Summary:
Zip code 20640, serving the Indian Head, MD area, is home to two elementary schools—J. C. Parks Elementary School and Indian Head Elementary School—both part of the Charles County Public Schools district, which ranks in the bottom 20% of Maryland districts.
J. C. Parks Elementary stands out as the stronger performer in nearly every category. It ranks in the 38th percentile statewide (2 stars) for the 2025-2026 school year, compared to Indian Head’s 26th percentile (1 star). J. C. Parks also shows a positive trend, improving its ranking from the 34th percentile the prior year. Academically, J. C. Parks leads in all core subjects: 22.8% of its students are proficient in math versus 17.6% at Indian Head, and 43% are proficient in English Language Arts versus 32%. Chronic absenteeism is also lower at J. C. Parks (21.7%) compared to Indian Head (28.7%), and J. C. Parks is below the district average of 26.6%. Notably, Indian Head spends significantly more per student ($21,006 vs. $16,878) and has a lower student-teacher ratio (13.8:1 vs. 16.7:1), yet these resources do not translate into better outcomes—a clear spending paradox.
Both schools face challenges within their district context, as even J. C. Parks’ math proficiency (22.8%) trails the state average (27.1%). However, J. C. Parks is improving at a faster rate, while Indian Head, despite some gains, continues to struggle with higher absenteeism and lower test scores. For parents, J. C. Parks Elementary is the clear choice in this zip code, offering better academics, attendance, and upward momentum, while Indian Head’s higher spending and smaller classes have not yet yielded comparable results.
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