Middle Schools in Prince George's County Public Schools

This analysis examines 25 middle schools within Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) in Maryland, serving grades 6-8 across a diverse suburban area with significant variation in academic performance and socioeconomic conditions.

The standout schools in this district are Samuel Ogle Middle and Benjamin Tasker Middle, which consistently earn 3-star ratings and rank in the top 40% of Maryland schools. Samuel Ogle is the only school in the list to exceed the state average in English Language Arts (60.8% proficient), while Benjamin Tasker excels in advanced coursework with 50% of students proficient in Geometry. Kenmoor Middle is a notable overachiever, ranking third despite a 93% free/reduced lunch rate, demonstrating that high poverty does not preclude success. At the other end, Sonia Sotomayor Middle at Adelphi faces the steepest challenges, ranking in the 6th percentile with the lowest math (2.9%) and ELA (20.5%) proficiency rates. G. James Gholson Middle has shown the most dramatic improvement, rising from a 0-star to a 1-star rating, while Charles Carroll Middle jumped from the 13th to 24th percentile, driven by exceptional Algebra I proficiency (81.8%).

Key metrics reveal a district where the average math proficiency is just 13.7% (state average: 27.1%) and ELA proficiency is 38.9% (state average: 51.7%). Chronic absenteeism averages 30.2%, ranging from a low of 10.5% at Thomas Johnson Middle to a high of 42.2% at G. James Gholson. Per-student spending varies from $16,194 to $22,580, but shows no clear link to performance, suggesting resource allocation matters more than total spending. The "Algebra I anomaly" is striking: schools like Charles Carroll and Ernest Everett Just Middle achieve over 80% Algebra I proficiency despite low overall math scores, indicating strategic placement of select students into advanced courses. For parents, this data highlights that while poverty and absenteeism are strong predictors of performance, schools like Kenmoor prove that targeted strategies can overcome these barriers, making it essential to look beyond rankings to understand each school's unique strengths and challenges.