Summary:
In zip code 20667, there is one elementary school, Park Hall Elementary, serving grades PK through 5 in the Park Hall area of Maryland, which is part of the St. Mary's County Public Schools district.
Park Hall Elementary is a solidly average school within Maryland, ranking in the 47th percentile, but it underperforms compared to its high-performing district. The school's biggest academic challenge is in 5th grade, where math proficiency drops to just 22.4% and science proficiency to 27.1%, both significantly below district and state averages. A major red flag is the chronic absenteeism rate of 35.4%, meaning over one-third of students miss 10% or more of the school year, which likely drives lower academic performance. Despite spending a high $19,368 per student, outcomes do not match the investment, suggesting resource allocation or absenteeism may limit effectiveness. On a positive note, math proficiency has shown a slight upward trend, and the school outperforms the state average in 4th grade math and ELA.
Overall, Park Hall Elementary is a middle-of-the-pack school with a critical weakness in upper grades and attendance. The "4th grade bump" followed by a "5th grade cliff" in performance suggests a potential issue with curriculum transition or compounding effects of absenteeism. For parents, the school offers a high per-student spending level and some bright spots in 4th grade, but the high chronic absenteeism and declining 5th grade scores are key concerns to consider.
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