Summary
Francis Scott Key Elementary in District Heights, MD, serves 451 students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade within the Prince George's County Public Schools district, where over 92% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating very high economic need.
Academically, the school faces severe challenges, with a 0-star rating and proficiency rates in both math and English Language Arts that are critically low compared to district and state averages. For instance, math proficiency is just 5%, the lowest among nearby schools, and 4th-grade math proficiency is an extreme 1.3%. This is especially striking when compared to Capitol Heights Elementary, just 1.57 miles away, which boasts a 46.5% math proficiency rate and a 4-star rating despite serving a similarly high-poverty population. A major factor appears to be chronic absenteeism, which has consistently exceeded 39% for five years, peaking at over 50% in 2021-2022, while Capitol Heights has a much lower rate of 23.3%. The school also spends a high $25,358 per student, the second-highest among nearby schools, yet outcomes remain poor, raising questions about how funds are used.
There is a glimmer of hope in 3rd-grade English Language Arts, where proficiency reaches 17.8%, the highest for any subject or grade at the school, suggesting early literacy interventions may be having some impact. However, this progress is not sustained in 4th and 5th grades, where proficiency drops to 6.8% and 11.1%, respectively. Overall, the school has not recovered from pandemic-era learning loss, with math proficiency stagnant at 5-6% for four years and ELA proficiency declining from 21.5% in 2022-2023 to 11.9% in 2025-2026. For parents, this school requires careful consideration, especially regarding attendance support and whether the high spending translates into effective resources for students.
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