Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 20874

This analysis examines eight elementary schools in Germantown, MD (zip code 20874), serving grades PK through 5th as part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district, revealing a stark performance divide between two standout schools and the rest of the area.

The top performers are Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary and Dr. Ronald E. McNair Elementary. Matsunaga is the only 5-star school in the zip code, ranking in the top 10% of Maryland elementary schools, with 64.3% proficiency in math and 73.1% in English Language Arts (ELA). McNair is a strong second, earning a 4-star rating and significantly exceeding the district average in math. In contrast, the other six schools—Waters Landing, Great Seneca Creek, S. Christa McAuliffe, Clopper Mill, Lake Seneca, and Germantown Elementary—all score below the district average in both math and ELA, with most earning 1 or 2-star ratings. The zip code's average ELA proficiency (48%) is notably below the district average (58.5%), indicating a systemic reading challenge across most schools.

Key findings include a "spending paradox": Germantown Elementary spends the most per student ($27,789) but is a mid-tier performer, while McNair spends the least ($17,471) and is a top performer. Chronic absenteeism is strongly linked to performance, with the top two schools having rates below 18% and lower-performing schools exceeding the district average of 22.6%. A concerning "5th-grade drop-off" is seen at Germantown Elementary and Clopper Mill, where 5th-grade math proficiency plummets compared to 3rd-grade scores, suggesting curriculum challenges. Overall, parents should consider that school performance in this zip code varies dramatically, with Matsunaga and McNair as clear academic leaders.