Excellent
#133 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 10% in state
Rachel Carson Elementary
Elementary School · Montgomery County Public Schools · Gaithersburg, MD
A Montgomery County Public Schools elementary school where students score 17 points above what's typical for similar communities.
100 Tschiffely Square Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
- Math 71% vs MD 30% (2025)
- Reading 76% vs MD 51% (2025)
- 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Rachel Carson Elementary score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
2025 MCAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 29 points since 2020, reaching 74% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 76% (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
24.8%
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 Rachel Carson 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 82Very Walkable
- Transit 32Some Transit
- Bike 72Very Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,565/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Gaithersburg), 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
$142,062
Median home value
$675,200
Median rent
$2,188/mo
College educated
70.1%
Homeownership
69.3%
Poverty rate
5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20878; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurgood Marshall ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 594 | Compare → |
| Dufief ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.8 | K–5 | 1.2 mi | 247 | Compare → |
| Goddard School in GaithersburgPrivate · tuition | 4.0private | PK–3 | 1.3 mi | 49 | Compare → |
| Diamond ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | K–5 | 1.4 mi | 653 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Montgomery County Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 211
- Rank in district
- #51 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
Rachel Carson Elementary is listed in Montgomery County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Rachel Carson Elementary
Rachel Carson Elementary is a public elementary school in Gaithersburg, MD, part of Montgomery County Public Schools, serving approximately 674 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks #133 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Rachel Carson Elementary
What grades does Rachel Carson Elementary serve?
Rachel Carson Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Rachel Carson Elementary?
Rachel Carson Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 674 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rachel Carson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Rachel Carson Elementary is 16.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Rachel Carson Elementary rank in MD?
Rachel Carson Elementary ranks #133 of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Rachel Carson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Rachel Carson Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 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 Rachel Carson Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Rachel Carson Elementary has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Rachel Carson Elementary a charter school?
No, Rachel Carson Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Rachel Carson Elementary a Title I school?
No, Rachel Carson Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Rachel Carson Elementary?
24.8% of students at Rachel Carson 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
- 674
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 41
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Montgomery County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.0%
- Phone
- (240) 740-1840
- Area population (ZIP 20878)
- 65,236
- Area average commute
- 29.9 min
- Area median age
- 41.4
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 20878; 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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