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Excellent

#264 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 19% in state

Darnestown Elementary

Elementary School · Montgomery County Public Schools

15030 Turkey Foot Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Enrollment

354

Student-Teacher

12.2:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#264 of 1,363

In Gaithersburg

#6 of 29

public schools

In district

#80 of 206

Montgomery County Public Schools

School environment

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Darnestown Elementary

8.1/10

Elementary School in Gaithersburg · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Georgetown Hill Early School

Nearby

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Mary of Nazareth School

5.8/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Darnestown Elementary

Darnestown Elementary is a public elementary school in Gaithersburg, MD, part of Montgomery County Public Schools. Darnestown Elementary serves approximately 354 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Darnestown Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #264 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Darnestown Elementary show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 8.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.5
  • MD avg 6.3

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.45 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.4Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency49.4% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency63.5% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg+19.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+12.4 pts
Overall Proficiency56% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)61% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-4.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile61th
Resources & Environment9.7Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,456
Chronic Absenteeism17.2%

Darnestown Elementary — Students at Darnestown Elementary score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

17.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 65.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 73.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
51.1% (2025 MCAP)

Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
97.5%
ELA
97.5%
2010
Math
97.5%
ELA
97.5%
2011
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2012
Math
92%
ELA
97.5%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
92%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
72%
2015
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2018
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2019
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2022
Math
52%
ELA
67%
2025
Math
49.4%
ELA
63.5%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.9/10.

How Darnestown Elementary Compares

See how Darnestown Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
81th percentile in MD
Academic
7.4/10
Very Good
Growth
7.9/10
Very Good
Environment
9.7/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
18%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

15030 Turkey Foot Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Darnestown Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Jones Lane Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Travilah Elementary (rated 9.5/10, 2.4 miles away, in nearby North Potomac), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 3.3 miles away, in nearby Germantown), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Gaithersburg, see our Gaithersburg schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.4 mi
School Distance Rating
GEORGETOWN HILL EARLY SCHOOL Gaithersburg 0.1 mi
MARY OF NAZARETH SCHOOL Darnestown 0.8 mi 5.8
SENECA ACADEMY Darnestown 1.0 mi 7.7
BUTLER MONTESSORI Darnestown 1.2 mi 5.9
Jones Lane Elementary Gaithersburg 1.0 mi 9.5
Quince Orchard High Gaithersburg 1.9 mi 7.9
Thurgood Marshall Elementary Gaithersburg 2.1 mi 6.2
Rachel Carson Elementary Gaithersburg 2.3 mi 8.8
Travilah Elementary North Potomac 2.4 mi 9.5
Ridgeview Middle Gaithersburg 2.6 mi 6.5
DuFief Elementary Gaithersburg 2.5 mi 8.8
Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary Germantown 3.3 mi 9.1
Longview School Germantown 3.3 mi 2.2
Northwest High Germantown 3.4 mi 7.3
Great Seneca Creek Elementary Germantown 3.6 mi 6.4
Lakelands Park Middle Gaithersburg 2.9 mi 7.6
Diamond Elementary Gaithersburg 3.4 mi 8.9
Clopper Mill Elementary Germantown 4.1 mi 6.1
GODDARD SCHOOL IN GAITHERSBURG Gaithersburg 3.5 mi 4.0
Kingsview Middle Germantown 4.4 mi 7.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 20878 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$142,062

Median Home Value

$675,200

Median Rent

$2,188/mo

Population

65,236

College Educated

70.1%

Homeownership

69.3%

Avg Commute

29.9 min

Poverty Rate

5%

Median Age

41.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Brooke Grove Elementary Olney, MD 8.1
FRIENDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL College Park, MD 8.1
Jonathan Hager Elementary Hagerstown, MD 8.1
North Bend Elementary Jarrettsville, MD 8.1
Oakville Elementary Mechanicsville, MD 8.1
ST PAULS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Glen Burnie, MD 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Darnestown Elementary

What grades does Darnestown Elementary serve?

Darnestown Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Darnestown Elementary?

Darnestown Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 354 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Darnestown Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Darnestown Elementary is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Darnestown Elementary rank in MD?

Darnestown Elementary ranks #264 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Darnestown Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Darnestown Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Darnestown Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Darnestown Elementary has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Darnestown Elementary a charter school?

No, Darnestown Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Darnestown Elementary a Title I school?

No, Darnestown Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Darnestown Elementary?

17.5% of students at Darnestown 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
25 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
22 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
354
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
17.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Montgomery County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.2%

District

Montgomery County Public Schools
District Enrollment
160,223
Schools in District
211
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,456
District Rank
#80 of 206

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