Prince George's County Public Schools

Prince George's County Public Schools is a large, diverse district serving 191 schools (137 elementary, 25 middle, 25 high, and 4 alternative schools) in Maryland, ranking 22nd out of 25 districts statewide. The district faces significant challenges, with average math proficiency at just 13.7% and English Language Arts at 38.9%, both well below state averages. However, there are standout schools that perform at elite levels, such as Academy of Health Sciences at PGCC (ranked 3rd in the state with 100% ELA and 61.5% math proficiency), Glenarden Woods Elementary (ranked #2 in the state with 91.1% ELA and 83% math), and Heather Hills Elementary (ranked #4 with 91.7% ELA and 80.8% math). These "islands of excellence" contrast sharply with schools like International High School @ Langley Park and International High school @ Largo, which have the lowest test scores in the district (around 3.5-3.7% math and 15-16% ELA proficiency).

Chronic absenteeism is a pervasive crisis, with a district average of 30.2%, and many high-poverty schools exceeding 40%—for example, Potomac High at 61.3% and Central High at 57.6%. In contrast, top-performing schools like Robert Goddard Montessori (5.1%) and Dora Kennedy French Immersion (6.6%) have very low absenteeism. Math proficiency is a critical weakness across the district, with even some high-performing high schools like Frederick Douglass High achieving 63.1% ELA but only 5.8% math. The graduation rate is 78.9%, with Bowie High (91.0%) and Frederick Douglass High (92.1%) leading, while High Point High (63.0%) and Potomac High (59.4%) lag behind.

Economic disadvantage strongly correlates with performance, as schools with free/reduced lunch rates above 90%—like Bladensburg High (97.02%) and Ellen Ochoa Middle (97.33%)—consistently have the lowest outcomes. However, higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results; for instance, Suitland High spends $21,395 per student but has 12.3% math proficiency, while Eleanor Roosevelt High spends $15,873 and achieves similar math scores (11.8%). Middle schools generally struggle, with Benjamin Tasker Middle being the highest-ranked at the 61st percentile. Alternative schools like C. Elizabeth Rieg serve high-need populations with intensive support, spending over $63,000 per student with very small class sizes.