Excellent
#40 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 3% in state
Bells Mill Elementary
Elementary School · Montgomery County Public Schools · Potomac, MD
A Montgomery County Public Schools elementary school where students score 16 points above what's typical for similar communities.
8225 Bells Mill Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
- Math 71% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 83% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 16.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bells Mill Elementary score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 21 points since 2020, reaching 77% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 78% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 82% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
17.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Bells Mill Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Washington DC map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 20Car-Dependent
- Bike 30Somewhat Bikeable
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Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$250,001
Median home value
$1,105,300
Median rent
$3,180/mo
College educated
85.7%
Homeownership
89.9%
Poverty rate
2.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20854; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Heights SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.6 | 3–12 | 0.3 mi | 602 | Compare → |
| Mc Lean School of MarylandPrivate · tuition | 8.1 | K–12 | 0.5 mi | 477 | Compare → |
| Ivymount SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.8 | 1–12 | 1.0 mi | 195 | Compare → |
| St Andrew's Episcopal SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.1 | PK–12 | 1.0 mi | 673 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Montgomery County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 211
- Rank in district
- #11 of 206
- District spending per student
- $19,456NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bells Mill Elementary is listed in Montgomery County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bells Mill Elementary
Bells Mill Elementary is a public elementary school in Potomac, MD, part of Montgomery County Public Schools, serving approximately 591 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 out of 10 and ranks #40 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bells Mill Elementary
What grades does Bells Mill Elementary serve?
Bells Mill Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Bells Mill Elementary?
Bells Mill Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 591 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bells Mill Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bells Mill Elementary is 16.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bells Mill Elementary rank in MD?
Bells Mill Elementary ranks #40 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Bells Mill Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Bells Mill Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Bells Mill Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bells Mill Elementary has 78% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Bells Mill Elementary a charter school?
No, Bells Mill Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bells Mill Elementary a Title I school?
No, Bells Mill Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bells Mill Elementary?
17.4% of students at Bells Mill Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 591
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Montgomery County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 10.5%
- Phone
- (240) 740-0480
- Area population (ZIP 20854)
- 49,694
- Area average commute
- 30.9 min
- Area median age
- 47.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 20854; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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