The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kenilworth Elementary
Kenilworth Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Bowie, a large, primarily residential suburb of Washington, D.C. The school is part of Prince George's County Public Schools, a large district that recently increased its operating budget and adopted a new district-wide literacy initiative aligned with the science of reading. The district also conducted a boundary review in 2024, with changes proposed for the following school year, something families moving into the area may want to track.
The school itself sits in a community that grew substantially from the 1960s onward through planned residential development. Bowie is car-dependent, with commercial life concentrated along highway corridors and at Bowie Town Center rather than in a single traditional downtown. The city has a substantial network of parks and ball fields, several museums, a performing arts center, and a MARC train station providing rail access into Washington. Bowie State University, Maryland's oldest historically Black university, is located just north of the main residential areas.
Kenilworth Elementary's student body reflects a mix of backgrounds. The largest demographic groups are Black students, who make up just under half of enrollment, followed by White students and Hispanic students. A modest share of students are Asian, and a small share identify as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records we reviewed.
On the Maryland state assessments, proficiency rates vary by subject and grade level. In English language arts, results for the three tested grades were mixed, with third-grade proficiency notably lower than fourth- and fifth-grade results. In mathematics, proficiency rates were lower across all three tested grades, with a modest uptick from third to fifth grade. On the state science assessment, which is administered in fifth grade, proficiency was close to one-third of students. The strongest single result was in fourth-grade English language arts, where roughly half of students scored proficient or above.
These are the school's only available testing results, covering a single year. No multi-year trend data is available to show whether performance is improving or declining, so a parent relying on test scores alone has a limited picture. The comparison fact-set for this school was not sufficient to place it relative to other schools in Prince George's County, as only a single district-level comparison was possible.
The school operates as a regular public elementary school with no charter or magnet designation. It does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. No data was available on discipline, staffing ratios, chronic absenteeism, or course access. Families interested in these dimensions would need to raise them directly with the school or district.
Given the available information, Kenilworth Elementary presents as a neighborhood school in a large suburban district whose elementary reading scores show a split across grade levels and whose math scores are an area of concern. The recent district investment in literacy curriculum is a relevant development for families considering this school. The 2024 boundary review means that attendance zones may have shifted, so confirming current assignment is advisable.
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