Prince George’s County Schools in Laurel have led the region in high-volume hiring since the start of the school year in August. Public elementary, middle and high schools in Laurel saw a combined 59% reduction in vacancies, outperforming the 52% countywide average.
In the Laurel area, that means 52 vacancies across all schools dropped to 21. We were unable to compare this hiring pace with prior years, as this is the first year the school district provided school-by-school disclosure.
Area elementary school staffing levels improved the most. The seven elementary schools serving Laurel cut their teacher vacancies by 63% since August, better than the 48% reduction rate for elementary schools across Prince George’s County.
Middle schools serving the city reduced staff vacancies 58%, surpassing the 55% district average for the middle school level.
The two high schools where most Laurel teens are enrolled reduced their teacher vacancies by 55%, edging out the 54% average for high schools countywide.
The shift is part of a six-month countywide effort to rebuild the school district’s talent pipeline through aggressive signing bonuses, a new “fast-track” hiring model, bolstered by state law that raised starting teacher salaries to more than $60,000.
“We have cut vacancies in half in just one year, which shows how quickly we can move when systems are aligned and people are supported,” Interim Superintendent Shawn Joseph said in a press release.
In a PGCPS press release, County Executive Aisha Braveboy noted that fuller teacher rosters mean “our young people are reaping the benefits, including stability in the classroom.”
The county is calling the combined 52% reduction in vacancies across all school levels historic, with total vacancies in the county dropping from 900.5 to 434 since August.
Vacancy figures are based on an AI-assisted analysis of the PGCPS Priority & School Staffing Vacancy Dashboard as of Jan. 15, 2026.