Summary:
There are three elementary schools in zip code 20705 (Beltsville, MD)—Beltsville Academy, Calverton Elementary, and Vansville Elementary—serving grades PK-5 (with Beltsville Academy extending to grade 8), all part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, which ranks in the bottom 12% of Maryland districts.
Vansville Elementary stands out as the top performer in the area, with the highest state ranking (30th percentile) and the only 2-star rating. It leads in math proficiency (20.1%) and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (27.2%). Notably, Vansville achieves these results despite a higher student-teacher ratio (14.5) and lower per-pupil spending ($18,567) than its peers. In contrast, Calverton Elementary struggles the most, ranking in the bottom 14% of Maryland schools with the lowest math (13.3%) and ELA (28.2%) proficiency, plus the highest chronic absenteeism (33.3%). Beltsville Academy presents a split profile: its upper grades (6-8) excel, with 8th-grade ELA surpassing the state average (58.4% vs. 50.2%) and Algebra I proficiency at 47.8% (more than double the state rate), but its lower-grade math performance is very weak, with only 7.3% of 4th graders proficient.
Chronic absenteeism is a key differentiator, ranging from 20.1% at Beltsville Academy to 33.3% at Calverton, directly correlating with academic outcomes. All three schools face significant challenges within a district ranked 22nd out of 25 in Maryland, but Vansville’s relative success shows that strong performance is possible even in this context. For parents, Vansville offers the most consistent elementary experience, while Beltsville Academy provides a strong middle school option but uneven elementary foundations, and Calverton requires the most support to address attendance and achievement gaps.
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