Mary Matula Elementary School
La Plata, MD 20646
Phone: (301) 934-5412
District: Charles County Public Schools
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades PK,KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 639 students
Mary Matula Elementary School, a public school located in La Plata, MD, serves grades PK-5 in the Charles County Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 8 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
Mary Matula Elementary School is a public school located in La Plata, MD. 639 students attend Mary Matula Elementary School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 7/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program data from Maryland State Department of Education, and using 2025 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program End-Of-Course data from Maryland State Department of Education. |
| Student Growth | 8/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student Growth - Elementary Level data from Maryland State Department of Education, and using 2025 Student Growth - Middle Level data from Maryland State Department of Education. |
Posted: August 10, 2022
Posted: August 10, 2022
Posted: August 10, 2022
Posted: August 10, 2022
Posted: August 10, 2022
Posted: August 10, 2022
Posted: August 10, 2022
Posted: August 10, 2022
Seems to be the same as below reviews from 2017. Principal, Richardson, & secretary rude. Principal disengaged. I've also heard this from many other parents. No diversity in staff at all but the student demographic is diverse. Too many cliques between the teachers & teachers/parents who grew up in the area. Times have changed & this school administration needs to do the same, starting with the principal. The teachers I've experienced have been ok. Have heard stories of other teachers yelling at students. I understand stern when needed but not yelling!
Posted: April 14, 2020
As a parent of a first grader I have noticed a drastic change with the rezoning. Class sizes are very small and the issues the school had before are gone. Mrs. Richardson is a experienced, kind and dedicated principal. The teachers are experienced and my son is thriving.
Posted: April 14, 2020
Posted: April 14, 2020
Posted: April 14, 2020
Posted: April 14, 2020
Posted: April 14, 2020
Posted: April 14, 2020
Posted: October 24, 2019
The four days I work there they had anti-bullying and I was and I was bullied by the principal director of special education. So how can they teach their students to be kind and caring?
Posted: October 24, 2019
The principal is not a nice woman and will stab you in your back.
Posted: October 24, 2019
your students are not being well served if you have unlicensed personnel running your special education classrooms for over 2 weeks. The class I was in and not had a special education teacher since the first day of school the first teacher quit after the second day she was run away by the director of the autism program.
Posted: October 24, 2019
I was bullied and I am especially I was a special education teacher there.
Posted: October 24, 2019
My experience was horrible and traumatic. I'm actually thinking of filing an age discrimination suit against the school just
Posted: April 21, 2018
My child isnt overloaded with nightly homework assignments. The homework ensures the days lessons are reinforced but not in an overwhelming way.
Posted: April 21, 2018
Posted: April 21, 2018
Posted: April 21, 2018
Posted: April 21, 2018
Posted: April 21, 2018
Posted: April 21, 2018
Highly satisfied with Matula. PTA activities are fun yet educational. Great science and math options.
Posted: September 5, 2017
Posted: September 5, 2017
My child regressed academically when he started this school. We had put him in preschool and he was on track to read soon after. When he started at Matula, he fell into the average category because he was so bored with the learning environment. They were teaching things that we taught him at the age of 2. In terms of care, the teachers seem disengaged and uninterested. My child is a diverse student and seems to have a target on his back. Before this school we never had problems with him getting in trouble, but it seems like they report every little thing he does when he's just a kid. If they don't understand how to work with children, why be in early education? There also is a lack of diversity and as a result there seems to be a target on certain students.
Posted: September 5, 2017
Posted: September 5, 2017
I have had only negative experiences with the staff of this school. The secretary and principal are shockingly rude. Had an issue with how the secretary handled something and asked to speak with the principal only to find that Carrie Richardson was even more rude. Her way of thinking and doing things are completely dry and archaic.
Posted: September 5, 2017
My son tried to help another kid and was instead given a code for talking in the hallway. How does that teach character and why would be getting in trouble for helping? Then when I asked a teacher about how my son was treated on another occasion, she instead replied back with a short list of completely unrelated things that my son supposedly did weeks before. Is there ever an excuse for a kid getting bullied and you not doing anything about it?
Posted: September 5, 2017
Negative - this school is terrible. The county has restructured the district and I am elated because the new school has far better reviews! The staff in the office is horrible, especially the secretary and the principal. They push the 3 R's on the kids and refuse to follow it themselves. It's horrible that they make us parents feel more like a threat than an ally. I was truly looking forward to being very active in the classroom with my children and the school will not even allow you to do something as simple as walking your children into the classroom on the first day. You ask to view the learning environment and they limit you to a short visit on their terms only. I have always believed that everything starts from the top and Carrie Richardson here is definitely the problem. The school needs an overhaul, and if the county starts with the principal I'm sure about 75% of the problems will be solved. You can not have effective, positive results out of young children that you treat like widgets instead of living, breathing people who are in need of nurturing and care. It truly takes a village and I am truly grateful that this school will no longer be apart of it after this year. There needs to be more diversity in gender and race for the staff here and that may also help solve a good percentage of the problems.
Posted: August 15, 2017
The Administration at this school, as well as the front office staff, leave little to be desired. None of them seem to want to be there. The principal is disengaged and doesn't seem to care or want to talk to parents or students. The teachers are ok. Not many PTO or activities for the kids.
Posted: August 15, 2017
Posted: August 15, 2017
Posted: August 15, 2017
Posted: August 15, 2017
Posted: August 15, 2017
Posted: August 15, 2017
Posted: May 23, 2017
Posted: May 23, 2017
Matula is the worst school that my family has experienced. The administration is not attentive and there is no fun at this school. Elementary school is the time for school to be fun and it should have activities that involve the whole family. Matula is a very dry, sterile place. The teachers are cold and uncaring and there is no innovation teaching styles. Technology is underutilized.
Posted: May 23, 2017
Posted: May 23, 2017
Posted: May 23, 2017
Posted: May 23, 2017
Posted: May 23, 2017
Posted: January 14, 2016
Posted: January 14, 2016
Posted: January 14, 2016
Posted: January 14, 2016
Very unfriendly office staff and administration. There are limited opportunities for parental involvement. There is no PTO and halfway into the school year there have been no requests from the school to get one started. Matula is severely lacking in fun. There are no class parties, dances or family fun events. Academically, the school is average. We will make sure that our child does not attend this school next year. It has not been a pleasant experience.
Posted: June 5, 2013
I have four kids who have attended Matula since 2003. I'm a very picky mom when it comes to my kids' education, and I have never had any problems whatsoever! I currently have three there and I am thrilled with the staff and PTO. The PTO president works tirelessly to get parents involved. I'm one of the parent volunteers at school and find it a very rewarding experience and a great place to meet many other wonderful moms!!
Posted: March 27, 2012
I am new to the school and so far I am fairly pleased. There is another principal and vice-principal there now from what has been said in the past reviews. I do not know why there was a change of principle and vice-principal? There is a big lack of support for the PTO in this school. The lack of support from the parents is very disappointing for the parents who are trying to give support towards their children. When you have 450 plus students in the school and barely 25 parents show up to PTO meetings...that is sad. This school needs more support! The school's exterior and signage needs updating. So far this is an average school with potential if the parents would participate more in their child's school lives.
Posted: July 2, 2007
An amazing school with an amazing staff, the teachers are awesome! This school is one of the best I've encountered with all my travel's throughout the world including DOD school system. I am thankful this school was recommended to us.
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holly Station Townhomes | Apartment Complex | Waldorf | MD | 7.5 mi | |
| 2 | Bowen Estates | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Brandywine | MD | 11.2 mi | |
| 3 | Plymouth Haven | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 13.1 mi | |
| 4 | Waynewood | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 13.3 mi | |
| 5 | Fort Belvoir Housing | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Fort Belvoir | VA | 13.6 mi | |
| 6 | Collingwood on the Potomac | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 13.6 mi | |
| 7 | Riverside Gardens | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 13.7 mi | |
| 8 | Hollin Hall Village | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 13.8 mi | |
| 9 | Wessynton | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 13.8 mi | |
| 10 | Stratford Landing | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 13.9 mi | |
| 11 | Oakbrooke | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 14.1 mi | |
| 12 | Riverside Estates | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 14.2 mi | |
| 13 | Hollin Hills | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 15.7 mi | |
| 14 | Grove at Huntley Meadow | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 15.9 mi | |
| 15 | Huntley | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 16.2 mi | |
| 16 | Belle View | Condominium/Townhouse | Alexandria | VA | 16.5 mi | |
| 17 | Gunston Cove | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Lorton | VA | 17.6 mi | |
| 18 | Potomac Shores | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Dumfries | VA | 17.6 mi | |
| 19 | Rippon Landing | Condominium/Townhouse | Woodbridge | VA | 17.7 mi | |
| 20 | Fords Landing | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 17.8 mi | |
| 21 | Lorton Station | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Lorton | VA | 17.8 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Plata | La Plata | MD | 0.6 mi | |
| 2 | Mt. Vernon | Alexandria | VA | 14.7 mi | |
| 3 | National Harbor | Fort Washington | MD | 16.7 mi | |
| 4 | Woodbridge | Woodbridge | VA | 17.6 mi |
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Indian Head Naval Base | 12.2 mi. |
| Dahlgren NSWC | 14.7 mi. |
| Fort Belvoir | 15.3 mi. |
| Andrews AFB | 18.2 mi. |
| Bolling AFB Joint Base Anacostia | 20.4 mi. |
| Mark Center Alexandria | 21.3 mi. |
| Coast Guard Headquarters DC | 22.1 mi. |
| Fort McNair | 22.5 mi. |
| Washington Navy Yard | 22.7 mi. |
| Pentagon | 22.9 mi. |
| Marine Barracks Washington | 23 mi. |
| Henderson Hall | 23.1 mi. |
| Fort Myer | 24 mi. |
| Defense Health Headquarters Falls Church | 25.9 mi. |
| Quantico Marine Base | 26.8 mi. |
| Walter Reed Medical Center | 32.2 mi. |
| Patuxent River NAS | 34.9 mi. |
| NRO Chantilly | 35.3 mi. |
| Fort AP Hill | 38.3 mi. |
| US Naval Academy | 39.2 mi. |
| Fort Meade NSA | 39.4 mi. |
| Annapolis Naval Station | 40.2 mi. |
| Coast Guard Curtis Bay | 49.6 mi. |
