Summary:
In zip code 20904, there is one middle school, White Oak Middle, serving grades 6 through 8 in Silver Spring, Maryland, as part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district.
White Oak Middle serves 808 students and faces significant academic challenges, particularly in mathematics. Overall math proficiency is just 13.1%, far below the district average of 36.9% and the state average of 27.1%. The situation worsens as students advance, with 8th grade math proficiency dropping to 0%. In contrast, English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency is 45.5%, closer to the state average of 51.7%. The school spends a high $20,652 per student, yet this investment has not translated into strong test scores. However, there is a positive trend: math proficiency nearly doubled from 7.4% to 13.1% year-over-year, suggesting recent interventions may be starting to work. Additionally, students in advanced math courses perform well, with 45.5% proficient in Algebra II and 33.9% in Geometry, well above state averages.
On a positive note, chronic absenteeism at White Oak Middle is 16.0%, notably lower than the district average of 22.6%, indicating strong student attendance. The school has a high concentration of low-income students, with 57.3% eligible for free/reduced lunch. Its state ranking has declined over three years, now sitting at the 45th percentile. For parents, the key takeaway is that while the school struggles with math proficiency—especially in higher grades—it shows relative strength in ELA and advanced math courses, and attendance is a clear bright spot.
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