Surrattsville High

Surrattsville High in Clinton, MD, is a public high school serving 875 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, which ranks near the bottom of the state.

The most critical concern for parents is Surrattsville's math proficiency, which has dropped to just 1.2%—the lowest among nearby schools and far below the district average of 13.7%. This is a steep decline from even the previous year's 4.2%, signaling a deepening crisis in math instruction. In contrast, English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency sits at 35.6%, close to the district average of 38.9% and comparable to schools like Friendly High (35.5%). Chronic absenteeism is also alarmingly high at 46.5%, well above the district's 30.2% rate and significantly worse than Frederick Douglass High (27.7%), a nearby school serving a similar demographic that achieves far better results. Despite spending $21,995 per student—more than higher-performing peers like Dr. Henry A. Wise Junior High ($17,819)—the school's outcomes remain poor, suggesting resource allocation issues.

On a positive note, Surrattsville's graduation rate of 82.8% exceeds the district average of 78.9% and is higher than several nearby schools, including Potomac High (59.4%) and Crossland High (73.7%). However, this metric must be weighed against the academic struggles: with only 1.2% of students proficient in math, many graduates may lack essential skills for college or careers. The school's ranking has also slipped back to the 16th percentile after a brief improvement, indicating a downward trajectory. For parents, the stark contrast with Frederick Douglass High—which boasts a 92.1% graduation rate and 63.1% ELA proficiency—shows that high poverty does not have to dictate low performance, highlighting the critical role of school leadership and instructional quality.