Summary:
In zip code 20601, there is one middle school, John Hanson Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 in Waldorf, MD, as part of the Charles County Public Schools district.
John Hanson Middle School has a total enrollment of 727 students and has shown some improvement, moving from a 1-star to a 2-star rating in the 2025-2026 school year, ranking 212 out of 339 schools in Maryland. The school demonstrates a notable strength in advanced math, with 26% of students proficient in Algebra I, which is significantly higher than both the district (10.6%) and state (21.3%) averages. However, this contrasts sharply with a critical weakness in 8th-grade mathematics, where 0% of students were proficient, far below the state average of 9.6%. Overall, the school performs better in English Language Arts (40.6% proficient) than in mathematics (13.1% proficient), and both subjects lag behind state averages. The school spends a substantial $17,563 per student and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.
A key takeaway is the "Algebra I paradox," where a select group of advanced students excels while the majority of 8th graders struggle with grade-level math, suggesting a widening achievement gap within the school. Chronic absenteeism affects 27.8% of students, and 56.81% qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating that socioeconomic challenges are significant factors. The high per-student spending and low student-teacher ratio have not fully translated into above-average test scores, particularly in math and science, raising questions about resource allocation and instructional effectiveness. The data reveals a clear decline in math proficiency as students progress from 6th grade (18.3%) to 8th grade (0%), pointing to a systemic issue that the school needs to address.
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