Summary:
Zip code 20816 in Bethesda, MD, is home to two exceptional elementary schools, Wood Acres Elementary and Westbrook Elementary, both part of the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools district and serving students from kindergarten through fifth grade.
Wood Acres Elementary is the standout school in this area, ranking an impressive 3rd out of 864 elementary schools in Maryland for the 2025-2026 school year, placing it in the 100th percentile. Its academic performance is exceptional, with math proficiency at 85.1%, ELA proficiency at 88.7%, and science proficiency at 73.8%—all dramatically outperforming district and state averages. Westbrook Elementary is also a top-tier school, ranked 46th in the state (95th percentile) with strong proficiency rates of 69.8% in math, 76.3% in ELA, and 58.9% in science. While both schools serve relatively affluent populations, Westbrook has a higher percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (13.03%) compared to Wood Acres (7.22%). Notably, Westbrook spends $772 more per student ($18,312 vs. $17,540) than the higher-performing Wood Acres, suggesting that factors beyond spending drive Wood Acres' superior results.
Both schools boast exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rates (6.7% at Wood Acres and 8.9% at Westbrook), far below the district average of 22.6%, indicating highly engaged student bodies and strong community support. Wood Acres shows a particularly strong early math program, with 3rd-grade math proficiency at 94.6%, while Westbrook's 5th-grade math proficiency (59.5%) suggests a potential area for improvement. Overall, families in zip code 20816 have access to two outstanding elementary schools that consistently deliver top-tier academic outcomes, with Wood Acres leading the way as one of the best in the state.
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