The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mary Harris Mother Jones Elem
Mary Harris Mother Jones Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in Prince George’s County. It sits in Adelphi, a densely populated, predominantly residential census-designated place made up of numerous subdivisions. Adelphi is a majority renter-occupied community with a largely Hispanic and Latino population and a high share of foreign-born residents. The area lacks a traditional downtown and is structured around residential subdivisions and separated institutional campuses, including the University of Maryland Global Campus and the Army Research Laboratory. Commuters are heavily car-dependent, and the built environment consists largely of mid-twentieth-century subdivisions. Housing values in the area are moderate compared to national benchmarks, and rents have been rising.
The school enrolls a large student body for an elementary school, with enrollment concentrated in kindergarten through grade one and tapering somewhat in upper grades. The student population is overwhelmingly Hispanic, and a substantial share qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learner status was not available in the material reviewed.
State testing results from the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program and the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment provide a picture of academic performance across grades three through five. In mathematics, proficiency rates show a declining pattern as students move through the grades, with the highest rate in grade three and notably lower rates in grade four and especially grade five. In English language arts, proficiency rates vary by grade, with grade four posting the highest rate and grade three the lowest. In science, tested only in grade five, the proficiency rate is lower than the English language arts rate at that grade. No multi-year trend data was available beyond the single school year, so it is not possible to see whether these results are improving or declining over time.
Because the comparison set for the county’s districts contained too few entities for a meaningful benchmark, this school’s results cannot be positioned relative to others in Prince George’s County. A parent may want to look into how these proficiency levels compare with nearby elementary schools to get a fuller sense of context. The school is part of a large district that has recently adopted a district-wide literacy initiative aligned with the science of reading, which affects how elementary reading is taught. The district has also conducted a boundary review that could change attendance zones, so families should confirm current assignment boundaries.
The school’s grade span means no graduation rate or college-readiness measures apply. No information was available on course access, staffing ratios, discipline rates, or attendance patterns. A parent interested in class size, teacher experience, or student supports would need to ask the school directly or consult district reports. The school offers no specialized magnet or charter designation, and no program offerings were listed in the data provided.
In short, Mary Harris Mother Jones Elementary is a large, high-needs elementary school in a densely populated suburban community. Its test results indicate that a majority of students are not yet meeting state proficiency benchmarks in math, English, or science, with math showing a particularly steep decline by fifth grade. Families considering this school would benefit from visiting, speaking with staff about academic interventions and supports, and understanding the district’s ongoing curricular and boundary changes.
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