The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 3% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Phoenix International School of the Arts
Phoenix International School of the Arts is a public charter middle school in La Plata, serving grades six through eight. Its name suggests a focus on the arts, but the available data does not include specific program offerings, so a parent interested in the arts curriculum would need to check directly with the school. The school sits within the Charles County Public Schools system, though as a charter it has its own governance.
La Plata is the county seat of Charles County, a mix of residential neighborhoods, big-box retail along the U.S. route corridor, and a downtown core with a farmers market, town hall, and community theater. The town was rebuilt after a major tornado years ago, and new office development has followed. Many residents commute to Waldorf, Washington D.C., or Baltimore for work. The College of Southern Maryland has a campus just outside town, and the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center is nearby. Housing values in the area are above the national median, and rents are elevated; the local housing market is a factor families considering a move should weigh.
The school itself is small, with enrollment that declines noticeably from grade six to grade eight. The student body is overwhelmingly Black, with small shares of White, Hispanic, and multiracial students. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a degree of economic diversity. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, which is a gap a family may want to explore.
On state assessments, the patterns are uneven. In English language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency is notably higher in grade seven than in grades six or eight, but overall remains well below a majority. In math, proficiency is very low across all three grades, with single-digit rates in grade seven and no students scoring proficient in grades six or eight. Eighth-grade science and social studies results also show low proficiency. These figures describe the most recent testing year; the school lacks a multi-year trend for math or other subjects, so it is not possible to see whether performance is improving. A parent should consider these outcomes carefully and ask the school about its instructional strategies and supports.
Because the school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. No data was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing ratios. The comparison set that would place this school relative to other Charles County districts is not applicable because the school is the only entity in its county-level district cohort; no peer comparison is provided.
For a family, Phoenix International School of the Arts offers a small, charter-governed middle school environment in a suburban town with a mix of local employment and commuter patterns. The academic results, particularly in math, are a soft spot that warrants direct inquiry. The school’s arts emphasis is implied by its name but unconfirmed by the data. A parent who values a smaller setting and wants to understand the charter’s particular approach will need to visit and ask specific questions about curriculum, student supports, and recent outcomes.
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