Excellent
#150 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 11% in state
Piney Branch Elementary
Elementary School · Montgomery County Public Schools · Takoma Park, MD
A Montgomery County Public Schools elementary school where students score 14 points above what's typical for similar communities.
7510 Maple Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
- Math 61% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 67% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Piney Branch Elementary score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 20 points since 2020, reaching 64% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 67% (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
34.1%
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 Piney Branch 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 62Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 66Good Transit
- Bike 73Very Bikeable
- City Safety: High7,624/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Takoma Park), 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
$82,097
Median home value
$671,400
Median rent
$1,452/mo
College educated
51.2%
Homeownership
43.1%
Poverty rate
12.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20912; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakthrough Montessori PcsCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.7 | PK–6 | 0.7 mi | 369 | Compare → |
| East Silver Spring ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 525 | Compare → |
| Takoma ESEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 483 | Compare → |
| Rolling Terrace ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.8 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 656 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Montgomery County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 211
- Rank in district
- #55 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
Piney Branch Elementary is listed in Montgomery County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Piney Branch Elementary
Piney Branch Elementary is a public elementary school in Takoma Park, MD, part of Montgomery County Public Schools, serving approximately 599 students in grades 3rd-5th with a 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #150 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Piney Branch Elementary
What grades does Piney Branch Elementary serve?
Piney Branch Elementary serves students in grades 3rd through 5th.
How many students attend Piney Branch Elementary?
Piney Branch Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 599 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Piney Branch Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Piney Branch Elementary is 17.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Piney Branch Elementary rank in MD?
Piney Branch Elementary ranks #150 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Piney Branch Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Piney Branch 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 Piney Branch Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Piney Branch Elementary has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Piney Branch Elementary a charter school?
No, Piney Branch Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Piney Branch Elementary a Title I school?
No, Piney Branch Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Piney Branch Elementary?
34.1% of students at Piney Branch 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
- 3rd – 5th
- Enrollment
- 599
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 35
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Montgomery County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.5%
- Phone
- (301) 891-8000
- Area population (ZIP 20912)
- 25,428
- Area average commute
- 34 min
- Area median age
- 37.7
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 20912; 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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