Excellent
#131 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 10% in state
Rachel Carson Elementary
Elementary School · Montgomery County Public Schools
100 Tschiffely Square Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Enrollment
674
Student-Teacher
16.4:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
674
Student-Teacher
16.4:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Gaithersburg
#4 of 29
public schools
Maryland elementary schools
#129 of 882
In district
#22 of 206
Montgomery County Public Schools
Academic performance
9.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Rachel Carson Elementary
Rachel Carson Elementary is a public elementary school in Gaithersburg, MD, part of the Montgomery County Public Schools. The school serves approximately 674 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 16.4:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5/10, placing it in the 90.5th percentile among MD schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 63% proficiency in math, 33 points above the state average and 67% in reading/language arts, 16 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.2/10). 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 small city setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Rachel Carson Elementary — Students at Rachel Carson Elementary score 78% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
24.8%
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
↑ ImprovingAverage 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: 9.2/10.
How Rachel Carson Elementary Compares
See how Rachel Carson Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 65% (2019) to 78.9% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 67% (2019) to 78.1% (2025).
Location
100 Tschiffely Square Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Rachel Carson Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. DuFief Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Fields Road Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 1.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Darnestown Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 2.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Gaithersburg, see our Gaithersburg schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Quince Orchard High Gaithersburg | 0.4 mi | 7.0 |
| Ridgeview Middle Gaithersburg | 0.8 mi | 6.1 |
| Lakelands Park Middle Gaithersburg | 0.8 mi | 6.7 |
| Thurgood Marshall Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.0 mi | 6.1 |
| DuFief Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.2 mi | 8.8 |
| Diamond Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.4 mi | 6.6 |
| GODDARD SCHOOL IN GAITHERSBURG Gaithersburg | 1.3 mi | 4.0 |
| Jones Lane Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.4 mi | 7.0 |
| Brown Station Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.7 mi | 7.7 |
| Fields Road Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.7 mi | 8.7 |
| FRANKLIN MONTESSORI SCHOOLS Rockville | 1.9 mi | — |
| NIST CHILD CARE CENTER Gaithersburg | 2.0 mi | — |
| Travilah Elementary North Potomac | 2.4 mi | 8.0 |
| GEORGETOWN HILL EARLY SCHOOL Gaithersburg | 2.2 mi | — |
| Stone Mill Elementary North Potomac | 2.4 mi | 7.3 |
| Darnestown Elementary Gaithersburg | 2.3 mi | 8.2 |
| PRIMARY MONTESSORI DAY SCHOOL Rockville | 2.6 mi | 5.0 |
| Great Seneca Creek Elementary Germantown | 2.7 mi | 5.9 |
| Clopper Mill Elementary Germantown | 3.0 mi | 6.3 |
| John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol Rockville | 2.6 mi | 6.7 |
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 Rachel Carson 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 |
|---|---|
| Barstow Elementary Prince Frederick, MD | 8.5 |
| Broadneck Elementary Arnold, MD | 8.5 |
| Carrolltowne Elementary Sykesville, MD | 8.5 |
| Forest Knolls Elementary Silver Spring, MD | 8.5 |
| Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle Baltimore, MD | 8.5 |
| Glenallan Elementary Silver Spring, MD | 8.5 |
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 is ranked #131 out of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Rachel Carson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Rachel Carson Elementary has a composite rating of 8.5 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 Rachel Carson Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Rachel Carson Elementary has 62.7% math proficiency and 67.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 82 Very Walkable
- Transit Score
- 32 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 72 Very Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (1,565/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Gaithersburg). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 674
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 41
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 24.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Montgomery County
- Phone
- (240) 740-1840
- 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
- #22 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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