Summary:
The 20664 zip code in Newburg, MD, is served by two public schools within the Charles County Public Schools district: Piccowaxen Middle School and Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, which together educate over 1,000 students.
These two schools present a fascinating contrast in academic strengths. Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School is a standout for mathematics, with its "All Grades" math proficiency (33.7%) nearly double the district average and significantly above the state. It also excels in science, with 5th-grade proficiency (43.5%) far exceeding both district and state averages. In contrast, Piccowaxen Middle School is an English Language Arts (ELA) powerhouse, with an "All Grades" proficiency of 60.4% that is well above the district (45.6%) and state (51.7%). A notable finding at Piccowaxen is the "8th Grade Math Cliff," where standard 8th-grade math proficiency is 0%, but this is because the school accelerates its top students into advanced courses, with 76.9% proficient in Geometry. This suggests a potential shift in instructional focus as students move from elementary to middle school within the same zip code.
Chronic absenteeism is a systemic concern, with both schools reporting rates above 23%. Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary has a higher rate (28.4%) and also spends more per student ($21,137) compared to Piccowaxen Middle School ($18,498). Despite this higher spending, Higdon's ELA scores, while above district averages, are only marginally above the state, raising questions about resource allocation. Overall, the area offers strong academic options, particularly in math at the elementary level and ELA at the middle school level, but families should be aware of the absenteeism challenges that could impact student success.
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