The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Kettering Elementary
Kettering Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. It sits within Prince George’s County Public Schools, the state’s second-largest district. The school occupies a single building in the county seat, a small incorporated town that functions as the administrative and civic heart of Prince George’s County. The setting is a mix of government offices, quiet residential streets, and a compact downtown where the Board of Education is a short walk from Main Street. The school itself draws from the surrounding neighborhoods and the broader unincorporated area that extends beyond the town limits.
On academics, the most recent state testing results paint a clear picture. In reading, the share of students meeting the Maryland standard on the MCAP varied by grade level, with fourth grade showing the strongest performance among the three tested grades. Third and fifth grade reading results were lower. Across all elementary grades tested, reading proficiency fell below state averages by a wide margin. In mathematics the gap was even larger. Math proficiency was very low in every tested grade, with fourth grade particularly weak. Fifth-grade science results on the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment were similarly far below the state benchmark. Because only one year of assessment data was available under the current testing framework, it is not possible to say whether these results represent a change from prior years. Parents looking for academic support will want to discuss with the school what interventions and targeted instruction are in place, especially in math and science.
The student body is relatively small for an elementary school and is overwhelmingly Black, with a modest Hispanic enrollment and very small groups of other racial backgrounds. A substantial share of students come from low-income households, as reflected in the free and reduced-price meal program participation. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in school-reported figures, so families with children who have special education needs or are learning English should ask the school directly about available services.
Upper Marlboro’s housing market is moderately priced compared to national norms, with typical home values and rents slightly above the U.S. median but roughly in line with Maryland overall. The town itself is stable in population and has a finite stock of single-family homes concentrated west of downtown. The larger unincorporated area has been seeing new housing development, though horse farms and rural parcels still dot the landscape. A long-standing discussion about relocating the county government seat to Largo introduces uncertainty about the town’s future growth, but for now the daily rhythm of Kettering Elementary families is shaped by a small-town civic core and suburban surroundings.
At the district level, Prince George’s County Public Schools has adopted a system-wide literacy initiative grounded in the science of reading and has increased the operating budget to support teacher salaries and student services. A boundary review conducted in 2024 may change attendance zones for some schools beginning in the 2025-2026 school year; families should verify that Kettering remains the assigned school for their address. Because the school serves only early and elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the comparison data that would place its proficiency against other schools in the county was too thin to draw a meaningful local benchmark.
In sum, Kettering Elementary serves a high-poverty, predominantly Black student body in a small-town government hub within a large suburban district. Its academic results are well below state averages, with reading a relative bright spot and math and science areas where a family would want to understand the school’s response. The community is quiet and stable, with housing that is not out of reach for many area workers. The school’s size and grade span mean that the focus is on foundational skill-building in the early years, and the district’s recent priorities around literacy and budgeting may eventually translate into changes in the classroom. Parents considering the school should visit, talk with the principal about academic supports, and stay informed about any upcoming boundary adjustments.
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