Summary:
Zip code 20770 in Greenbelt, Maryland, is home to five public schools within the Prince George's County Public Schools district, serving students from elementary through high school in a high-poverty area where the average free and reduced lunch rate is about 73%.
The standout school in this zip code is Dora Kennedy French Immersion, a magnet K-8 school that ranks in the 84th percentile statewide and earns 4 stars, dramatically outperforming its neighborhood peers. With 77.5% of students proficient in ELA and 46.7% in math, it more than doubles the district averages, while its free and reduced lunch rate of 28.65% is far lower than the other schools. In contrast, Springhill Lake Elementary struggles significantly, ranking in the 5th percentile with 0 stars, only 9.5% math proficiency, and a 42% chronic absenteeism rate. Greenbelt Middle also faces challenges with 93% poverty, but shows a puzzling 73.5% proficiency in Algebra I, likely due to only advanced students taking the test. Eleanor Roosevelt High is a bright spot for the district, earning 3 stars and ranking in the 62nd percentile, with strong ELA scores (66.3% proficient) and an 88.7% graduation rate, though math proficiency remains low at 11.8%.
A key takeaway is that higher spending does not guarantee success: Springhill Lake Elementary spends the most per student ($23,432) but has the worst outcomes, while Dora Kennedy French Immersion spends less ($19,733) and achieves far better results. This highlights how factors like school culture and access to specialized programs create vastly different experiences within the same zip code, making school choice critical for families in this area.
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