Summary:
This analysis examines three elementary schools in zip code 20882 (Gaithersburg, MD): Goshen Elementary, Laytonsville Elementary, and Woodfield Elementary, all part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district. These schools serve grades PK-5 or K-5 and offer a range of academic and resource profiles for families.
Woodfield Elementary stands out for its high investment per student ($30,086) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (10.6:1), but its state ranking has declined from 92nd to 238th over two years. In contrast, Laytonsville Elementary is the most improved, jumping to a 4-star rating and a 201st state ranking in 2025-2026, while spending $7,000 less per student. Goshen Elementary is the largest school but has the highest percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch (55.87%) and the lowest 3-star rating, though its 3rd graders achieve the highest math and ELA scores in the zip code for that grade.
A key finding is the universal "3rd Grade Bump" in math, where all three schools see 3rd graders far outperform 4th and 5th graders, suggesting a potential curriculum challenge in upper grades. Additionally, Laytonsville Elementary has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (15.0%), while Goshen Elementary shows strong early intervention success that doesn't carry through to later grades. The diverging trends of Woodfield's decline and Laytonsville's rise highlight that factors beyond spending, such as teaching quality and community engagement, are powerful drivers of school performance.
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