Summary:
The four public schools in zip code 20613 (Brandywine, MD) are part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, which ranks in the bottom half of Maryland districts, and serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
The standout school in this area is Baden Elementary, which ranks in the 49th percentile statewide—significantly higher than the other three schools. This is particularly notable because Baden serves the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students (nearly 87% qualify for free/reduced lunch) yet achieves the highest math proficiency (32.1%) and strong ELA scores (45.2%). In contrast, Brandywine Elementary ranks in the 18th percentile with only 9.4% math proficiency, despite having a lower poverty rate. Gwynn Park Middle shows a dramatic "middle school slide" in math, with just 5.7% proficiency, while Gwynn Park High performs slightly better at 8.7% math proficiency but struggles with a 33.5% chronic absenteeism rate.
Chronic absenteeism is a systemic issue across the zip code, with three of four schools exceeding the district average of 30.2%. Interestingly, higher spending does not guarantee better results: Baden receives the most funding per student ($24,293) and performs best, while Brandywine Elementary receives the least ($16,274) and performs worst. This suggests that how money is spent—such as on smaller class sizes (Baden has a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio) and targeted interventions—matters more than the raw amount. For parents, the data highlights that Baden Elementary is a clear bright spot, while the middle and high schools face significant academic and engagement challenges that warrant careful consideration.
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