Summary:
This analysis examines five elementary schools in zip code 20782 (Hyattsville, MD), serving grades PK-5 within the Prince George's County Public Schools district, a diverse area with high economic need where 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Cesar Chavez Elementary is the standout top performer, ranking in the 61st percentile with 3 stars and significantly outpacing all other local schools in English Language Arts (62.3% proficient) and Math (28.5% proficient). It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (18.9%). University Park Elementary is a solid second choice, ranking in the 46th percentile with 2 stars and achieving 46.6% ELA proficiency. In contrast, Rosa L. Parks Elementary (0 stars, 2nd percentile) and Chillum Elementary (1 star, 13th percentile) are the lowest-performing schools, with critically low proficiency rates—Rosa L. Parks has just 6.3% Math and 11.3% ELA proficiency. Edward M. Felegy Elementary School sits in the middle (1 star, 21st percentile) but has the highest chronic absenteeism rate (42.4%) and the highest poverty rate (93.6%).
A key finding is that higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results; the two lowest-performing schools spend the most per student ($25,022 at Chillum and $23,448 at Rosa L. Parks), while the top-performing Cesar Chavez spends the second-least ($18,842). Chronic absenteeism is a major challenge, with three of five schools exceeding the district average of 30.2%, and it strongly correlates with lower academic performance. Finally, all five schools struggle in Math compared to the state average, indicating a district-wide instructional challenge, though Cesar Chavez's exceptional ELA performance shows that high achievement is possible even with high economic need.
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