Summary:
The city of Takoma Park, Maryland is home to 4 elementary schools that serve students from diverse backgrounds. While the schools vary in their academic performance, Piney Branch Elementary stands out as the top-performing school in the area, ranking in the top 15% of Maryland elementary schools.
Piney Branch Elementary boasts significantly higher proficiency rates in Math and English Language Arts compared to the Montgomery County and Maryland averages. The school also has strong 5th grade Science proficiency and a relatively low free/reduced lunch rate of 37.56%. In contrast, Rolling Terrace Elementary and Carole Highlands Elementary lag behind, with very low statewide rankings and proficiency rates that fall well short of district and state benchmarks.
The data reveals significant disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes within the Takoma Park school system. The schools with the highest rates of economic disadvantage, as measured by free/reduced lunch eligibility, also have the lowest test scores and rankings. While funding levels do not appear to be the primary driver of these performance gaps, addressing the underlying inequities should be a priority for local education leaders in Montgomery County and Prince George's County.
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