Summary:
In zip code 20748 (Temple Hills, MD), seven elementary schools serving Pre-K through 8th grade within Prince George's County Public Schools show dramatic performance variation, with chronic absenteeism emerging as the single most critical factor separating top performers from struggling schools.
The standout school is Maya Angelou French Immersion, which ranks in the 53rd percentile statewide (3 stars) and is the only school in the area to exceed the state average in English Language Arts (54.5% vs. 51.7%). Its chronic absenteeism rate of just 9.6% is remarkably low compared to the district average of 30.2%. Overlook Elementary has shown the most dramatic improvement, jumping from the 20th percentile to the 52nd percentile in one year, and it matches or exceeds state averages in 5th-grade Math and Science. Both top performers have the lowest free/reduced lunch rates in the zip code (40.5% and 37.25%, respectively) and the lowest chronic absenteeism rates. In stark contrast, Panorama Elementary and Hillcrest Heights Elementary have absenteeism rates above 50% and rank below the 10th percentile statewide. Imagine Lincoln PCS shows consistent improvement and excels in middle school ELA, with 6th-grade proficiency of 64.2% far exceeding district and state averages.
The data reveals that no school with an absenteeism rate above 30% achieved a state ranking above the 25th percentile, while the two schools with the lowest absenteeism are the only ones to earn 3-star ratings. Both K-8 charter schools show a "middle school bump" where ELA proficiency increases in grades 6-8, often exceeding state averages. The average spending per student is $23,397, with no clear correlation to performance, and the average student-teacher ratio of 11.8:1 indicates small class sizes across all schools.
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