The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Judge Sylvania W. Woods Sr. Elementary
Judge Sylvania W. Woods Sr. Elementary is a regular public school in Glenarden, Maryland, serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of Prince George’s County Public Schools, a large district that in recent years has approved a growing operating budget, shifted to an evidence-based reading curriculum, and conducted a boundary review affecting attendance zones for the 2025-2026 school year.
The school sits in a compact, predominantly residential suburb about ten miles east of Washington, D.C. Glenarden was founded as an African-American middle-class community and incorporated early as a predominantly Black town in Maryland. Its housing stock ranges from older bungalows and brick traditionals to newer townhomes and single-family homes. The city describes itself as a place for retail and residential roots, and while there is no traditional downtown, civic life centers on the municipal complex. Public transit access is available at the New Carrollton and Landover Metro stations, and the Purple Line light rail is scheduled to open nearby, which may shape future growth. The local housing market, measured by typical home values, sits near the national benchmark for affordability, and rent is moderate relative to income.
Woods Elementary enrolls a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black cohort, and a small share of students who are white, Asian, or of two or more races. Nearly all students come from low-income households, as measured by federal meal program eligibility. The school does not report data on the share of students with individualized education plans or those identified as English learners, so a parent looking for that information should check with the school directly.
State testing results are available for the most recent school year across grades three through five. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient varied by grade, with one grade level reaching above the lowest range while others fell below that mark. In mathematics, proficiency rates were low across all tested grades. In science, tested in fifth grade, proficiency was also low. These results represent a single year of data; the school has only one year of testing records available in this dataset, so there is no trend to assess improvement or decline over time. A parent may want to discuss academic support and intervention strategies with the school.
Because this is an elementary school serving only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not offer advanced placement, career, or dual-credit programs, as those are typically associated with high schools.
The school is not a charter or magnet school. Information on Title I status, discipline rates, course access, staffing ratios, and attendance was not available in the data reviewed. The comparison fact-set for districts in Prince George’s County could not place Woods Elementary relative to its peers because the cohort was too small for a meaningful comparison.
Woods Elementary is a neighborhood school in a stable suburban community with a largely low-income student population. The academic proficiency levels on state assessments are an area where families will want to get a fuller picture from the school itself. The district’s recent literacy initiative and boundary adjustments are relevant for any family zoned to this school, as the boundary changes may affect which elementary school a child attends in the coming year.
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