Drew-Freeman Middle

Drew-Freeman Middle in District Heights, MD, is a large school serving 1,022 students in grades 6-8 as part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, where nearly all students (96.58%) come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Academically, Drew-Freeman faces significant challenges, particularly in mathematics. Only 5.2% of students were proficient in math in the 2025-2026 school year, the lowest rate among all nearby comparable schools and far below the district average of 13.7% and state average of 27.1%. While English Language Arts proficiency (22.2%) is also below state levels, it is more in line with several neighboring schools like Thurgood Marshall Middle (28.2%) and G. James Gholson Middle (25.9%). The school's overall performance has placed it in the bottom 12% of Maryland middle schools for the past decade, and it currently holds a 1-star rating. Notably, Kenmoor Middle, located just 5.72 miles away and serving a similarly high-need population, achieves dramatically better results with a 3-star rating and math proficiency of 23.4%, showing that improvement is possible.

On a positive note, Drew-Freeman has seen a remarkable turnaround in attendance. Chronic absenteeism dropped from a staggering 53.8% in 2020-2021 to 17.5% in 2024-2025, now well below the district average of 30.2%. This suggests recent efforts to boost student engagement are working. The school also spends a significant $19,355 per student, though this has not yet translated into strong academic outcomes compared to peers like Kettering Middle and Kenmoor, which spend more and achieve better results. The key takeaway for parents is that while Drew-Freeman struggles with math instruction and has historically underperformed, the dramatic improvement in attendance offers hope, and the success of nearby high-poverty schools like Kenmoor suggests these challenges can be overcome with the right strategies.