The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Gaywood Elementary
Gaywood Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Lanham, an unincorporated census-designated place in Prince George’s County. The area has a suburban feel, with a mix of single-family homes, apartment complexes, office parks, and commercial strips along major roads. Several corporate headquarters are located here, including an edtech company, a grocery chain, a media company, and a publisher, and Doctors Community Hospital is also in the community. Proximity to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the New Carrollton Metro and Amtrak station shapes the local employment landscape. The school is part of Prince George’s County Public Schools, a large district that approved a budget increase for the current fiscal year and has implemented a district-wide literacy initiative aligned with the science of reading. The district also conducted a boundary review in recent years to address overcrowding, with changes proposed for a coming school year.
Gaywood Elementary enrolls a student body that is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with small shares of other racial and ethnic groups. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a high-needs population. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. No data was available on the share of students with disabilities or English learners.
State testing results from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program are available for grades three through five. In English language arts, the share of students meeting proficiency varied by grade, with third grade showing a higher rate than fourth and fifth grades. In math, proficiency rates were lower across all tested grades, with fourth grade showing the smallest share. In science, tested in fifth grade, the proficiency rate was similar to that in math. Only one year of state-testing data was reported, so no trend is observable. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate. The data included no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing.
A parent considering Gaywood Elementary will find a school that serves a diverse, economically disadvantaged community. The test results suggest that a minority of students are meeting state benchmarks, particularly in mathematics. Families may want to ask the school about its instructional strategies, intervention programs, and how it supports students who are below grade level. The district’s new literacy initiative is a relevant change that may affect reading instruction schoolwide.
The community context matters here. Lanham is a suburban area with a significant number of employers, and housing values and rents are moderate for the region. The school itself is located in a residential neighborhood. There is no traditional downtown; civic and commercial activity is dispersed along highway corridors. Local public schools are zoned by attendance area, and Gaywood is one of several elementary options in the area. A private Catholic school is also in the CDP.
Overall, Gaywood Elementary is a school where a large share of students face economic challenges. Academic proficiency rates are an area where the school has room for growth. The district is investing in literacy and adjusting boundaries, changes that may affect families in the coming years. For a parent whose priority is a neighborhood elementary school with a diverse student body and an active district context, this school fits that description. Those seeking higher test scores or a more affluent peer environment would likely need to explore other options in or beyond the district. The available data leaves questions about specific supports and programs, so a direct conversation with the school would be valuable.
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