Best Public Schools in Zip Code 20902

The 10 public schools in zip code 20902 (Silver Spring, MD) are part of the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools district and serve students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with a heavy focus on elementary education.

There is a stark performance divide within this single zip code. Oakland Terrace Elementary is the clear standout, earning a 4-star rating with exceptional math (54.7%) and ELA (61%) proficiency, far exceeding district averages. In contrast, Kemp Mill Elementary is the lowest-performing elementary school, with a 1-star rating and only 1.7% proficiency in science. At the middle school level, Sligo Middle (3-star) significantly outperforms Odessa Shannon Middle (1-star) in nearly every academic metric. The most acute challenges are at John F. Kennedy High, which has a 1-star rating, a 72.9% graduation rate, and a staggering 48.9% chronic absenteeism rate, with math proficiency at just 8.7%.

Chronic absenteeism is a pervasive issue, with six of the ten schools exceeding the district average of 22.6%. The two schools with the lowest absenteeism—Flora M. Singer Elementary (10.6%) and Sligo Middle (12.0%)—are also among the top performers. Notably, higher spending per student does not guarantee success; Kemp Mill Elementary spends over $23,000 per student but struggles profoundly, while Oakland Terrace Elementary spends the most ($24,013) and achieves the best results. This suggests that resource allocation and targeted interventions are critical, especially for schools like John F. Kennedy High, Arcola Elementary, and Glen Haven Elementary, which face significant socioeconomic and attendance hurdles.