Is Matthew Henson Middle School a good school?

Matthew Henson Middle School ranks 220 th of 328 Maryland middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Matthew Henson Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 710 students attended Matthew Henson Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Matthew Henson Middle School?

Students at Matthew Henson Middle School are 63% African American, 14% Hispanic, 11% White, 10% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Matthew Henson Middle School

Summary:

Matthew Henson Middle School is a public middle school located in Indian Head, Maryland, serving 710 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Charles County Public Schools district, which is ranked 20 out of 25 in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Matthew Henson Middle School consistently ranks in the bottom half of Maryland middle schools, with significantly lower academic performance compared to the state and district averages in both mathematics and English language arts. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 9.9% of students were proficient or better in MCAP Mathematics, compared to 15% for the Charles County Public Schools district and 24.1% for the state of Maryland. The school's performance is particularly low in mathematics, with proficiency rates ranging from 6.5% to 12.8% across different grade levels. Additionally, the school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Hispanic students performing relatively well, while African American and White students lag behind.

Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending, its academic performance remains below the district and state averages. This suggests that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution, and that other factors, such as effective teaching practices, curriculum, and targeted support for struggling students, may play a more significant role in improving academic outcomes. Nearby schools within the Charles County Public Schools district, such as John Hanson Middle School and Milton M. Somers Middle School, tend to have higher academic proficiency rates and better SchoolDigger rankings, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and support to address the underlying factors contributing to the achievement gaps at Matthew Henson Middle School.

Detail:

Public 6-8

3535 Livingston Rd
Indian Head, MD 20640

(301) 375-8550

District: Charles County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
220^th of 328 Maryland Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,475

Feeder schools for Matthew Henson Middle School:

Elementary:

J. C. Parks Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.7

Number of students: 710

Racial breakdown:

African American:

62.8%

Hispanic:

13.5%

White:

11.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 43.2%

See top rated Maryland middle schools

Compare Matthew Henson Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Matthew Henson Middle School ranks worse than 67.1% of middle schools in Maryland. It also ranks 4^th among 8 ranked middle schools in the Charles County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.19. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (62.8%), Hispanic (13.5%), White (11.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 43.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Matthew Henson Middle School is 16.7. 4 middle schools in the Charles County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Matthew Henson Middle School employs 42.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Matthew Henson Middle School is $15,475. 4 middle schools in the Charles County Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Matthew Henson Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Matthew Henson Middle School 220^th of 328 Maryland public middle schools. (See Matthew Henson Middle School in the ranking list.)

Charles County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Charles County Public Schools 20^th of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Matthew Henson Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	47.05	135^th	252	46.4%
2005	53.23	121^st	255	52.5%
2006	57.81	102^nd	254	59.8%
2007	49.28	139^th	264	47.3%
2008	49.89	167^th	283	41.0%
2009	49.92	182^nd	301	39.5%
2010	62.06	143^rd	324	55.9%
2011	50.26	164^th	309	46.9%
2012	47.43	183^rd	314	41.7%
2013	45.24	185^th	316	41.5%
2014	54.92	170^th	339	49.9%
2015	41.32	188^th	315	40.3%
2016	49.20	146^th	314	53.5%
2017	44.45	174^th	317	45.1%
2018	33.92	211^th	328	35.7%
2019	35.53	192^nd	316	39.2%
2021	34.41	193^rd	303	36.3%
2022	45.22	174^th	333	47.7%
2023	28.44	213^th	322	33.9%
2024	26.19	220^th	328	32.9%

See the entire list of Maryland Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	50.49	60^th	136	55.9%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	47.67	131^st	273	52.0%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	42.64	162^nd	303	46.5%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	31.49	196^th	288	31.9%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	37.92	163^rd	259	37.1%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	64.47	49^th	207	76.3%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	34.57	133^rd	210	36.7%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Matthew Henson Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	490	130	7	6	7	n/a	n/a	0	640
1990	508	152	8	6	3	n/a	n/a	0	677
1991	554	148	12	7	4	n/a	n/a	0	725
1992	605	140	12	4	5	n/a	n/a	0	766
1993	441	106	10	3	7	n/a	n/a	0	567
1994	590	158	16	6	7	n/a	n/a	0	777
1995	368	137	8	6	6	n/a	n/a	0	525
1996	368	137	8	6	6	n/a	n/a	0	525
1997	353	122	7	5	4	n/a	n/a	0	491
1998	364	138	9	11	4	n/a	n/a	0	526
1999	356	176	13	10	6	n/a	n/a	0	561
2000	429	194	23	12	6	n/a	n/a	0	664
2001	478	209	24	14	7	n/a	n/a	0	732
2002	511	296	18	17	9	n/a	n/a	0	851
2003	511	296	18	17	9	n/a	n/a	0	851
2004	489	359	20	16	12	n/a	n/a	0	896
2005	452	404	29	19	11	n/a	n/a	0	915
2006	352	415	31	16	11	n/a	n/a	0	825
2007	355	494	27	21	13	n/a	n/a	0	910
2008	194	383	10	14	7	n/a	n/a	0	608
2009	196	378	9	19	6	n/a	n/a	0	608
2010	177	356	11	14	2	n/a	n/a	0	560
2011	182	325	10	24	2	1	26	0	570
2012	148	333	8	23	5	1	30	0	548
2013	168	448	18	34	5	1	41	0	715
2014	144	451	19	39	3	0	40	0	696
2015	133	447	15	39	5	0	48	0	687
2016	121	467	11	44	6	0	55	0	704
2017	119	478	13	42	6	0	58	0	716
2018	105	519	19	52	3	0	56	0	754
2019	95	548	22	58	1	2	56	0	782
2020	92	552	19	80	1	3	64	0	811
2021	73	529	17	95	1	4	65	0	784
2022	66	504	18	99	1	4	69	2	763
2023	80	446	13	96	2	4	68	1	710

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Matthew Henson Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	640	32.8	19.5	n/a
1990	677	35.3	19.1	6.2
1991	725	36.4	19.9	4.4
1992	766	39.2	19.5	5.9
1993	567	31.3	18.1	7.9
1994	777	41.8	18.6	12.6
1995	525	26.0	20.2	17
1996	525	26.0	20.2	17
1997	491	26.0	18.9	14.5
1998	526	27.0	19.5	15
1999	561	27.0	20.8	23.7
2000	664	32.0	20.8	15.7
2001	732	38.8	18.9	12
2002	851	39.8	21.4	12.8
2003	851	39.8	21.4	12.8
2004	896	45.4	19.7	16.4
2005	915	47.0	19.5	15.8
2006	825	43.0	19.2	21.2
2007	910	48.5	18.8	19.2
2008	608	39.0	15.6	22.9
2009	608	40.5	15.0	28.3
2010	560	40.0	14.0	25.7
2011	570	34.0	16.7	28.8
2012	548	38.0	14.4	29
2013	715	45.0	15.8	28.3
2014	696	44.0	15.8	28
2015	687	47.0	14.6	28.7
2016	704	47.0	14.9	31
2017	716	46.0	15.5	32.4
2018	754	46.3	16.2	27.2
2019	782	47.3	16.5	32.4
2020	811	49.1	16.4	35.1
2021	784	50.0	15.6	36
2022	763	48.5	15.7	38
2023	710	42.5	16.7	43.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Matthew Henson Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	640	32.8	19.5	n/a
1990	677	35.3	19.1	6.2
1991	725	36.4	19.9	4.4
1992	766	39.2	19.5	5.9
1993	567	31.3	18.1	7.9
1994	777	41.8	18.6	12.6
1995	525	26.0	20.2	17
1996	525	26.0	20.2	17
1997	491	26.0	18.9	14.5
1998	526	27.0	19.5	15
1999	561	27.0	20.8	23.7
2000	664	32.0	20.8	15.7
2001	732	38.8	18.9	12
2002	851	39.8	21.4	12.8
2003	851	39.8	21.4	12.8
2004	896	45.4	19.7	16.4
2005	915	47.0	19.5	15.8
2006	825	43.0	19.2	21.2
2007	910	48.5	18.8	19.2
2008	608	39.0	15.6	22.9
2009	608	40.5	15.0	28.3
2010	560	40.0	14.0	25.7
2011	570	34.0	16.7	28.8
2012	548	38.0	14.4	29
2013	715	45.0	15.8	28.3
2014	696	44.0	15.8	28
2015	687	47.0	14.6	28.7
2016	704	47.0	14.9	31
2017	716	46.0	15.5	32.4
2018	754	46.3	16.2	27.2
2019	782	47.3	16.5	32.4
2020	811	49.1	16.4	35.1
2021	784	50.0	15.6	36
2022	763	48.5	15.7	38
2023	710	42.5	16.7	43.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Matthew Henson Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$737 (5.7%)	$12,232 (94.3%)	$12,969
2020	$776 (5.9%)	$12,317 (94.1%)	$13,092
2021	$464 (3.4%)	$13,234 (96.6%)	$13,697
2022	$607 (4.3%)	$13,500 (95.7%)	$14,107
2023	$401 (2.6%)	$15,074 (97.4%)	$15,475

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Matthew Henson Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 192^nd of 316 Middle schools	Ranks 213^th of 322 Middle schools	5.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	782	710	9.2%
African American	548	446	18.6%
American Indian	1	2	100%
Asian	22	13	40.9%
Hispanic	58	96	65.5%
Pacific Islander	2	4	100%
White	95	80	15.8%
Two or More Races	56	68	21.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	32.4%	43.2%	10.9%

Schools Near Matthew Henson Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCAP Mathematics (2024)				MCAP English Language Arts (2024)				MCAP Algebra I (2024)	MCAP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Matthew Henson Middle School	Public	6-8	3535 Livingston Rd	Indian Head	20640	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 375-8550	710	43	16.7	43.2%	80 (11.3%)	446 (62.8%)	96 (13.5%)	13 (1.8%)	2 (0.3%)	4 (0.6%)	68 (9.6%)	26.2	220^th of 328 public middle schools	32.9%		28.4	213^th of 322 public middle schools	33.9%	7	12.8	6.5		9.9	35.6	31.7	37.6	35.0	26.1	14.2	$15,475	$401	$15,074
General Smallwood Middle School	Public	6-8	4990 Indian Head Hwy	Indian Head	20640	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 743-5422	543	37	14.5	56.9%	176 (32.4%)	253 (46.6%)	64 (11.8%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (8.3%)	25.2	226^th of 328 public middle schools	31.1%		31.2	199^th of 322 public middle schools	38.2%	27	7.5	8.4		10.3	30.8	36.7	36.2	34.3	42.6	16.5	$18,179	$645	$17,535
Theodore G. Davis Middle School	Public	6-8	2495 Davis Road	Waldorf	20603	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 753-2082	1,043	54	19.3	44.4%	67 (6.4%)	723 (69.3%)	111 (10.6%)	52 (5.0%)	4 (0.4%)	4 (0.4%)	82 (7.9%)	44.4	148^th of 328 public middle schools	54.9%		45.2	147^th of 322 public middle schools	54.3%	1	17.0	12.4		14.1	55.3	43.6	51.3	50.0	38.7	14.2	$13,517	$518	$12,999
Mattawoman Middle School	Public	6-8	10145 Berry Rd	Waldorf	20603	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 645-7708	934	54	17.3	48.5%	36 (3.9%)	695 (74.4%)	111 (11.9%)	33 (3.5%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	54 (5.8%)	22	241^st of 328 public middle schools	26.5%		26.3	223^rd of 322 public middle schools	30.7%	18	9.6	5.9	5.2	8.6	33.7	33.6	34.0	33.8	24.1	10.6	$13,785	$554	$13,231
Milton M. Somers Middle School	Public	6-8	300 Willow Lane	La Plata	20646	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 934-4663	666	51	12.9	38.6%	171 (25.7%)	342 (51.4%)	70 (10.5%)	25 (3.8%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	55 (8.3%)	44.5	147^th of 328 public middle schools	55.2%		49.4	130^th of 322 public middle schools	59.6%	17	16.9	18.9	5.7	16.8	51.6	54.0	40.7	48.3	30.0	18.0	$18,609	$595	$18,014
Phoenix International School of the Arts	Public, Charter	6-8	95 Catalpa Dr	La Plata	20646	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(301) 202-4159																			(n/a)		5.4			33.7	35.1	31.6	33.8
Benjamin Stoddert Middle School	Public	6-8	2040 Saint Thomas Dr	Waldorf	20602	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 645-1334	925	40	23.1	58.8%	44 (4.8%)	638 (69.0%)	155 (16.8%)	23 (2.5%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (6.7%)	15.2	279^th of 328 public middle schools	14.9%		25.6	228^th of 322 public middle schools	29.2%	51		5.7		6.6	20.0	26.5	27.7	24.7	36.0	9.8	$13,712	$467	$13,244
John Hanson Middle School	Public	6-8	3165 John Hanson Dr	Waldorf	20601	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 645-4520	772	54	14.3	59.8%	89 (11.5%)	487 (63.1%)	126 (16.3%)	10 (1.3%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.3%)	54 (7.0%)	23.1	234^th of 328 public middle schools	28.7%		20.1	260^th of 322 public middle schools	19.3%	26	7.1	9.2		8.3	28.8	36.2	33.0	32.7	15.1	13.4	$15,794	$646	$15,148
Oxon Hill Middle	Public	6-8	9570 Fort Foote Rd	Fort Washington	20744	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(301) 749-4270	767	51	15.0	82.3%	14 (1.8%)	271 (35.3%)	456 (59.5%)	17 (2.2%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	4 (0.5%)	18.3	262^nd of 328 public middle schools	20.1%		21.9	243^rd of 322 public middle schools	24.5%	19					26.1	32.1	24.6	27.7	13.6	9.4	$19,369	$2,258	$17,111
Gwynn Park Middle	Public	6-8	8000 Dyson Rd	Brandywine	20613	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 372-0120	711	43	16.5	57.4%	19 (2.7%)	560 (78.8%)	105 (14.8%)	6 (0.8%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.5%)	21.1	246^th of 328 public middle schools	25.0%		20.9	251^st of 322 public middle schools	22.0%	5		7.9			31.1	32.1	30.4	31.1		10.0	$17,149	$1,551	$15,598

Matthew Henson Middle School

Charles County Public Schools:

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Rank History for Matthew Henson Middle School

Rank History for all students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Rank History for Female students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Rank History for Male students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Rank History for African American students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Rank History for White students at Matthew Henson Middle School

Enrollment information for Matthew Henson Middle School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Matthew Henson Middle School

Student/Teacher Ratio Matthew Henson Middle School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Matthew Henson Middle School

Impact of COVID-19 on Matthew Henson Middle School

Rankings

Student Body

Schools Near Matthew Henson Middle School