Best Public Schools in Zip Code 20832

The 20832 zip code in Olney, Maryland, is home to five high-performing public schools within the Montgomery County Public Schools district, serving elementary and middle school students with no high schools present. Belmont Elementary stands out as the academic powerhouse, consistently earning top ratings with 60.2% math and 74.7% ELA proficiency, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 8.3%, and the lowest free/reduced lunch rate of 16.33%. In contrast, Brooke Grove Elementary is the lowest-performing school in the zip code, with 31.9% math and 47.4% ELA proficiency, despite having the highest per-student spending ($24,409) and the smallest class sizes (11:1). Rosa M. Parks Middle excels in English Language Arts with 75.2% proficiency, while William H. Farquhar Middle shows strong overall performance but both middle schools struggle with math, particularly in 8th grade where proficiency drops to 12.8% and 2.2% respectively.

Key metrics reveal a clear performance divide within the zip code. All five schools outperform Maryland state averages in math and ELA, but Olney Elementary achieves strong results with the lowest spending per student ($17,498) and a higher student-teacher ratio (16.1:1). The highest-performing schools—Belmont Elementary and Rosa M. Parks Middle—share low free/reduced lunch rates around 16%, while Brooke Grove Elementary has the highest rate at 34.87% and the highest chronic absenteeism at 16.8%. This suggests that resource allocation alone does not guarantee outcomes, as Brooke Grove receives the most funding yet lags academically.

Interesting takeaways include the "middle school dip" in math, where proficiency declines sharply from 6th to 8th grade, indicating a need for stronger foundational support in pre-algebraic concepts. Belmont Elementary serves as a model of excellence with its combination of high test scores, low absenteeism, and engaged community, earning 5-star ratings in recent years. For parents, this zip code offers strong educational options, with elementary schools like Belmont and Olney providing top-tier foundations, while middle schools like Rosa M. Parks offer exceptional ELA programs but require attention to math performance as students advance.