Best Schools in Gaithersburg, Maryland
37 schools · 26 Elementary · 5 Middle · 5 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Gaithersburg?
Use this page to compare every school in Gaithersburg by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Jones Lane Elementary
Elementary · Montgomery County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Woodfield Elementary
Elementary · Montgomery County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Diamond Elementary
Elementary · Montgomery County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Gaithersburg for 2026 are Jones Lane Elementary (9.5/10), Woodfield Elementary (9.2/10), and Diamond Elementary (8.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 33 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
37
29 public · 8 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$569,250
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
37
29 public · 8 private
Avg Score
6.5
out of 10
Median Home
$569,250
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 6.7/10 despite 65% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Gaithersburg schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Gaithersburg
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (33 of 37). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jones Lane Elementary | 9.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Woodfield Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Diamond Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Dufief Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Rachel Carson Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Darnestown Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Mother of God School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Quince Orchard High | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Lakelands Park Middle | 7.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Fields Road Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.5/10
- Median household income
- $108,831
- Median home value
- $569,250
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 48%
- Avg commute
- 32 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
35% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Gaithersburg compares
Maryland rank
#63 of 141
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.2
above Maryland avg (6.3)
Median household income
$109k
98% of Maryland median
Schools in this city
34
About Schools in Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg, Maryland offers parents a substantial public school market to evaluate, with 29 ranked schools and an average score of 6.9 out of 10. That average sits meaningfully above the midpoint, and the distribution skews positive: 14 schools, or 48 percent of the total, score 7 or higher. For a city this size, that share of high-performing options gives families real choices rather than a single standout.
The top of the rankings is anchored by elementary schools. DuFief Elementary leads the city with a score of 8.8 out of 10, the highest mark among all 29 ranked schools. Fields Road Elementary follows at 8.7, with Goshen Elementary and Rachel Carson Elementary both scoring 8.5. Woodfield Elementary rounds out the top five at 8.4. The tight clustering of these top schools signals a competitive tier worth targeting during the search process. All five are elementary campuses, so parents with younger children have the strongest concentration of high-rated options to work with.
The spread between the city's top performer and its average, roughly two full points, tells parents something important: school quality in Gaithersburg is uneven, and neighborhood assignment matters. A family zoned to a school below the 6.9 average will have a noticeably different experience than one assigned to the top tier. Parents without flexibility in their address should verify their zoned school's rating directly before committing to a neighborhood.
Practically speaking, Gaithersburg rewards research. With nearly half the city's schools scoring 7 or above, parents who cross-reference home addresses with school boundaries can position themselves for strong outcomes at the elementary level in particular. Families entering middle or high school years should weight specific campus scores heavily, since the performance range means the city label alone tells you little. Use the individual school pages on MySchoolScout to compare ratings, check grade-level data, and map boundaries before finalizing any enrollment or housing decision.
Elementary Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 453 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.5 |
| 2 | 318 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.2 |
| 3 | 653 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.9 |
| 4 | 247 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 |
| 5 | 674 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 6 | 354 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 7 | 449 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 8 | 501 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 |
| 9 | 365 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 10 | 595 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
Show all 26 elementary schools in Gaithersburg
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,014 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 749 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 513 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 899 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
| 5 | 847 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,150 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 1,661 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 3 | 2,454 students · 9th–12th | 4.4 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 32 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | Marcia D Smith School
Private
16 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Covenant Life School
Private
327 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.5 |
Schools in Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg, Maryland · 37 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$108,831
Median Home Value
$569,250
Median Rent
$1,693/mo
Population
144,191
College Educated
48%
Homeownership
56%
Avg Commute
32 min
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Community Profile
Gaithersburg has a median household income of $108,831. It is a well-educated community where 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $569,250, with a median rent of $1,693/month. The local poverty rate of 8.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Maryland
- Elementary
- 26
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 5
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Maryland
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Gaithersburg, Maryland
How many schools are in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
Gaithersburg has 37 schools, including 29 public and 8 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Gaithersburg is 6.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
The top-ranked school in Gaithersburg on MySchoolScout is Jones Lane Elementary with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
The top-ranked elementary school in Gaithersburg on MySchoolScout is Jones Lane Elementary with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
The top-ranked middle school in Gaithersburg on MySchoolScout is Lakelands Park Middle with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best high school in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
The top-ranked high school in Gaithersburg on MySchoolScout is Quince Orchard High with a composite score of 7.9/10.
How many school districts serve Gaithersburg, Maryland?
Gaithersburg is served by 1 school district: Montgomery County Public Schools.
What is the education level in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
According to Census data, 48% of adults in Gaithersburg have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
The median household income in Gaithersburg is approximately $108,831 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
Yes, Gaithersburg has 8 private schools alongside 29 public schools. The top-rated private school is Mother of God School with a score of 8.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Gaithersburg is 11.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Maryland Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.