Below Average
#1076 of 1,363 schools in MD
Bester Elementary
Elementary School · Washington County Public Schools · Hagerstown, MD
A Washington County Public Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
385 Mill St, Hagerstown, MD 21740
- Math 10% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 19% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 11:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bester Elementary score 14% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 14%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2020, reaching 14% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 32% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 36% (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
88.9%
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 Bester Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 67Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 18Minimal Transit
- Bike 58Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,177/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Hagerstown), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$59,410
Median home value
$241,600
Median rent
$1,031/mo
College educated
20.1%
Homeownership
55.2%
Poverty rate
17.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 21740; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown Childrens SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 0.6 mi | 15 | Compare → |
| St Mary Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.3private | PK–8 | 0.8 mi | 180 | Compare → |
| Pangborn ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 711 | Compare → |
| Emma K. Doub ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 370 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Washington County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 43
- Rank in district
- #40 of 42
- District spending per student
- $17,937NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bester Elementary is listed in Washington County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bester Elementary
Bester Elementary is a public elementary school in Hagerstown, MD, part of Washington County Public Schools, serving approximately 461 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 11:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,076 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bester Elementary
What grades does Bester Elementary serve?
Bester Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Bester Elementary?
Bester Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 461 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bester Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bester Elementary is 11:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bester Elementary rank in MD?
Bester Elementary ranks #1,076 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Bester Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Bester Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 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 Bester Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bester Elementary has 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Bester Elementary a charter school?
No, Bester Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bester Elementary a Title I school?
No, Bester Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bester Elementary?
88.9% of students at Bester 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
- 461
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 42
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Washington County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.8%
- Phone
- (301) 766-8001
- Area population (ZIP 21740)
- 63,140
- Area average commute
- 28.1 min
- Area median age
- 38.8
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 21740; 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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