Enrollment
351
Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hagerstown, MD
Potomac Heights Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Potomac Heights Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240066001281
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Potomac Heights Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% 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
- 18.5:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 60.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Potomac Heights Elementary has class sizes larger than 92% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Potomac Heights Elementary ranks #11 of 14 schools in Hagerstown, MD.
School address
District: Washington County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240066001281 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.5:1
vs 14.5:1 Maryland avg
+28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
60.9%
vs 49.0% Maryland avg
+24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Potomac Heights Elementary compares with Maryland and U.S. medians
What stands out at Potomac Heights Elementary
Potomac Heights Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Hagerstown, Maryland, enrolling 351 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.5:1 is larger than about 92% of Maryland schools and 28% above the 14.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 60.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 351 puts it in the smaller third of Maryland schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,382 scored Maryland schools.
Among 228 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Maryland schools statewide, it ranks #203, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and African American (23%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 702 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Washington County Public Schools spends $15,838 per pupil, 23% below the Maryland average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Hagerstown's public schools, it stands alongside Pangborn Elementary (749 students): Potomac Heights Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.5:1 vs 15:1).
Washington County Public Schools also operates South Hagerstown High (1,690 students) and North Hagerstown High (1,583 students) alongside Potomac Heights Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Potomac Heights Elementary compares
Potomac Heights Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.5:1 | ▲ 28% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.9% | ▲ 24% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 351 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.5:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
351
Bigger than 40% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
60.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.5:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 92% in Maryland - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.1%
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
$15,838
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $20,446
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 39.0%
African American 22.8%
Hispanic or Latino 20.8%
Two or More 14.5%
Asian 2.8%
Largest group: White at 39.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.1, Potomac Heights Elementary is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Washington County Public Schools, which includes Potomac Heights Elementary.
$15,838
Per student
-23%
vs Maryland
Avg $20,446
-5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.0%
State 53.7%
Federal 15.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Potomac Heights Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Hagerstown High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Hagerstown High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Williamsport High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Western Heights Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| E. Russell Hicks Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Potomac Heights Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,690
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- 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
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Maryland, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~351 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Potomac Heights Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Potomac Heights Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Washington County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Potomac Heights Elementary
How many students attend Potomac Heights Elementary?
Potomac Heights Elementary has 351 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hagerstown, MD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Potomac Heights Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Potomac Heights Elementary is 18.5:1, which is 28% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Potomac Heights Elementary?
60.9% of students at Potomac Heights Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Potomac Heights Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Potomac Heights Elementary is White at 39.0% of enrollment, in Hagerstown, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Potomac Heights Elementary?
Potomac Heights Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Potomac Heights Elementary rank among schools in Hagerstown?
By Resource Investment Index, Potomac Heights 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.
Is Potomac Heights Elementary a good school?
Potomac Heights Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Maryland schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Maryland schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Washington County Public Schools?
Besides Potomac Heights 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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.