Potomac High

Potomac High in Oxon Hill, MD, is a large traditional high school serving 1,347 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, where 94% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Potomac High is facing a serious crisis, with a graduation rate of just 59.4%—the lowest among nearby schools and far below the district average of 78.9%. This is paired with an extreme chronic absenteeism rate of 61.3%, meaning nearly two out of every three students are missing so much school it jeopardizes their success. The dropout rate has more than tripled since the pandemic, reaching 26.5%. While the school spends a high amount per student ($22,270), this investment has not translated into better outcomes. For example, just 5.4% of students are proficient in math, a fraction of the state average of 27.1%. The most striking comparison is with nearby Oxon Hill High, located just 1.9 miles away, which has a graduation rate of 84.3%, a chronic absenteeism rate of 35.4%, and significantly higher academic proficiency, despite serving a similar community.

There is a slight bright spot in English Language Arts, where proficiency has reached 37.7%, close to the district average. However, this is overshadowed by the catastrophic math scores, which have been consistently below 6% for two years. The school's challenges are worsening, with the graduation rate dropping from 72.1% in 2020-2021 to 59.4% in 2024-2025. The primary issues appear to be school-specific, as the stark performance gap with Oxon Hill High suggests deep problems with culture, leadership, and support systems. Urgent intervention is needed to improve attendance, re-engage students, and address the breakdown in math instruction.