Summary:
The six public schools in zip code 20895 (Kensington, MD) are part of the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools district and serve students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, including a specialized alternative school, revealing a community with stark contrasts in academic performance and resources.
Kensington Parkwood Elementary is the standout performer, ranking in the 97th percentile among Maryland elementary schools with 70.7% math proficiency and 81.6% ELA proficiency, far exceeding district averages. In contrast, Rock View Elementary serves a higher-needs population (50% free/reduced lunch) and ranks in the 45th percentile, despite spending the most per student ($24,675) among non-alternative schools. The middle schools present a paradox: while overall math proficiency at Silver Creek Middle (34.2%) and Newport Mill Middle (30%) lags behind the district average, both dramatically outperform in advanced Algebra I and Geometry exams, with Newport Mill achieving 68.8% proficiency in Algebra I versus 30.5% district-wide. Albert Einstein High shows a troubling split with strong ELA scores (59.7%) but extremely low math proficiency (10.1%), coupled with a 41.4% chronic absenteeism rate and an 85.2% graduation rate below the district average.
Stephen Knolls School is a specialized alternative school with only 51 students and extraordinarily high per-student spending of $96,133, reflecting intensive services for its population, though it faces significant challenges including a 64.4% chronic absenteeism rate. The data clearly shows that higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes, as Kensington Parkwood spends the least ($18,726) yet achieves the best results, while Rock View spends the most and struggles. This suggests that factors like family income and school culture are powerful drivers of success, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 12.15% at Kensington Parkwood to 53.07% at Newport Mill Middle.
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