Summary:
The six public schools in zip code 20905 (Silver Spring, MD) are all part of the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools district and serve a diverse community of approximately 4,850 students across four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
Academic performance varies dramatically by school level. The elementary schools are the strongest performers, with Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary standing out as the academic powerhouse, achieving the highest test scores in the zip code despite having a high rate of economic disadvantage. Stonegate Elementary is a consistent performer with the lowest poverty rate and the highest state ranking among elementary schools. However, there is a steep drop-off in math proficiency between elementary and middle school, with Briggs Chaney Middle averaging just 13.5% proficiency. James Hubert Blake High faces significant challenges, with only 4% of students proficient in math and a chronic absenteeism rate of 38.7%, the highest in the area, though its graduation rate remains near the district average.
Resource allocation does not always align with outcomes. Fairland Elementary receives the highest per-student spending ($24,792) and has the smallest class sizes, yet it has the lowest academic performance among the elementary schools. In contrast, Stonegate Elementary achieves strong results with lower spending and larger classes. Chronic absenteeism is a clear leading indicator of trouble, as the schools with the highest rates—Blake High and Fairland Elementary—also have the lowest test scores. Overall, families should expect strong elementary options but be aware of significant challenges in the transition to middle and high school.
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