The reported proficiency rate for Science is 35%.
Original Research by School Decision on Paint Branch High
Paint Branch High School serves students in grades nine through twelve in Burtonsville, a suburban census-designated place in the northeast corner of Montgomery County. The school sits on Old Columbia Pike, the same roadway that also hosts Benjamin Banneker Middle School and Burtonsville Elementary School, placing the community’s three public schools along a single corridor. The high school itself is a large comprehensive public school, not a charter or magnet, and operates as a regular secondary school within Montgomery County Public Schools.
Burtonsville is a racially and economically diverse community. The student body at Paint Branch reflects that diversity, with a student population that is predominantly Black and Hispanic, along with smaller shares of Asian, white, and multiracial students. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that indicates a substantial low-income population. The community is car-oriented, centered on the intersection of two major highways, with Metrobus service and a Park & Ride providing public transit connections. Housing values in the area are generally in line with the broader Montgomery County market, and the area has seen steady population growth over recent decades. The district, MCPS, has a large budget and continues boundary studies that could affect attendance areas.
On statewide assessments in the most recent year with available data, Paint Branch High posted a mixed picture. In English Language Arts, roughly half of students scored at the proficient level or above, a result that sits within a moderate range. In mathematics, the proficiency rate was much lower, with fewer than one in ten students reaching the proficient threshold. Algebra I results were similarly low. Science data from an earlier assessment year showed roughly a third of students proficient, though that test was administered under a different assessment name and the results may not be directly comparable to later years. With only one year of data for each subject, it is not possible to identify a trend up or down. A parent may want to discuss math support and intervention resources directly with the school to understand how the curriculum and instruction address the proficiency gaps. Overall, the academic picture is one where English results are near the middle of the range while math results are a clear area of concern.
The school serves a large high school enrollment, with the student body distributed across all four grade levels. This makes it one of the bigger high schools in the region for its grade band. The school environment data, including chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access, was not available in the provided information. Similarly, civil rights data such as discipline disparities or special education identification rates were absent. No graduation rate was reported in the data provided, which is a notable gap for a high school; a parent or resident may wish to ask the school directly about its four-year graduation rate and postsecondary outcomes.
Paint Branch is a regular neighborhood high school in a large, diverse, suburban district. The community it serves is racially and economically mixed, and the school's academic results show a significant disparity between English and math performance. Families considering this school may want to look closely at how the school supports students who need additional help in mathematics and what pathways exist for advanced coursework, college readiness, and career preparation. The lack of available data on graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, and course access means that some of the most important indicators of a high school's health are not visible from this profile alone. A direct conversation with the school administration would be a reasonable next step for any family evaluating Paint Branch.
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