The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 11% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Laurel Elementary
Laurel Elementary is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in Prince George’s County. The school sits in the city of Laurel, a largely residential community that was founded as a 19th-century mill town on the Patuxent River and later became an early commuter stop for workers traveling to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. The city retains a historic Main Street district, a MARC train station connecting to both cities, and civic anchors such as the Laurel Museum and the Phelps Community Center. The school itself is located in the older downtown area, reflecting the mix of historic housing stock and postwar suburban development that defines the immediate neighborhood.
About a fifth of the students who took the state math assessment in third grade met the proficiency benchmark, a share that falls in later grades. In fourth grade math, slightly fewer students scored proficient, and by fifth grade the rate was lower still. On the English language arts assessments, the picture is somewhat stronger but still limited. Fourth and fifth graders scored proficient at roughly the same modest level, while the third-grade ELA result was reported as a range, with the upper end somewhat higher than the other two grades, though still well below what many families would consider a solid baseline. Fifth-grade science results show a small share of students reaching proficiency on the state science assessment. Reading across all three tested subjects and grades, the proficiency rates are below what one sees in many elementary schools in the broader region.
The student population is heavily Hispanic and Black, with a much smaller share of white students and very small numbers of Asian, multiracial, and Native American students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which places the school in a high-poverty context. That economic profile matters for the academic picture, but it does not fully explain the performance levels; a parent may want to ask the school what specific academic interventions and supports are in place for students who are below grade level, particularly in math.
Laurel is part of Prince George’s County Public Schools, a large district that has recently increased its operating budget and directed additional funding toward teacher salaries and student support services. The district also launched a system-wide literacy initiative in the 2023-2024 school year, adopting a new reading curriculum aligned with the science of reading. This represents a significant shift in how elementary students are taught to read, and a parent enrolling a child at Laurel Elementary can expect that the school is operating within that new framework. The district also completed a boundary review in 2024 to address overcrowding, with changes proposed for the 2025-2026 school year that could affect attendance zones.
The housing market in Laurel shows home values near the median for the state, though prices have edged down slightly over the past year. Rents are moderate relative to incomes, and the area remains more affordable than many closer-in Washington suburbs. The city’s character as an older commuter town means that the housing stock is a mix of historic homes near downtown and more conventional suburban development farther out, and the neighborhood around the school includes some of that older mill-era housing. Families choosing Laurel Elementary are picking a school in a place with history and transit access, but they should go in with clear eyes about the academic performance data and a willingness to engage with the school and district on support for their child.
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