Summary:
Zip code 20912 in Takoma Park, MD, is home to four elementary schools spanning Pre-K through 5th grade, split between the Montgomery County Public Schools and Prince George's County Public Schools districts, offering a diverse educational landscape for families.
Piney Branch Elementary stands out as the top performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the top 20% of Maryland schools, with strong math (53.3%) and ELA (64.3%) proficiency rates. In contrast, Rolling Terrace Elementary and Carole Highlands Elementary struggle, both receiving 0-star ratings and ranking in the bottom 10% of the state, with Carole Highlands in the bottom 2%. Takoma Park Elementary is unique, serving only PK-2 grades, so it lacks test score data, but its students feed into Piney Branch for grades 3-5. Notably, higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results: Rolling Terrace spends the most ($23,875 per student) but performs poorly, while Piney Branch spends the least ($17,802) and excels. Socioeconomic factors appear strongly linked to outcomes, with Carole Highlands (92.46% free/reduced lunch) and Rolling Terrace (68.84%) showing lower scores, while Piney Branch (34.78%) fares better. Chronic absenteeism mirrors this trend, with Piney Branch at 11.1% versus over 21% at the lower-performing schools.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Piney Branch Elementary is the clear academic leader in the area, despite lower spending, while Rolling Terrace Elementary and Carole Highlands Elementary face significant challenges. Takoma Park Elementary offers a specialized early education option, but its academic quality is best judged by Piney Branch's performance. This zip code highlights how school outcomes can vary dramatically even within the same district, making it essential to look beyond district reputation and examine individual school data.
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