Excellent
#198 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 15% 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
8.2
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
354
Student-Teacher
12.2:1
Score
8.2
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Gaithersburg
#6 of 29
public schools
Maryland elementary schools
#193 of 882
In district
#31 of 206
Montgomery County Public Schools
School environment
9.0 / 10
Exceptional
About Darnestown Elementary
Darnestown Elementary is a public elementary school in Gaithersburg, MD, part of the Montgomery County Public Schools. The school serves approximately 354 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 12.2:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2/10, placing it in the 85.5th percentile among MD schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 50% proficiency in math, 20 points above the state average and 58% in reading/language arts, 7 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.0/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $142,062, where 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large suburban setting.
Score Breakdown
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Darnestown Elementary — Students at Darnestown Elementary score 62% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
17.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)
Based on 8 test records from MD state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 8.1/10.
How Darnestown Elementary Compares
See how Darnestown Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 57% (2019) to 58.9% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 57% (2019) to 66.1% (2025).
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. DuFief Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 2.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Rachel Carson Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 2.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 3.3 miles away, in nearby Germantown), with a very similar rating. 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 | 7.0 |
| Quince Orchard High Gaithersburg | 1.9 mi | 7.0 |
| Thurgood Marshall Elementary Gaithersburg | 2.1 mi | 6.1 |
| Rachel Carson Elementary Gaithersburg | 2.3 mi | 8.5 |
| Travilah Elementary North Potomac | 2.4 mi | 8.0 |
| Ridgeview Middle Gaithersburg | 2.6 mi | 6.1 |
| DuFief Elementary Gaithersburg | 2.5 mi | 8.8 |
| Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary Germantown | 3.3 mi | 8.3 |
| Longview School Germantown | 3.3 mi | 4.4 |
| Northwest High Germantown | 3.4 mi | 5.7 |
| Great Seneca Creek Elementary Germantown | 3.6 mi | 5.9 |
| Lakelands Park Middle Gaithersburg | 2.9 mi | 6.7 |
| Diamond Elementary Gaithersburg | 3.4 mi | 6.6 |
| Clopper Mill Elementary Germantown | 4.1 mi | 6.3 |
| GODDARD SCHOOL IN GAITHERSBURG Gaithersburg | 3.5 mi | 4.0 |
| Kingsview Middle Germantown | 4.4 mi | 5.9 |
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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Darnestown Elementary has a median household income of $142,062. It is a well-educated community where 70% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $675,200, with a median rent of $2,188/month. The local poverty rate of 5.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Churchville Elementary Churchville, MD | 8.2 |
| Glendale Elementary Glen Burnie, MD | 8.2 |
| Heather Hills Elementary Bowie, MD | 8.2 |
| Lakewood Elementary Rockville, MD | 8.2 |
| Mechanicsville Elementary Mechanicsville, MD | 8.2 |
| Pot Spring Elementary Timonium, MD | 8.2 |
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 is ranked #198 out of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Darnestown Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Darnestown Elementary has a composite rating of 8.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Darnestown Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Darnestown Elementary has 50.0% math proficiency and 58.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Gaithersburg). Data >1 year old.
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
- Phone
- (301) 284-4260
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Montgomery County Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 160,223
- Schools in District
- 211
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $19,456
- District Rank
- #31 of 206
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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