Summary:
In zip code 20744, there is one high school, Friendly High, serving grades 9 through 12 in Fort Washington, Maryland, as part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, which is ranked 22nd out of 25 districts in the state.
Friendly High faces significant academic challenges, particularly in mathematics, where proficiency rates have been alarmingly low—just 2.1% in the 2025-2026 school year and 0% the year prior, compared to district averages of 13.7% and state averages of 27.1%. English Language Arts proficiency is also below state levels at 35.5%, though closer to the district average of 38.9%. A major concern is the school's chronic absenteeism rate of 46.2%, which is substantially higher than the district's 30.2% and likely a key factor driving poor academic outcomes. Despite these struggles, the school spends a notable $21,447 per student, suggesting that funding alone is not addressing the underlying issues.
On a positive note, Friendly High shows relative strength in student persistence, with a graduation rate of 81.1%—slightly above the district average of 78.9%—and a dropout rate of 10.8%, which is notably better than the district's 15.9%. However, the school's state ranking has been declining, dropping from the 39th percentile in 2021-2022 to the 18th percentile in 2025-2026, indicating deepening challenges. With 63.53% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school serves a high-poverty population, and the combination of low test scores, high absenteeism, and a downward trend suggests that families should carefully consider these factors when evaluating educational options in this area.
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