Summary:
There are five elementary schools in zip code 20602 (Waldorf, MD), all part of the Charles County Public Schools district, serving grades PK through 5 with a combined enrollment of about 2,803 students.
Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary stands out as the top performer, achieving the highest math proficiency (26.8%) and the second-highest ELA proficiency (33.3%) in the area, despite having a high rate of economic disadvantage (67.72% free/reduced lunch). It also boasts the lowest student-teacher ratio (12.8), suggesting smaller class sizes may be a key factor in its success. Mary B. Neal Elementary is a strong contender, showing consistent improvement and leading the zip code in ELA proficiency (44.9%) and 5th-grade science (26.4%). In contrast, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary and Eva Turner Elementary are the most challenged, ranking in the bottom 10% of Maryland elementary schools with very low test scores (around 9% math proficiency) and very high chronic absenteeism (over 33%). Arthur Middleton Elementary falls in the middle, with moderate scores and a lower poverty rate (48.84%).
A critical finding is that higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results—the two lowest-performing schools spend more than the higher-performing Mary B. Neal. Instead, there is a strong link between poverty, chronic absenteeism, and low scores. The schools with the highest free/reduced lunch rates also have the highest absenteeism and lowest test scores. Additionally, a district-wide drop in 5th-grade math proficiency suggests a systemic challenge in preparing students for advanced elementary math concepts, which parents should be aware of when considering these schools.
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