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Dynard Elementary

Q: Is Dynard Elementary a good school?

Dynard Elementary ranks 271 st of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

271^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 864 Maryland Elementary Schools

Better than 69% of Maryland elementary schools

Summary

Dynard Elementary is a mid-sized school in rural Chaptico, MD, serving 422 students from Pre-K through 5th grade as part of the high-performing St. Mary's County Public Schools district. Over the past decade, the school has shown steady improvement, now consistently ranking in the 60th to 75th percentile statewide with a 3 or 4-star rating.

Dynard’s standout strength is mathematics, where 42.4% of students are proficient—well above the district average of 36% and the state average of 27.1%. This makes it a "math school" in a district where many nearby schools excel in both math and reading. For example, its math scores are closer to top-performing Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary (58.3%) than to lower-performing Benjamin Banneker Elementary (32%). However, English Language Arts (ELA) is a relative weakness, with 56.9% proficiency falling below the district average of 58.5%. The school also excels at supporting students from lower-income backgrounds, ranking in the 77th percentile for this group—a stark contrast to its performance with other subgroups. Chronic absenteeism, while still high at 22.7%, has improved and is now better than the district average of 27.3%.

Compared to nearby schools, Dynard faces unique challenges. It has a higher student-to-teacher ratio (17.2:1) than high-performing peers like White Marsh Elementary (14.3:1) and Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary (14.9:1), which may contribute to its ELA struggles. Yet, it outperforms Benjamin Banneker Elementary in both subjects despite similar demographics. A notable pattern is a "3rd grade slump" in math, where 3rd-grade proficiency (37.1%) lags behind 4th (44.8%) and 5th (44.7%) grades—a trend worth watching. Overall, Dynard is a school on the rise, with a clear math focus and effective support for economically disadvantaged students, making it a solid choice for families in the Chaptico area.

422

Students ?

17.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,408

Per pupil spending ?

39.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

23510 Bushwood Rd
Chaptico, MD 20621

(301) 769-4804

District: St. Mary's County Public Schools

Students who attend Dynard Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Margaret Brent Middle
High:	Chopticon High

Racial breakdown:

White:

76.8%

African American:

8.8%

Two or more races:

8.5%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 40th percentile in 2016 → 69th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (48% vs 39% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 29 percentile points since 2016

✓Above the Maryland median (69th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg47%

Maryland avg39%

271^st of 864

Maryland public elementary schools ?

Top 31%▲ up 28 pts since 2016

From bottom 40% (2016) to top 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 19Elementary Schools in the St. Mary's County Public Schools

7^th of 25St. Mary's County Public Schools among Maryland districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2026	67.5	271 of 864	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	70.6	250 of 865	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	60.8	302 of 859	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.9	227 of 855	73.5%	★★★★☆
2022	75.6	212 of 862	75.4%	★★★★☆
2021	44.6	323 of 802	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.6	292 of 853	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.4	396 of 857	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	35.6	511 of 847	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	37.4	503 of 845	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	36.6	512 of 859	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	49.4	518 of 867	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	46.5	503 of 847	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	58.0	417 of 857	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	66.1	307 of 853	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	70.7	264 of 855	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	72.8	243 of 850	71.4%	★★★★☆
2008	69.3	271 of 838	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	33.7	591 of 818	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	43.1	504 of 804	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2005	49.9	450 of 805	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	47.7	484 of 803	39.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	45.4	320 of 796	59.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	58.7	123 of 546	77.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	42.2	348 of 788	55.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	29.2	354 of 528	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)77th percentile+18 vs school

Female (2021)60th percentile~ school

Male (2021)56th percentile-4 vs school

White (2021)33rd percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts57%+5 vs state

Mathematics42%+15 vs state

Science40%+7 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Compared with other schools I have observed in the area, Dynard stands out as having an above average staff and facilities. The school has an ambiance of achievement about it. I am very happy with the education my two grand daughters have received there. Close Quote

Schools Near Dynard Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAP Mathematics (2026)				MCAP English Language Arts (2026)				MCAP Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dynard Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	23510 Bushwood Rd	Chaptico	20621	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 769-4804	422	24	17.2	39.6%	324 (76.8%)	37 (8.8%)	22 (5.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (8.5%)	67.5	271^st of 864 public elementary schools	68.6%		70.6	250^th of 865 public elementary schools	71.1%	21	37.1	44.8	44.7	42.4	50.8	58.2	60.5	56.9	39.5	$17,408	$1,004	$16,404
Benjamin Banneker Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	27180 Point Lookout Rd	Loveville	20656	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 475-0260	543	40	13.7	36.6%	416 (76.6%)	55 (10.1%)	25 (4.6%)	8 (1.5%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (6.6%)	54.8	366^th of 864 public elementary schools	57.6%		59.1	344^th of 865 public elementary schools	60.2%	22	32.1	36.0	27.9	32.0	50.6	52.8	48.8	50.8	39.5	$21,411	$1,540	$19,871
Leonardtown Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	22885 Duke St	Leonardtown	20650	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 475-0250	509	31	16.5	32.4%	336 (66.0%)	68 (13.4%)	33 (6.5%)	22 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (9.8%)	74	233^rd of 864 public elementary schools	73.0%		72	239^th of 865 public elementary schools	72.4%	6	52.9	48.6	33.3	44.4	64.7	62.2	60.6	62.5	43.2	$17,850	$1,475	$16,374
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	23595 Hayden Farm Lane	Leonardtown	20650	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 309-4658	516	35	14.9	19.8%	372 (72.1%)	46 (8.9%)	31 (6.0%)	17 (3.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	47 (9.1%)	87.3	118^th of 864 public elementary schools	86.3%		87.3	108^th of 865 public elementary schools	87.5%	10	59.6	54.9	60.0	58.3	64.0	69.5	72.0	68.6	57.0	$18,118	$1,079	$17,038
Oakville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	26410 Three Notch Road	Mechanicsville	20659	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 373-4365	291	20	14.6	43.0%	210 (72.2%)	30 (10.3%)	20 (6.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (10.3%)	63.2	295^th of 864 public elementary schools	65.9%		82.7	154^th of 865 public elementary schools	82.2%	141	46.7	64.9	42.9	50.4	48.9	62.2	42.9	50.4	28.6	$19,098	$1,070	$18,028
Mechanicsville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	28585 Three Notch Rd	Mechanicsville	20659	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 472-4800	273	17	15.9	36.6%	222 (81.3%)	13 (4.8%)	21 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	15 (5.5%)	62.4	298^th of 864 public elementary schools	65.5%		69.5	259^th of 865 public elementary schools	70.1%	39	37.8	54.8	34.4	41.4	56.8	61.9	45.9	53.6	32.8	$18,653	$1,096	$17,557
Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	12872 Rock Point Rd	Newburg	20664	Charles County	Charles County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 934-4091	428	28	15.2	40.0%	295 (68.9%)	70 (16.4%)	18 (4.2%)	3 (0.7%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (8.4%)	59.8	331^st of 864 public elementary schools	61.7%		64.6	294^th of 865 public elementary schools	66.0%	37	41.7	28.8	30.4	33.7	55.0	53.8	52.2	53.6	43.5	$21,137	$1,349	$19,788
Evergreen Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	43765 Wildewood Parkway	California	20619	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 863-4060	715	42	16.9	23.5%	445 (62.2%)	92 (12.9%)	81 (11.3%)	37 (5.2%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	57 (8.0%)	83.2	153^rd of 864 public elementary schools	82.3%		81.1	170^th of 865 public elementary schools	80.3%	17	47.7	63.1	65.7	58.8	59.5	68.9	67.6	65.4	51.5	$14,965	$949	$14,016
White Marsh Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	29090 Thompson Corner Rd	Mechanicsville	20659	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 472-4600	220	15	14.3	35.5%	149 (67.7%)	23 (10.5%)	25 (11.4%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (9.1%)	88	110^th of 864 public elementary schools	87.3%		93.2	58^th of 865 public elementary schools	93.3%	52	80.6	62.8	46.7	62.1	83.3	62.8	64.4	69.4	54.3	$20,517	$969	$19,548
Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	37840 New Market Turner Rd	Mechanicsville	20659	St. Mary's County	St. Mary's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 472-4500	479	27	17.6	38.4%	385 (80.4%)	30 (6.3%)	28 (5.8%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.7%)	56.3	356^th of 864 public elementary schools	58.8%		42.4	470^th of 865 public elementary schools	45.7%	114	52.5	30.0	32.1	37.1	62.7	44.3	45.7	50.0	32.1	$17,427	$945	$16,483

Frequently Asked Questions about Dynard Elementary

What district is Dynard Elementary in?

St. Mary's County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Dynard Elementary?

Students at Dynard Elementary are 77% White, 9% African American, 9% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Dynard Elementary attend?

Students who attend Dynard Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Margaret Brent Middle
High : Chopticon High

Is Dynard Elementary a good school?

Dynard Elementary ranks 271^st of 864 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Dynard Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 422 students attended Dynard Elementary.

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Schools in Chaptico, MD

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresNewJul 28, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCAP test scoresAug 26, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.