Excellent
#152 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 11% in state
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary
Elementary School · St. Mary's County Public Schools · Leonardtown, MD
A St. Mary's County Public Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
23595 Hayden Farm Lane, Leonardtown, MD 20650
- Math 59% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 68% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary score 64% 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 11-year record (2015–2025), then recovered 32 points since 2020, reaching 64% in 2025.
Show all 8 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2015-2025) · reading/ELA 47% (multi-year average, 2015-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 16 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
17.7%
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 Captain Walter Francis Duke 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 6Car-Dependent
- Bike 22Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Elevated1,267/100K
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$139,688
Median home value
$464,000
Median rent
$1,726/mo
College educated
41.6%
Homeownership
75.9%
Poverty rate
4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20650; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Seedlings Christian Preschool & KdgnPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 1.0 mi | 7 | Compare → |
| Leonardtown ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | PK–5 | 1.2 mi | 492 | Compare → |
| Father Andrew White Sj SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.3private | PK–8 | 1.3 mi | 213 | Compare → |
| Chesapeake Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.4 | K–8 | Not available | 540 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
St. Mary's County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #2 of 26
- District spending per student
- $17,088NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary is listed in St. Mary's County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary is a public elementary school in Leonardtown, MD, part of St. Mary's County Public Schools, serving approximately 537 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #152 of 1,363 schools in MD.
State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary
What grades does Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary serve?
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary?
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 537 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary is 15.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary rank in MD?
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary ranks #152 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2015-2025).
Is Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary a charter school?
No, Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary a Title I school?
No, Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary?
17.7% of students at Captain Walter Francis Duke 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
- 537
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Town
- County
- St. Mary's County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.2%
- Phone
- (240) 309-4658
- Area population (ZIP 20650)
- 15,979
- Area average commute
- 30.3 min
- Area median age
- 38.3
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 20650; 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, 2015-2025; directory SY 2023–24
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.