The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 17% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bond Mill Elementary
Bond Mill Elementary is a regular public school in Laurel, Maryland, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system. Laurel, a mid-sized city founded as a 19th-century mill town on the Patuxent River, grew into an early commuter hub for Washington, D.C. and Baltimore after the B&O Railroad arrived. The city today retains a historic Main Street district, a free museum, and a MARC train station on the Camden Line, giving families a rail link to both metropolitan centers. A fossil park within the city has been called the most prolific dinosaur site in the eastern United States, and the original high school building now serves as the Phelps Community Center, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Academically, Bond Mill’s state assessment results from the 2024-25 school year—the only year currently available for a multi-year view—show a mixed picture. On the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) for English language arts, roughly half of third and fourth graders scored at the proficient level or above, with a slightly lower share in fifth grade. Math proficiency rates were lower overall, with third graders reaching a moderate level, while fourth and fifth graders posted markedly lower figures. On the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) for fifth graders, proficiency was lower still, a soft spot that a parent may want to look into further with the school. Because only one year of data is available, it is not possible to see whether these results represent a trend or a single snapshot.
The student body reflects the diversity of the surrounding community. Black students make up the largest group, followed by a substantial share of Hispanic students, with smaller populations of White, Asian, and multiracial students. A little over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a measure of household economic need that shapes the support services a school may provide. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and civil rights data such as discipline breakdowns were not available in the provided information.
The local housing market in Laurel’s ZIP code has seen a modest decline in typical home values over the past year, while rents have edged up slightly. The area’s median household income and unemployment rate are broadly in line with national averages, and the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fluctuated in recent months, hovering at a moderate level. For families considering a move to the attendance area, these housing economics matter, but the district’s boundary review—reported publicly—proposed changes for the 2025-26 school year to address overcrowding, meaning assignment zones could shift.
The district itself has made some lasting moves. Prince George's County Public Schools approved a budget increase for the most recent fiscal year, directing additional funding toward teacher salaries and student support. It also implemented a district-wide literacy initiative in the prior school year, adopting new reading curriculum aligned with the science of reading, which affects how all elementary students are taught to read. Both are relevant to Bond Mill families because they shape classroom resources and instructional approach.
No program offerings—such as gifted and talented, specials, or before- and after-care—were listed in the data available, so this narrative does not guess at those. The comparison with other districts in Prince George's County was not possible because the cohort was too small to yield a meaningful position. What a parent can see is a K-5 school in a historic commuter city with a diverse student body, academic results that are stronger in reading than in math and science, and a district that has recently invested in literacy instruction and adjusted its boundaries.
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