Schools in Zip Code 20745

The nine public schools in zip code 20745 (Oxon Hill, MD) are all part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district and serve approximately 5,252 students, with a heavy focus on elementary education (seven elementary schools and two high schools) in a community facing significant economic challenges, as reflected by an average free and reduced lunch rate of 80.7%.

Among the elementary schools, Valley View Elementary stands out as the top performer, consistently earning a 3-star rating with the highest math proficiency (32%) and strong science scores, despite spending below the zip code average. Forest Heights Elementary showed the most dramatic improvement, more than doubling its math proficiency in one year. John Hanson Montessori is a clear outlier with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (10.1%) and the highest ELA proficiency (65.2%), serving a notably different demographic. For high schools, Oxon Hill High is the clear leader with a 3-star rating, a graduation rate of 84.3%, and significantly better academic outcomes than its local counterpart, Potomac High, which is in a state of crisis with a 59.4% graduation rate and 61.3% chronic absenteeism.

Key takeaways for parents include that higher spending does not guarantee better results, as the highest-spending schools often underperform compared to more efficient ones like Valley View. Math proficiency is a universal weakness across the zip code, with only two schools approaching the state average. Chronic absenteeism is a systemic crisis averaging 37.4%, strongly correlating with low academic performance and high dropout rates, making it the most critical issue to address for improving outcomes in this area.