Summary:
Zip code 20842, covering the Dickerson area, is home to a single elementary school, Monocacy Elementary, which serves grades K-5 within the Montgomery County Public Schools district.
Monocacy Elementary is a standout school that consistently delivers exceptional academic results. With a small enrollment of just 164 students, the school boasts a very low student-teacher ratio of 11:1 and high per-student spending of $26,590, which likely supports its strong performance. The school has earned a 4-star rating for three consecutive years, placing it in the top 20% of Maryland elementary schools. In the 2025-2026 school year, it significantly outperformed both district and state averages in Mathematics (53.2% proficient vs. 36.9% district and 27.1% state) and English Language Arts (66% proficient vs. 58.5% district and 51.7% state). Its chronic absenteeism rate of 11.0% is also notably lower than the district average of 22.6%, indicating a strong culture of attendance that supports learning.
While the school excels overall, there are a few specific areas of interest. A notable dip in 4th-grade math proficiency (40%) suggests a potential instructional challenge for that grade level, contrasting with strong 3rd and 5th-grade math scores. Conversely, 5th-grade science scores saw a dramatic 15.1 percentage point improvement from the previous year, jumping to 53.6% proficiency. This small, well-funded school provides a high-quality education with individualized attention, though parents may want to inquire about the specific math curriculum for 4th graders.
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