Best Elementary Schools in Silver Spring, MD

This analysis examines 38 elementary schools in Silver Spring, Maryland, all part of the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools district, serving grades PK-5 in a diverse suburban community near Washington, D.C.

The standout schools in Silver Spring are Westover Elementary and Sligo Creek Elementary, which rank in the top 20% of Maryland schools and lead the city in math and English proficiency. Forest Knolls Elementary also excels, particularly in science, where its 57.9% proficiency rate far exceeds the district average. A remarkable outlier is Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary, which achieves top-quartile state rankings and strong test scores despite serving a student body where over 60% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. At the other end, Kemp Mill Elementary and Harmony Hills Elementary face significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 20% statewide with very low proficiency rates, especially in science and upper-grade math.

Key metrics reveal wide disparities. Citywide math proficiency averages 35.4%, while English Language Arts averages 42.5%, both below district levels. Chronic absenteeism is a critical issue, averaging 20.7% citywide but reaching 31.8% at Georgian Forest Elementary, which correlates strongly with low performance. Per-student spending varies dramatically from $15,804 at Sligo Creek to $27,802 at Viers Mill Elementary, yet higher spending does not guarantee better outcomes. A notable citywide weakness is 5th-grade science, where the average proficiency of 27.5% trails both district and state averages, suggesting a need for focused curriculum improvements.