- Enrollment
- 3,266
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gaithersburg, MD
Rachel Carson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Rachel Carson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240048090454
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rachel Carson Elementary earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Maryland schools.
- #6 of 16
- schools in Gaithersburg · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.8:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 24.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Rachel Carson Elementary has class sizes larger than 79% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rachel Carson Elementary ranks #6 of 16 schools in Gaithersburg, MD.
School address
District: Montgomery County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240048090454 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-24 students YoY
Rachel Carson Elementary held near 674 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 40.8 → 41.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-24 students YoY 240048090454 · Gaithersburg, MD Other · MID · TRAD
671 enr · 16.8:1 · 24.8% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students)
Rachel Carson Elementary held near 674 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount). Teacher FTE added 40.8 → 41.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Rachel Carson 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 671
Rachel Carson Elementary
671 students
What this shows Rachel Carson Elementary reports 671 students on the CCD universe file.
How Rachel Carson Elementary compares
Rachel Carson 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 | 16.8:1 | ▲ 16% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.8% | ▼ 49% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 671 | top 32% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
671
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 79% in Maryland - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.4%
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
$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
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 447 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 45.2%
Hispanic or Latino 22.5%
Asian 15.8%
African American 8.2%
Two or More 8.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 45.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.7, Rachel Carson 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 Rachel Carson Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Blair High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Walter Johnson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wheaton High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gaithersburg High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Seneca Valley High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rachel Carson 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 Gaithersburg
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
South Lake Elementary
Standard public school
746 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Whetstone Elementary
Standard public school
711 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Gaithersburg Elementary
Standard public school
603 students 8.9:1 students per teacher
Brown Station Elementary
Standard public school
572 students 9.9:1 students per teacher
Harriet R. Tubman Elementary
Standard public school
571 students 13:1 students per teacher
Rosemont Elementary
Standard public school
564 students 10.8:1 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 (~671 students)
Frequently asked questions about Rachel Carson Elementary
How many students attend Rachel Carson Elementary?
Rachel Carson Elementary has 671 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gaithersburg, MD. CCD year-over-year: 698 (2022-23) → 674 (2023-24), nearly flat (-24).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rachel Carson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Rachel Carson Elementary is 16.8:1, which is 16% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 7% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rachel Carson Elementary?
24.8% of students at Rachel Carson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rachel Carson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Rachel Carson Elementary is White at 45.2% of enrollment, in Gaithersburg, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rachel Carson Elementary?
Rachel Carson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Rachel Carson Elementary rank among schools in Gaithersburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Rachel Carson Elementary ranks #6 of 16 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 schools in Gaithersburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Besides Rachel Carson 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.