Summary:
Zip code 20912 in Takoma Park, MD, is home to four elementary schools serving Pre-K through 5th grade, split between two very different school districts: Montgomery County Public Schools and Prince George's County Public Schools.
Piney Branch Elementary is the standout performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 20% of Maryland elementary schools. It leads the zip code with 53.3% math proficiency and 64.3% English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency, far exceeding state averages. In stark contrast, Carole Highlands Elementary is the lowest-performing school, ranking in the bottom 3% of the state with only 5.4% math proficiency and 15.9% ELA proficiency. Rolling Terrace Elementary presents a paradox: it has the highest spending per student ($23,875) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (10.4:1), yet it ranks in the bottom 10% of the state with 13.1% math proficiency. Takoma Park Elementary serves only PK-2nd grade, so it has no state test scores, but its students likely feed into Piney Branch for grades 3-5.
The data reveals a strong link between poverty and performance: Carole Highlands has the highest rate of economic disadvantage (92.46% free/reduced lunch) and the lowest scores, while Piney Branch has the lowest poverty rate (34.78%) and the highest scores. Chronic absenteeism is a concern across all schools, ranging from 11.1% at Piney Branch to 21.9% at Carole Highlands. The most striking takeaway is the dramatic district divide: Piney Branch's math proficiency is nearly ten times higher than Carole Highlands', highlighting how school district boundaries can create vastly different outcomes for children living in the same zip code.
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