The reported proficiency rate for Science is 6%.
Original Research by School Decision on Potomac High
Potomac High serves a large and diverse student body in a suburban setting shaped by the National Harbor development along the Potomac River. The school is part of Prince George’s County Public Schools, a large district that has recently adopted a new evidence-based literacy curriculum and approved budget increases for teacher salaries and student support services. A district-wide boundary review in 2024 may affect attendance areas, so families should confirm whether this school serves their address.
The student population is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with a much smaller share of white, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic context of the community. Oxon Hill itself is a mix of older residential neighborhoods, garden apartments, and townhouse communities, with a notable Filipino-American presence and cultural center. The local economy is heavily driven by the MGM National Harbor resort, the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, and the hospitality and tourism sector, while many residents also commute to Washington, D.C. for federal and professional jobs. Housing values in the area sit around the national average, and the community has seen steady growth driven by the National Harbor development.
Academically, Potomac High’s most recent state testing results, from a single year, show that in English language arts about four out of ten students met proficiency, while in math and science the share was much lower. These figures come from the 2024-2025 school year and represent a single snapshot, so there is no trend data to indicate whether performance is improving or declining. The school also has a small data point from an earlier science assessment in 2020-2021, but that assessment’s name changed, making comparisons unreliable. Parents should note that the school serves only grades nine through twelve, and the testing data available covers only those grades; there is no elementary or middle school performance to review here. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic support and intervention programs are available for students who arrive below grade level.
The school offers a typical high school program, but specific course offerings, including Advanced Placement, career and technical education pathways, and dual enrollment, were not detailed in the available data. Given the size of the enrollment, the range of courses is likely broad, but families should confirm what is available. The district’s literacy initiative is focused on elementary grades, so high school students may not be directly affected, but the overall investment in staffing and support could benefit the school.
The comparison fact-set that would normally place this school’s proficiency and graduation metrics relative to other districts in Prince George’s County could not be applied because there was only one school in the cohort for this analysis. No graduation rate was available in the data, which is a gap worth noting; a parent may want to ask the school directly about its four-year graduation rate.
Oxon Hill is a car-dependent suburb bisected by the Capital Beltway, with limited walkability outside of the National Harbor waterfront area. The Henson Creek trail provides some recreational connection, and the Eastover Shopping Center serves as a transit hub. The community has several civic and recreational anchors, including an ice rink, a golf course, and a library with a notable African American research collection. The school itself is a regular public high school, not a charter, magnet, or special-purpose school, and serves a wide attendance area that draws from these varied neighborhoods.
For a family considering Potomac High, the picture is one of a large, diverse high school in a growing suburban area with significant economic activity tied to hospitality and tourism. The academic results suggest that the school faces challenges in bringing students to proficiency in math and science, and that a deeper look at available supports and programs would be wise. The absence of trend data and graduation rate means the current snapshot is incomplete. The district’s recent investments and curriculum changes may have a positive effect over time, but that is not yet visible in the numbers. This is a school where the peer environment is shaped by a high share of students from low-income backgrounds, and the community context is one of rapid development and commuter-oriented living.
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