Schools in Zip Code 20774

The eight schools in zip code 20774 (Springdale, Largo, and Upper Marlboro, MD) are part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district and include four elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools, serving a diverse community with significant economic challenges.

The most striking feature of this area is the extreme disparity between the elite Academy of Health Sciences at PGCC and all other schools. This magnet school ranks 3rd in Maryland (99th percentile) with 100% English proficiency and 61.5% math proficiency, operating in a different academic universe from its neighbors. In contrast, Largo High has only 2% math proficiency, while Charles Herbert Flowers High performs much better with 62.5% English proficiency and a strong 89.6% graduation rate. Among elementary schools, Ardmore Elementary and Kettering Elementary struggle the most, with over 92% of students receiving free/reduced lunch and math proficiency below 10%. Imagine Foundations at Leeland PCS stands out for its exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of 6.2%, far better than the area average of 22.8%.

Key findings reveal that higher spending does not guarantee better results—Ardmore Elementary spends the most per student ($22,839) but is among the lowest performers, while Charles Herbert Flowers High spends the least ($16,254) yet achieves strong outcomes. Chronic absenteeism is a powerful predictor of performance, with Kettering Elementary having the highest rate (42.8%) and lowest math scores. At Kettering Middle, 8th-grade math proficiency drops to just 7.2%, suggesting students fall further behind as they progress. Overall, families should carefully evaluate the stark differences between the magnet Academy of Health Sciences and traditional schools, while noting that Charles Herbert Flowers High and Imagine Foundations at Leeland PCS offer the most consistent performance among non-magnet options.