- Enrollment
- 3,266
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Gaithersburg, MD
Darnestown Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Darnestown Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 240048000817
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Darnestown Elementary earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Maryland schools.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Gaithersburg · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.7:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 12.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Darnestown Elementary has class sizes smaller than 74% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Darnestown Elementary ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Gaithersburg, MD.
School address
District: Montgomery County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240048000817 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Darnestown Elementary held near 354 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.5 → 29.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 240048000817 · Gaithersburg, MD Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
356 enr · 12.7:1 · 12.4% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students)
Darnestown Elementary held near 354 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.5 → 29.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Darnestown 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 356
Darnestown Elementary
356 students
What this shows Darnestown Elementary reports 356 students on the CCD universe file.
How Darnestown Elementary compares
Darnestown 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 | 12.7:1 | ▼ 12% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 12.4% | ▼ 75% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 356 | top 79% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.7:1
Leaner classes than 69% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
356
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
12.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 75% 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
12.7:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 26% in Maryland - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
10.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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 356 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 51.4%
Asian 14.9%
Hispanic or Latino 14.6%
African American 9.6%
Two or More 8.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 51.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.5, Darnestown 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 Darnestown 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Seneca Valley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Darnestown 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 elementary schools in Gaithersburg
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Diamond Elementary
Standard public school
654 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Jones Lane Elementary
Standard public school
428 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Laytonsville Elementary
Standard public school
355 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Dufief Elementary
Standard public school
276 students 9.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~356 students)
Frequently asked questions about Darnestown Elementary
How many students attend Darnestown Elementary?
Darnestown Elementary has 356 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Gaithersburg, MD. CCD year-over-year: 340 (2022-23) → 354 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Darnestown Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Darnestown Elementary is 12.7:1, which is 12% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 19% 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 Darnestown Elementary?
12.4% of students at Darnestown Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Darnestown Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Darnestown Elementary is White at 51.4% of enrollment, in Gaithersburg, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Darnestown Elementary?
Darnestown Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 Darnestown Elementary rank among elementary schools in Gaithersburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Darnestown Elementary ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Gaithersburg, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Gaithersburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Besides Darnestown 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.