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Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 20659

At a glance

Schools

1,263

Students

Top rankedWhite Marsh Elementary110^th of 865 Maryland elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary up 114 spots statewide this year

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Summary:

This analysis examines four elementary schools in zip code 20659 (Mechanicsville, MD), all part of the St. Mary's County Public Schools district, serving grades PK through 5 with enrollments ranging from 220 to 479 students.

White Marsh Elementary is the clear standout, ranking in the 87th percentile statewide with exceptional test scores—62.1% proficiency in Math and 69.4% in ELA—far exceeding district and state averages. It also boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (18.8%) and the highest spending per student ($20,517) with the lowest student-teacher ratio (14.3:1). Oakville Elementary is a strong performer, particularly in Math (50.4% proficiency), and shows resilience despite having the highest percentage of students on free/reduced lunch (42.96%). Mechanicsville Elementary is a consistent middle performer, with stable rankings between the 61st and 70th percentile and Math scores (41.4%) above the district average. Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary faces the most challenges, with the lowest state ranking (59th percentile), the highest chronic absenteeism (23.7%), and a dramatic drop-off in 4th-grade Math proficiency (30%).

Key takeaways include a strong correlation between resource allocation and performance—White Marsh leads in both spending and outcomes, while Lettie Marshall Dent lags in both. Chronic absenteeism is a clear differentiator, with lower rates linked to higher test scores. Oakville demonstrates that socioeconomic factors are not destiny, achieving strong Math results despite a higher free/reduced lunch rate. The data also reveals a "3rd grade cliff" at Lettie Marshall Dent, where early success in 3rd grade does not translate to 4th grade, suggesting a need for targeted support in upper elementary grades.

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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 (2025)	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
Mechanicsville Elementary	Public	K-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 865 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
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 865 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
White Marsh Elementary	Public	K-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 865 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 865 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

Cities Near Zip Code 20659

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Mechanicsville	1.95 mi	5	87^th
Morganza	5.52 mi	1	103^rd
Loveville	7.94 mi	1	137^th
Chaptico	8.85 mi	1	94^th
Prince Frederick	9.39 mi	7	78^th

See the top MD Maryland cities

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.