- Enrollment
- 1,690
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hagerstown, MD
Bester Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bester Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240066001253
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 2
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bester Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of Maryland schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools.
- #11 of 14
- schools in Hagerstown · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.1:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 85.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Bester Elementary has class sizes smaller than 87% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bester Elementary ranks #11 of 14 schools in Hagerstown, MD.
School address
District: Washington County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240066001253 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-33 students YoY
Bester Elementary shrank from 494 students in 2022-23 to 461 in 2023-24 (-6.7%).
Teacher FTE lost 44.0 → 42.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-33 students YoY 240066001253 · Hagerstown, MD Other · SMALL · TRAD
490 enr · 11.1:1 · 85.4% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: South Hagerstown High (1,690 students)
Bester Elementary shrank from 494 students in 2022-23 to 461 in 2023-24 (-6.7%). Teacher FTE lost 44.0 → 42.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Bester Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- South Hagersto
South Hagerstown High
1,690 students
- North Hagersto
North Hagerstown High
1,583 students
- Williamsport H
Williamsport High
1,061 students
- Western Height
Western Heights Middle
883 students
- E. Russell Hic
E. Russell Hicks Middle
841 students
- This school 490
Bester Elementary
490 students
What this shows Bester Elementary reports 490 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bester Elementary compares
Bester Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.1:1 | ▼ 23% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 85.4% | ▲ 74% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 490 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
490
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
85.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 74% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 13% in Maryland - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
54.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,937
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $18,753
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 490 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 30.4%
White 28.8%
Hispanic or Latino 21.6%
Two or More 18.8%
Asian 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 30.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.3, Bester Elementary is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Washington County Public Schools reports $17,937 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bester Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Hagerstown High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Hagerstown High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Williamsport High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Heights Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| E. Russell Hicks Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bester Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,583
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,061
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 883
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 841
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar other schools in Hagerstown
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pangborn Elementary
Standard public school
749 students 15:1 students per teacher
Salem Avenue Elementary
Standard public school
713 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Rockland Woods Elementary
Standard public school
655 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Ruth Ann Monroe Primary
Standard public school
579 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Lincolnshire Elementary
Standard public school
503 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Jonathan Hager Elementary
Standard public school
498 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~490 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Bester Elementary
How many students attend Bester Elementary?
Bester Elementary has 490 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hagerstown, MD. CCD year-over-year: 494 (2022-23) → 461 (2023-24), down 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bester Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bester Elementary is 11.1:1, which is 23% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 29% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bester Elementary?
85.4% of students at Bester Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bester Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bester Elementary is African American at 30.4% of enrollment, in Hagerstown, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bester Elementary?
Bester Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Bester Elementary rank among schools in Hagerstown?
By Resource Investment Index, Bester Elementary ranks #11 of 14 schools in Hagerstown, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Hagerstown on the city page.
What other schools are in Washington County Public Schools?
Besides Bester Elementary, Washington County Public Schools also operates South Hagerstown High (1,690 students), North Hagerstown High (1,583 students), and Williamsport High (1,061 students). See the Washington County Public Schools district page for the complete list.