The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in English language arts. The lowest is 77% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Heather Hills Elementary
Heather Hills Elementary serves students from second through fifth grade in Bowie, a large planned suburb east of Washington, D.C. The school is a regular public elementary school in the Prince George's County Public Schools system. Because it does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and state testing data is limited to the grades it serves.
Academically, the school posts strong results on Maryland's MCAP assessments. In English language arts, a very large majority of students in every tested grade scored at or above the proficient level, with performance particularly high in third and fourth grades. Math results are also solid overall, though they vary by grade. Fourth graders showed very strong math proficiency, while third graders performed at a still solid level. Fifth graders posted a lower math proficiency rate than the earlier grades, a soft spot a parent may want to explore with the school. In fifth-grade science, results fall in a moderate range, with roughly two-thirds of students meeting the state's proficiency bar. The school has only a single year of assessment data available in the format reported, so no trend line can be drawn.
The student body numbers about three hundred sixty children. Roughly two-thirds of students are Black, with smaller shares of white, Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the school's profile.
Heather Hills sits in a primarily residential section of Bowie. The city grew dramatically in the 1960s with the Levitt-built Belair at Bowie development and remains a car-dependent suburb with curving streets, extensive parks, and commercial corridors concentrated at Bowie Town Center and major highways. Home values in the area are well above the national median, and rents are similarly elevated, reflecting the suburb's desirability and proximity to Washington, D.C. The city is home to Bowie State University, Maryland's oldest historically Black university, and offers civic amenities including an ice arena, performing arts center, and multiple museums. MARC train service to D.C. is available at the Bowie State station.
The district, Prince George's County Public Schools, recently adopted a new evidence-based literacy curriculum district-wide, a change that directly affects how reading is taught at Heather Hills. The district also approved a budget increase for teacher salaries and student support, and is in the midst of a boundary review that could alter attendance zones for the coming school year. The school itself has no magnet or charter designation, and no Title I status is listed in the data.
This is an elementary school with consistently high English language arts outcomes, solid math performance with one grade-level dip, and a moderate science showing. The setting is a stable suburban community with a high cost of housing. Families who prioritize strong reading results and a smaller school within a large district may find it a good fit. A parent considering the school will want to ask about the grade 5 math results and any supports in place, and to stay informed about the district's boundary changes that could affect future assignment.
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