Summary:
There are four elementary schools serving grades PK-5 in the 20708 zip code of Laurel, MD, all part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, which faces significant systemic challenges.
Montpelier Elementary is the clear standout, consistently earning a 2-star rating and ranking in the 42nd percentile statewide, far outperforming its peers. Despite a similar high poverty rate (around 91%), Montpelier achieves the highest math (26.5%) and ELA (43.0%) proficiency, exceeding district averages. In contrast, Oaklands Elementary is in decline, dropping to a 0-star rating with the lowest math proficiency (8.5%) and the highest chronic absenteeism (37.6%). Deerfield Run Elementary and James H. Harrison Elementary both hold 1-star ratings, with Deerfield Run showing slightly better math (14.9%) and science (15.6%) scores than Harrison.
A striking "spending paradox" emerges: James H. Harrison Elementary has the highest spending per student ($28,654) and the smallest class sizes (10:1 ratio), yet it posts the lowest science proficiency (7.1%) and ranks in the bottom 16% of the state. Meanwhile, Montpelier Elementary spends the least ($17,286) with larger classes (14.5:1) but achieves the best results, suggesting resource allocation matters more than total spending. All schools face a systemic crisis with chronic absenteeism above 30%, and a sharp decline in 4th-grade math proficiency across the board—for example, at Deerfield Run, 3rd-grade math drops from 28.8% to just 4.4% in 4th grade—indicating a potential curriculum gap at that level.
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