- Enrollment
- 3,266
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Potomac, MD
Bells Mill Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bells Mill Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240048000781
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bells Mill Elementary earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median.
- #2 of 3
- schools in Potomac · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 16.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Bells Mill Elementary has class sizes near the Maryland median. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bells Mill Elementary ranks #2 of 3 schools in Potomac, MD.
School address
District: Montgomery County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240048000781 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Bells Mill Elementary held near 591 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.0 → 35.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-20 students YoY 240048000781 · Potomac, MD Other · MID · TRAD
570 enr · 15.4:1 · 16.0% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students)
Bells Mill Elementary held near 591 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.0 → 35.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Bells Mill Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Montgomery Bla
Montgomery Blair High
3,266 students
- Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson High
3,016 students
- Wheaton High
Wheaton High
2,794 students
- Gaithersburg H
Gaithersburg High
2,441 students
- Seneca Valley
Seneca Valley High
2,409 students
- This school 570
Bells Mill Elementary
570 students
What this shows Bells Mill Elementary reports 570 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bells Mill Elementary compares
Bells Mill Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▲ 6% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.0% | ▼ 67% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 570 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
570
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
16.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 67% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 63% in Maryland - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
8.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$19,456
per pupil, district-wide
- above Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 570 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 41.6%
Asian 27.2%
African American 13.0%
Hispanic or Latino 9.6%
Two or More 8.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 41.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.0, Bells Mill Elementary is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Montgomery County Public Schools reports $19,456 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bells Mill Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Blair High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walter Johnson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wheaton High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gaithersburg High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Seneca Valley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bells Mill Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,016
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 2,794
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,441
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 2,409
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Potomac
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~570 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bells Mill Elementary
How many students attend Bells Mill Elementary?
Bells Mill Elementary has 570 students enrolled. It is a public school in Potomac, MD. CCD year-over-year: 611 (2022-23) → 591 (2023-24), nearly flat (-20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bells Mill Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bells Mill Elementary is 15.4:1, which is 6% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bells Mill Elementary?
16.0% of students at Bells Mill Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bells Mill Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bells Mill Elementary is White at 41.6% of enrollment, in Potomac, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bells Mill Elementary?
Bells Mill Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bells Mill Elementary rank among schools in Potomac?
By Resource Investment Index, Bells Mill Elementary ranks #2 of 3 schools in Potomac, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Potomac on the city page.
What other schools are in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Besides Bells Mill Elementary, Montgomery County Public Schools also operates Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students), Walter Johnson High (3,016 students), and Wheaton High (2,794 students). See the Montgomery County Public Schools district page for the complete list.