Summary:
In zip code 20646, La Plata, MD, there are two elementary schools—Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School and Mary H. Matula Elementary School—serving grades PK-5 within the Charles County Public Schools district, which ranks in the bottom 20% of Maryland districts.
Both schools are standout performers within their district, significantly exceeding district averages in every academic subject. For instance, in Math proficiency, Mitchell (37.6%) and Matula (38.5%) more than double the district average of 17.0%. Mary H. Matula Elementary School is the stronger overall performer, with a higher state ranking (290th vs. 326th), slightly better Math and ELA proficiency, and a more consistent three-year ranking trend. It also benefits from higher per-student spending ($20,021 vs. $17,623) and a lower student-teacher ratio (14.5:1 vs. 18.4:1), suggesting greater investment in individual support. However, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School demonstrates notable efficiency, achieving nearly identical results with fewer resources, and excels in 3rd-grade Math (47.3% proficient, above the state average).
Key challenges include chronic absenteeism, which affects over one in five students at both schools (24.3% at Mitchell, 22.3% at Matula), though both are below the district average of 26.6%. Grade-level patterns reveal different strengths: Mitchell sees a sharp decline in Math after 3rd grade, while Matula shows strong consistency in 3rd and 4th grade Math but struggles in 5th-grade Math (26.3%, below the state average). Despite Matula having a higher percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (40.49% vs. 36.35%), its slightly higher test scores suggest its lower student-teacher ratio and higher spending may help mitigate socioeconomic challenges. Overall, these schools are bright spots in a struggling district, offering strong academic foundations for families in the area.
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