Summary:
The 11 public schools in Fort Washington, Maryland, all part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, serve a predominantly elementary-aged population (nine elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school) in a community facing significant socioeconomic challenges, with an average of 78.1% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
Academic performance across the city is well below state averages, with only 11.4% of students proficient in math and 32.6% in English Language Arts. However, Colin L. Powell Academy stands out for its exceptional Algebra I program, where 50.9% of test-takers were proficient—far exceeding the district's 11.1%. Indian Queen Elementary is the top overall performer, earning a 3-star rating with the highest math (21.7%) and ELA (46.2%) proficiency rates and the lowest chronic absenteeism (19.2%) among non-charter schools. In stark contrast, Friendly High has a graduation rate of 81.1% but recorded a 0% math proficiency rate, highlighting a troubling disconnect between diplomas and academic mastery. Excel Academy Public Charter excels in attendance, with the city's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at just 15.8%.
Chronic absenteeism is a severe city-wide issue, averaging 30.2%, and it strongly correlates with performance: the lowest-performing schools like Tayac Elementary (16.7% ELA proficiency) have absenteeism rates above 37%, while top schools like Fort Washington Forest Elementary keep rates below 30%. The city's only middle school, Oxon Hill Middle, shows a concerning "dip" as ELA proficiency drops from 36.9% in 6th grade to 25.8% in 8th grade. Notably, higher spending does not guarantee better results—J. Frank Dent Elementary spends $26,512 per student yet ranks in the 15th percentile, while Avalon Elementary spends $25,260 and ranks in the 10th percentile, proving that resources alone cannot overcome deeper challenges like attendance and instructional quality.
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