Schools in Zip Code 20735

The six public schools in zip code 20735 (Clinton, MD) serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade within the Prince George's County Public Schools district, a community where an average of 78.6% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating significant socioeconomic challenges.

Francis T. Evans Elementary stands out as the top academic performer, earning a 2-star rating and achieving a math proficiency rate of 26.1%—nearly double the district average—despite a 60.31% poverty rate. In contrast, Surrattsville High faces severe struggles with a math proficiency rate of just 1.2% and a chronic absenteeism rate of 46.5%, the highest in the area. Stephen Decatur Middle is a bright spot for English Language Arts, with a 40.5% proficiency rate and the lowest chronic absenteeism (23.0%), while James Ryder Randall Elementary matches that ELA proficiency. Waldon Woods Elementary and Clinton Grove Elementary have the highest poverty rates (over 91%) and lag in elementary ELA scores.

Key takeaways include that higher spending does not guarantee better results—Surrattsville High receives the most per-student funding ($21,995) but has the lowest math scores, while Waldon Woods receives the least ($17,189) yet is not the lowest performer. The data also reveals a critical math pipeline issue, with elementary schools averaging 16.5% math proficiency and Stephen Decatur Middle at 7.5%, leading to Surrattsville High's 1.2% rate. This suggests that systemic, K-12 strategies are needed to address foundational skills and chronic absenteeism, which averages 34.2% across the zip code.