Summary:
There are six elementary schools in the 20747 zip code, serving grades PK-5 or PK-8 within the Prince George's County Public Schools district, an area with high poverty levels where the average free/reduced lunch rate is about 93%.
The standout school in this area is Longfields Elementary, which dramatically outperforms its peers by ranking in the 70th percentile statewide—a stark contrast to the other five schools that rank in the bottom 13%. Longfields achieves math proficiency of 43.6% and ELA proficiency of 60.7%, both well above district and state averages, despite having a high-poverty student body. In comparison, Francis Scott Key Elementary and Andrew Jackson Academy spend more per student than Longfields but rank much lower, showing that spending alone doesn't guarantee success. Samuel P. Massie Academy and Andrew Jackson Academy are both PK-8 schools on the same street with similar demographics, yet Jackson is improving (12th percentile) while Massie stagnates (4th percentile), highlighting how school-level factors like attendance matter.
Chronic absenteeism is a major issue, averaging 36.2% across these schools, far above the district's 30.2%. District Heights Elementary has the highest rate at 56.5% and the lowest math proficiency at 4.4%, while Andrew Jackson Academy has the lowest absenteeism at 25.6% and shows the most improvement. This suggests that tackling attendance is a key lever for better outcomes. Overall, Longfields proves that high achievement is possible despite poverty, while the other schools face significant challenges that require targeted interventions beyond just increased funding.
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