Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 20784

This analysis examines six elementary schools in zip code 20784, serving grades PK-5 in the Landover, New Carrollton, Hyattsville, and Landover Hills areas of Maryland, all part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, where an average of 93.4% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, indicating a high-needs community.

Among these schools, Robert Frost Elementary stands out as the top performer, ranking 565th out of 864 schools in Maryland and earning a 2-star rating for three consecutive years. It leads the cohort in math proficiency (25.9%) and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (24.4%), with the smallest class sizes (11.6:1 student-teacher ratio). Lamont Elementary is the second-highest ranked school, also holding a 2-star rating, and excels in English Language Arts (ELA) with 43.1% of 5th graders proficient, nearly matching the state average, while achieving the highest science proficiency (29.2%) in the group. In contrast, Carrollton Elementary is the lowest-ranked school, with critically low 4th-grade math proficiency (3.9%) and the lowest science scores (5.1%). Glenridge Elementary struggles with the highest chronic absenteeism (37.2%) and the lowest math proficiency (10.3%). Woodridge Elementary presents an interesting anomaly, posting the second-highest ELA proficiency (34.3%) despite having the second-lowest math scores (9.1%).

Key takeaways for parents include a strong link between attendance and academics, as schools with lower chronic absenteeism like Robert Frost and Lamont consistently outperform those with higher rates. A notable "middle school dip" appears in 4th grade across the cohort, where math proficiency drops sharply from 24.8% in 3rd grade to 11.2% in 4th grade, suggesting a curriculum challenge. While per-student spending varies from $18,269 at Carrollton to $24,939 at Robert Frost, higher spending does not guarantee success, as Lamont achieves strong results with lower funding, highlighting the importance of how resources are used. Overall, Robert Frost and Lamont offer the strongest academic environments, while Glenridge and Carrollton face significant hurdles that may require additional support.