Average
#770 of 1,363 schools in MD
Thurgood Marshall Elementary
Elementary School · Montgomery County Public Schools
12260 McDonald Chapel Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Enrollment
594
Student-Teacher
15.2:1
Score
6.1
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
594
Student-Teacher
15.2:1
Score
6.1
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Gaithersburg
#22 of 29
public schools
Maryland elementary schools
#637 of 882
In district
#131 of 206
Montgomery County Public Schools
Equity
7.8 / 10
Very strong
About Thurgood Marshall Elementary
Thurgood Marshall Elementary serves 594 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade in Gaithersburg, Maryland, operating as a regular public school within Montgomery County. With 39 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15.2:1, providing a manageable classroom environment for elementary learners. The school demonstrates solid academic performance with a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #247 out of 1,364 schools statewide, placing it in the 82nd percentile among Maryland elementary schools.
Students show steady progress with 46% achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and Reading, while 42% reach proficiency in Mathematics across all grade levels. Thurgood Marshall Elementary draws from an educated and affluent community in the 20878 zip code, where 71% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher and the median household income reaches $141,902. The neighborhood maintains a low poverty rate of 4.4% and features a median home value of $654,500, reflecting the area's economic stability.
Located on McDonald Chapel Drive, the school sits within a large suburban setting that serves over 65,000 residents, providing students with access to the educational resources and community support typical of well-established Montgomery County neighborhoods.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Thurgood Marshall Elementary — Students at Thurgood Marshall Elementary score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
41.9%
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: 5.2/10.
How Thurgood Marshall Elementary Compares
See how Thurgood Marshall Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 54% (2019) to 48.8% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 55% (2019) to 51.2% (2025).
Location
12260 McDonald Chapel Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Thurgood Marshall Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. DuFief Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Rachel Carson Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 2.4 miles away, in nearby Germantown), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Gaithersburg, see our Gaithersburg schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgeview Middle Gaithersburg | 0.6 mi | 6.1 |
| Quince Orchard High Gaithersburg | 0.8 mi | 7.0 |
| Rachel Carson Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.0 mi | 8.5 |
| Diamond Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.3 mi | 6.6 |
| Jones Lane Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.6 mi | 7.0 |
| Great Seneca Creek Elementary Germantown | 1.9 mi | 5.9 |
| Lakelands Park Middle Gaithersburg | 1.6 mi | 6.7 |
| GODDARD SCHOOL IN GAITHERSBURG Gaithersburg | 1.6 mi | 4.0 |
| Brown Station Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.8 mi | 7.7 |
| Northwest High Germantown | 2.0 mi | 5.7 |
| Clopper Mill Elementary Germantown | 2.3 mi | 6.3 |
| DuFief Elementary Gaithersburg | 2.1 mi | 8.8 |
| GEORGETOWN HILL EARLY SCHOOL Gaithersburg | 2.0 mi | — |
| Darnestown Elementary Gaithersburg | 2.1 mi | 8.2 |
| BUTLER MONTESSORI Darnestown | 1.9 mi | 5.9 |
| NIST CHILD CARE CENTER Gaithersburg | 2.2 mi | — |
| Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary Germantown | 2.4 mi | 8.3 |
| Longview School Germantown | 2.4 mi | 4.4 |
| Roberto W. Clemente Middle Germantown | 2.8 mi | 5.1 |
| S. Christa McAuliffe Elementary Germantown | 2.9 mi | 6.9 |
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 Thurgood Marshall 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 |
|---|---|
| Bester Elementary Hagerstown, MD | 6.1 |
| Cannon Road Elementary Silver Spring, MD | 6.1 |
| Clearspring Elementary Damascus, MD | 6.1 |
| Deerfield Run Elementary Laurel, MD | 6.1 |
| Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School Newburg, MD | 6.1 |
| Emma K. Doub Elementary Hagerstown, MD | 6.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Thurgood Marshall Elementary
What grades does Thurgood Marshall Elementary serve?
Thurgood Marshall Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Thurgood Marshall Elementary?
Thurgood Marshall Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 594 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thurgood Marshall Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Thurgood Marshall Elementary is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thurgood Marshall Elementary rank in MD?
Thurgood Marshall Elementary is ranked #770 out of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Thurgood Marshall Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Thurgood Marshall Elementary has a composite rating of 6.1 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 Thurgood Marshall Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Thurgood Marshall Elementary has 44.0% math proficiency and 47.1% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Thurgood Marshall Elementary a charter school?
No, Thurgood Marshall Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thurgood Marshall Elementary a Title I school?
No, Thurgood Marshall Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thurgood Marshall Elementary?
41.9% of students at Thurgood Marshall 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
- City Safety
- High (1,565/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Gaithersburg). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 594
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 39
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 41.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Montgomery County
- Phone
- (240) 740-5990
- 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
- #131 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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