Summary:
There are three public middle schools serving grades 6-8 in Gaithersburg, MD (zip code 20877), all part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district, which is ranked 8th in Maryland.
Shady Grove Middle is the top performer in the area, holding the highest state ranking (49th percentile) and the only school with a 3-star rating. It leads in math proficiency (18.9%) and has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (21.2%). In contrast, Forest Oak Middle is the lowest-performing school, ranking in the 22nd percentile with the lowest math (7.5%) and English Language Arts (30.5%) proficiency rates. Gaithersburg Middle is the most improved, showing a clear upward trend from the 30th to the 43rd percentile in recent years. Notably, Gaithersburg Middle excels in advanced math, with Algebra I proficiency (35.9%) and Geometry proficiency (40.9%) that surpass both other schools and the state average, even though its overall math proficiency is second-lowest.
A key finding is that spending does not equal performance: Shady Grove Middle has the highest spending per student ($23,575) and the best outcomes, while Gaithersburg Middle has the lowest spending ($21,527) but is improving. All three schools fall well below the district average in math and ELA, with 52-63% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, indicating significant challenges. For families seeking stability and the best overall academic environment, Shady Grove Middle is the clear choice, while Gaithersburg Middle offers a promising trajectory for improvement.
Thank you for your feedback!