Summary:
The nine public schools in zip code 20904 (Silver Spring, MD) are part of the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools district and include seven elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, presenting a wide range of academic outcomes for families to consider.
Two elementary schools stand out as top performers. Westover Elementary leads the area with the highest math (56.6%) and ELA (70.7%) proficiency rates, the lowest chronic absenteeism (13.9%), and the lowest percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (29.59%). William Tyler Page Elementary is a close second, also earning a 4-star rating and significantly exceeding district averages in all subjects. In stark contrast, JoAnn Leleck at Broad Acres Elementary faces the greatest challenges, with the highest rate of economic disadvantage (69.18% free/reduced lunch) and the lowest ELA proficiency (29.4%). Springbrook High, the area's only high school, also struggles with a high dropout rate (11.9%), very high chronic absenteeism (37.2%), and critically low math proficiency (12.5%).
A key finding is that higher spending does not guarantee better results. Cannon Road Elementary has the highest per-student spending ($27,409) but ranks in the bottom half of elementary schools, while William Tyler Page has the lowest spending ($18,201) but is a top performer. Another critical insight is the "middle school dip" at White Oak Middle, where 8th-grade math proficiency drops to 0%, likely contributing to Springbrook High's low scores. Overall, chronic absenteeism is a powerful warning sign, as the schools with the highest rates also have the lowest academic performance, highlighting a clear link between attendance and success in this zip code.
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