The reported proficiency rate for Science is 6%.
Original Research by School Decision on Fairmont Heights High
Fairmont Heights High serves students in grades nine through twelve as a regular public school in Landover, part of the Prince George’s County Public Schools system. The school sits in an unincorporated, auto-oriented suburban community that mixes residential subdivisions with commercial and industrial zones. The area lacks a traditional downtown, though it hosts Northwest Stadium, the Landover and Morgan Boulevard Metro stations, and several major employers including Giant Food and a Metrobus maintenance facility. The former Landover Mall closed and was demolished, and county officials have been developing plans for the site. Housing in the Landover area is moderately priced relative to the broader Washington region, with typical home values below the statewide average and rents that consume a substantial share of a typical household’s income.
The student body is large and diverse. Black students make up a majority, Hispanic students form a large minority, and small shares of other racial groups are present. A high proportion of students come from low-income households, as indicated by the free or reduced-price lunch measure. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner supports was not available in the current profile.
State assessment results for this school are limited and should be interpreted with caution. Testing data from several years ago, when the state was using modified assessments following the pandemic, shows that in mathematics essentially no students reached the proficiency threshold, and in science very few students did. More recent English language arts assessment data for the 2024-2025 school year indicates that a moderate share of students met the proficiency standard. Because of assessment changes and limited data points, it is difficult to draw a clear trend. The school’s graduation rate was not reported in the available data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about completion outcomes. The available data also did not include information about specific programs, course offerings, or career and technical education pathways, which a family evaluating academic options might wish to explore further.
The school is part of Prince George’s County Public Schools, a large district that has recently adopted a district-wide literacy initiative aligned with the science of reading, approved a budget increase that supports staffing and student services, and conducted a boundary review that could affect attendance zones for the upcoming school year. These district-level changes may influence resources and assignments at Fairmont Heights, but specific impacts are not detailed at the school level.
Landover itself is a community in transition. Its population has grown over recent decades, yet the loss of a major retail anchor left a gap in the commercial landscape. Redevelopment proposals for the former mall site and the area around the Morgan Boulevard Metro station are ongoing. The community has limited walkability and street life, though Metro rail provides access to the broader region. For a family considering this school, the peer environment is one of considerable economic diversity weighted toward lower-income households, and the academic picture is incomplete due to gaps in testing coverage and missing outcome measures. A parent would be wise to visit the school, inquire about programs and supports, and ask how the school is addressing the academic challenges suggested by the available test results.
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