Summary:
This analysis examines 10 middle schools in Silver Spring, Maryland, all part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district, serving grades 6 through 8 with a combined enrollment of about 9,086 students.
Takoma Park Middle is the clear standout, ranking 54th in Maryland and earning a 4-star rating. It is the only school where a majority of students are proficient in math (49.6%) and the only one with ELA proficiency above 70% (71.1%). Remarkably, it achieves these results with the lowest per-student spending ($18,204) and the highest student-teacher ratio (16.7:1), suggesting factors like school culture and community support are powerful drivers. Eastern Middle is a rising star, the only school showing consistent improvement in state ranking over three years, moving to the 71st percentile. At the other end, Odessa Shannon Middle is the lowest-ranked (21st percentile) with the lowest ELA proficiency (32%), despite having the highest per-student spending ($22,692), indicating a challenge in translating resources into outcomes.
The data reveals a strong link between socioeconomic status and performance. The three schools with the lowest poverty rates—Takoma Park (35%), Silver Spring International Middle (44%), and Sligo Middle (47%)—are the highest-ranked. Conversely, the four schools with the highest poverty rates (all above 60%)—Francis Scott Key Middle, A. Mario Loiederman Middle, Briggs Chaney Middle, and Argyle Middle—are all in the bottom half. Chronic absenteeism is a manageable problem for most, with six of ten schools below the district average of 22.6%, and three schools (Briggs Chaney, Eastern, and Sligo) achieving rates around 12%. The most dramatic performance gap is in advanced math: Takoma Park's Algebra I proficiency (68.8%) is more than double the next best school (Eastern at 42.9%), highlighting its effectiveness at accelerating top students.
Thank you for your feedback!