Best Public Schools in Brandywine, MD

The city of Brandywine, Maryland, is served by four public schools within the Prince George's County Public Schools district, including two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, which together face significant systemic challenges reflected in the district's low statewide ranking.

Baden Elementary stands out as the top-performing school in the area, achieving strong academic results despite having the highest percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch. Its math proficiency rate of 32.1% is more than double the district average and even exceeds the state average, while its ELA proficiency of 45.2% also surpasses the district. This success is likely supported by the highest per-student spending ($24,293) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (14.2:1) in Brandywine. In contrast, Brandywine Elementary serves a similar grade range but has much lower test scores (9.4% math, 30.4% ELA), highlighting that factors like school leadership and resource allocation play a critical role beyond poverty rates alone.

Gwynn Park High School presents a unique profile with low academic test scores (8.7% math proficiency) but a strong graduation rate of 87.6%, which is nearly nine points higher than the district average, and a lower dropout rate. Meanwhile, Gwynn Park Middle has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (19.1%) but also the lowest math proficiency (5.7%), suggesting that better attendance alone does not guarantee academic success. Chronic absenteeism is a widespread issue across Brandywine, with three of the four schools at or above the district average of 30.2%, making it a key area for improvement.