Average
#574 of 1,363 schools in MD
Top 42% in state
Whetstone Elementary
Elementary School · Montgomery County Public Schools
19201 Thomas Farm Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Enrollment
718
Student-Teacher
12.4:1
Score
6.8
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
718
Student-Teacher
12.4:1
Score
6.8
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Gaithersburg
#15 of 29
public schools
Maryland elementary schools
#518 of 882
In district
#94 of 206
Montgomery County Public Schools
School environment
8.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Whetstone Elementary
Whetstone Elementary is a regular public elementary school located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in Montgomery County. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and has an enrollment of 718 students. With a student-teacher ratio of 12.4:1, Whetstone provides a relatively personalized learning environment with 58 full-time equivalent teachers.
Whetstone Elementary's academic performance shows room for improvement, as indicated by its MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and state ranking of #827 out of 1364 schools in Maryland (39th percentile). The school’s proficiency rates in ELA/Reading and Math are 27% and 21%, respectively, suggesting areas for growth in academic achievement. Whetstone Elementary is situated in a large suburban area, offering students access to diverse community resources.
Despite the current challenges in academic performance, the school remains committed to student development and continuous improvement.
Score Breakdown
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Whetstone Elementary — Students at Whetstone Elementary score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
54%
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: 6.9/10.
How Whetstone Elementary Compares
See how Whetstone Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 31% (2019) to 26.2% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 31% (2019) to 39% (2025).
Location
19201 Thomas Farm Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Whetstone Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Goshen Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is MOTHER OF GOD SCHOOL (rated 8.0/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Strawberry Knoll Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Gaithersburg, see our Gaithersburg schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Village Middle Montgomery Village | 0.7 mi | 4.5 |
| Stedwick Elementary Montgomery Village | 0.8 mi | 7.5 |
| Watkins Mill Elementary Montgomery Village | 0.8 mi | 4.7 |
| Strawberry Knoll Elementary Gaithersburg | 0.9 mi | 7.9 |
| South Lake Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.1 mi | 4.7 |
| GEORGETOWN HILL EARLY SCHOOL Montgomery Village | 1.1 mi | 5.4 |
| Forest Oak Middle Gaithersburg | 1.4 mi | 6.3 |
| Watkins Mill High Gaithersburg | 1.3 mi | 6.6 |
| MOTHER OF GOD SCHOOL Gaithersburg | 1.6 mi | 8.0 |
| VILLAGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL, LLC Montgomery Village | 1.5 mi | — |
| Goshen Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.8 mi | 8.5 |
| Flower Hill Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.6 mi | 6.5 |
| Gaithersburg Elementary Gaithersburg | 2.0 mi | 4.7 |
| Harriet R. Tubman Elementary Gaithersburg | 1.9 mi | 6.3 |
| Gaithersburg Middle Gaithersburg | 2.0 mi | 4.4 |
| FORBUSH SCHOOL AT OAKMONT UPPER SCHOOL Gaithersburg | 2.2 mi | 6.5 |
| Gaithersburg High Gaithersburg | 2.5 mi | 4.5 |
| Captain James E. Daly Elementary Germantown | 2.3 mi | 7.1 |
| NIST CHILD CARE CENTER Gaithersburg | 2.7 mi | — |
| Washington Grove Elementary Gaithersburg | 2.9 mi | 7.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 20879 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$105,109
Median Home Value
$433,500
Median Rent
$1,895/mo
Population
26,120
College Educated
41.6%
Homeownership
70.8%
Avg Commute
32.1 min
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Median Age
36.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding Whetstone Elementary has a median household income of $105,109. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $433,500, with a median rent of $1,895/month. The local poverty rate of 6.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 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 |
|---|---|
| Benjamin Banneker Elementary Loveville, MD | 6.8 |
| Chadwick Elementary Baltimore, MD | 6.8 |
| Excel Academy Public Charter Fort Washington, MD | 6.8 |
| Galway Elementary Silver Spring, MD | 6.8 |
| Glade Elementary Walkersville, MD | 6.8 |
| Huntingtown Elementary Huntingtown, MD | 6.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Whetstone Elementary
What grades does Whetstone Elementary serve?
Whetstone Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Whetstone Elementary?
Whetstone Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 718 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whetstone Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Whetstone Elementary is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Whetstone Elementary rank in MD?
Whetstone Elementary is ranked #574 out of 1,363 schools in MD.
What is Whetstone Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Whetstone Elementary has a composite rating of 6.8 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 Whetstone Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Whetstone Elementary has 21.8% math proficiency and 28.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Whetstone Elementary a charter school?
No, Whetstone Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Whetstone Elementary a Title I school?
No, Whetstone Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Whetstone Elementary?
54.0% of students at Whetstone 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
- 718
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 58
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 54.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Montgomery County
- Phone
- (240) 740-1060
- 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
- #94 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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