Best Public Schools in Zip Code 20744

The 11 public schools in zip code 20744 (Fort Washington, Maryland) are part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district and serve a community facing significant socioeconomic challenges, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 78.1% and academic performance that generally lags behind state averages.

Indian Queen Elementary stands out as the top performer, achieving a 3-star rating and leading the area with 21.7% Math proficiency and 46.2% ELA proficiency, while also maintaining a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 19.2%. Fort Washington Forest Elementary shows consistent improvement with a 2-star rating and strong ELA (40.7%) and Science (24.1%) scores. Colin L. Powell Academy is a unique giant with 1,661 students serving grades PK-8, and it has a remarkable strength in Algebra I with 50.9% proficiency—more than double the state average—despite low overall Math scores. In contrast, Friendly High faces severe challenges with a critically low 2.1% Math proficiency and a 46.2% chronic absenteeism rate. Oxon Hill Middle also struggles, with the lowest Math proficiency (7.4%) among all schools offering 6th-8th grade, highlighting a difficult transition to middle school.

A key finding is the strong correlation between attendance and achievement: schools like Excel Academy Public Charter (15.8% absenteeism) and Indian Queen (19.2%) have the best attendance and top ELA scores, while Tayac Elementary (37.5% absenteeism) and J. Frank Dent Elementary (39.3% absenteeism) have the worst. Additionally, high spending does not guarantee success: Avalon Elementary and J. Frank Dent spend the most per student ($25,260 and $26,512) but are among the lowest-performing, while Fort Washington Forest and Indian Queen spend less and achieve better results. This suggests that improving attendance and focusing on instructional quality are more impactful than simply increasing funding.