The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cool Spring Elementary
Cool Spring Elementary is a regular public school in Adelphi, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It sits on Riggs Road in Prince George’s County and is part of Maryland’s largest school district, Prince George’s County Public Schools. For a family looking at elementary options in the central part of the county, this is one of several neighborhood schools serving a dense, residential area.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a very high share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The enrollment is moderate for an elementary school, and the grade-level counts are generally balanced across kindergarten through fifth grade. A parent considering Cool Spring will find a school that reflects the broader Adelphi community: heavily Hispanic, with many families whose first language is not English, and with a high concentration of economic need. These are straightforward characteristics of the student population, not judgments.
Academic performance on Maryland’s state assessments, the MCAP for math and reading and the MISA for science, showed low proficiency rates across all tested grades in the most recent year for which data is available. In math, the share of students meeting the state benchmark was low in third grade and fell considerably lower in fourth and fifth grades. In English language arts, proficiency rates were also low, though they were somewhat more consistent across the three grades. Science proficiency, tested only in fifth grade, was very low. These results are a soft spot, and a parent would want to ask what instructional supports and interventions the school offers, especially in math, and how the school is addressing these outcomes. The district’s recent adoption of a new evidence-based literacy curriculum may be a relevant factor, as that initiative is meant to improve reading instruction across all elementary schools.
Adelphi itself is a densely populated, predominantly residential census-designated place. It lacks a traditional downtown and is organized around subdivisions from the mid-20th century. The housing stock is majority renter-occupied, and the community is a car-dependent suburb with a high foreign-born population. Major institutional employers nearby include the University of Maryland Global Campus, headquartered in Adelphi, and the Army Research Laboratory. The school is within a short drive of the University of Maryland’s main campus in College Park, and the area has a feel of a commuter suburb near federal research facilities.
Parents should also be aware of district-level developments. Prince George’s County Public Schools recently completed a boundary review to address overcrowding and facility use, with changes proposed for a future school year that could affect attendance zones. The district also increased its operating budget, directing more funding to teacher salaries and student support services. Both of these factors may influence what Cool Spring families experience in terms of class sizes, staffing, and potential reassignment.
For a family weighing this school, the picture is clear: Cool Spring Elementary serves a high-needs, largely Hispanic student population in a dense suburban setting. The academic outcomes on state tests are an area of concern, and the school faces the challenge of raising proficiency levels across the board. At the same time, the district has put in place a systemwide literacy overhaul and has been investing in support resources. A parent looking at this school would want to visit, talk with the principal about the school’s improvement plans, and understand what targeted help is available for students who are behind grade level, particularly in math and reading.
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