdale High and nearby Oakdale Elementary, which is at 160 percent capacity.
During the next five years, the proposed state investment for school construction totals more than $3 billion. The Moore-Miller administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 capital budget invests heavily in school construction, totaling $825 million – $57 million more for public school construction programs than planned in the previous Capital Improvement Program for FY 2025. The additional funding will support critical infrastructure needs and new construction or renovation in counties that are experiencing overcrowding – including Frederick County.
Gov. Moore met with student leaders and learned more about how enrollment growth amid building constraints affects their experiences in the classroom. Afterwards, he joined Frederick County leaders to discuss the school construction investments that support the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to high-quality public education.
“Frederick County is the fastest-growing school system in Maryland, and Gov. Moore understands our dual challenge of maintaining aging facilities and building new schools to meet increasing enrollment,” Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said. “We are grateful to Gov. Moore for proposing new money to help school systems like ours. This fusion of funds will help us move quickly on school construction projects already in the pipeline, which will improve the experience of students, educators, and families.”
“I am so appreciative of Gov. Moore’s visit to Oakdale High School,” Dr. Cheryl Dyson said. “Families continue to choose Frederick County as a place to raise their children, and as we continue to rapidly grow as a system, we must ensure our school buildings are ready for all students.
“Every student deserves modernized classrooms,” Maryland State Board of Education President Dr. Joshua Michael said. “We are excited by the growing enrollment in Frederick County Public Schools, which reflects the increased trust in public education. We support efforts underway to address school overcrowding through building renovations, expansions and new constructions These investments will benefit the current students and those who will follow.”