The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Riverdale Elementary
Riverdale Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in Prince George's County Public Schools, the large Maryland district that also covers the neighboring cities of Hyattsville, College Park, and Greenbelt. The school sits in Riverdale Park, a semi-urban streetcar suburb with a mix of housing that includes 1960s apartment buildings, pre- and post-World War II era homes, and turn-of-the-twentieth-century dwellings. Baltimore Avenue, a major commercial arterial, runs through the town and physically separates West Riverdale from Riverdale Park proper. The Riversdale mansion, a late Georgian-style residence on grounds in the center of town, serves as a historic anchor.
The school's enrollment is large for an elementary building in Prince George's County. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with a very small share of White, Asian, and Black students. Nearly all students come from households with low incomes, as the share qualifying for free or reduced-price meals is extremely high. This is a school where concentrated poverty is the prevailing context, something parents should be aware of when considering the resources and peer environment.
Academically, the state testing picture shows serious challenges. In English language arts, about a third of students across the tested grades scored at the proficient level on the MCAP assessment. In mathematics, the results are much lower, with only about one in eight students meeting proficiency standards. The gap between ELA and math performance is wide. Science results for fifth graders are similarly low. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what interventions or supports are in place, particularly in math. Because this is the only school year of data available in the system, it is not possible to say whether these results represent a change from prior years or a consistent pattern.
Riverdale Elementary is part of a large district undergoing notable shifts. Prince George's County Public Schools approved a growing operating budget in recent years, with additional funding directed toward teacher salaries and student support services. The district implemented a new evidence-based literacy curriculum in the 2023-24 school year, which means all elementary students are now taught to read using that approach. A district-wide boundary review was also conducted in 2024 to address overcrowding and facility utilization, with changes proposed for the 2025-26 school year that could affect which school a child attends. Parents considering Riverdale Elementary should confirm whether the boundary adjustments impact this school.
The housing market in the area is centered on the zip code that covers Riverdale Park. Home values sit a bit below the state average but above the national typical price. Rents are moderate relative to household incomes in the area, though the estimated rent-to-income ratio suggests housing is a meaningful share of expenses for many families. The national unemployment rate has been stable in the low-to-mid range in recent months.
Riverdale Park itself has seen significant development activity. The Riverdale Park Station mixed-use development on Baltimore Avenue, anchored by a grocery store, added retail and residential density. Two Purple Line light rail stations are planned to open in the next few years, which is expected to reshape the town's commercial corridors further. This is not a static community; growth and investment are ongoing.
For a family weighing this school, the central facts are the high level of economic need among the student body, the low proficiency rates in math and to a lesser degree in ELA, and the broader district context of a large, urban system undergoing curriculum and boundary changes. The school does not serve grades beyond fifth, so high school outcomes such as graduation rates do not apply. The school is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. A parent may want to visit the school, discuss the literacy initiative and math support with the principal, and understand how the boundary review affects their address before making a decision.
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