The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on G. James Gholson Middle
G. James Gholson Middle is a regular public school in Landover, Maryland, serving grades six through eight as part of Prince George's County Public Schools. It sits in an unincorporated, auto-oriented suburban community where residential subdivisions are separated by arterial roads and highway infrastructure, including the Capital Beltway and U.S. Route 50. The area is also served by multiple Metro lines, providing a transit connection for those who need it. Landover lacks a traditional downtown, and its commercial landscape has been significantly shaped by the closure and demolition of the former Landover Mall.
The student body is large and overwhelmingly composed of students from low-income households, with a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The student population is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with very small numbers of White, Asian, or multiracial students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, which is a gap a parent may wish to explore directly with the school.
On the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) in the most recent testing year, proficiency rates were low across all three grade levels and subjects. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient was highest among seventh graders, though it remained in a modest range, while sixth and eighth graders scored at similar, lower levels. In math, proficiency was very low for all grades, with a small percentage of students meeting the bar. On the eighth-grade science assessment, the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment, the share of students scoring proficient was also very low. Eighth-grade social studies results followed the same pattern. Because the data provided includes only one year of test results, there is no trend information to show whether these outcomes represent a recent change or a persistent pattern. This is a soft spot in the academic picture, and a parent considering this school would likely want to ask the school or district about specific academic supports, intervention programs, and plans for improvement.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider. The neighbor comparison tool was unable to place this school relative to other schools within Prince George's County because the available cohort of comparable schools was too small to calculate a meaningful benchmark.
Prince George's County Public Schools has implemented a district-wide literacy initiative in recent years, adopting a new evidence-based reading curriculum. The district also conducted a boundary review to address school overcrowding, with proposed changes that may affect which school a child is assigned to attend. A parent should confirm whether G. James Gholson Middle is affected by any upcoming boundary adjustments.
Housing values in the zip code that serves the school are below both the state and national medians, while rents are somewhat above what the national income-to-rent ratio would suggest. The area has seen modest recent home value declines, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced home is higher than the typical rent, making renting the more immediately affordable option.
This is a school where the academic data shows significant room for growth. The community is a suburb in economic and physical transition, with major employers including Giant Food, a coffee production plant, and the nearby NFL stadium, and with ongoing county planning efforts around former commercial sites. The school serves a large, predominantly low-income student body, and families considering this placement will want to understand how the school addresses the academic challenges indicated by the testing data and what specific support structures are in place.
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