Darnestown Elementary

As an intimate K-5 school in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Darnestown Elementary educates 356 students from grades K through 5, overseen by Montgomery County Public Schools. That puts it 26% leaner than the typical public school in Maryland, which averages around 481 students.

Montgomery County Public Schools comprises 208 schools with combined enrollment of 159,181 students; Darnestown Elementary is among them.

Demographically, Darnestown Elementary lists that the largest single group is White at 51%, but no single group is in the majority. Beyond that, the school lists 15% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 10% Black, 9% multiracial. That is considerably more White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 42%.

In terms of school funding signals, Darnestown Elementary reports 32 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 11.1:1. The state averages around 13.8:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Roughly 18% of students at Darnestown Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. That share is lower than Montgomery County's rate of about 40%.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Darnestown Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 63.7% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 59.5%.

Around the school, the surrounding county (Montgomery County) records that median household income runs about $132,450, 61% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 5%. Across Montgomery County's 211 public schools (combined enrollment of about 159,181 students), Darnestown Elementary is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Jones Lane Elementary, around 1.0 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Darnestown Elementary. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Darnestown Elementary at 5th of 9; the average score across the group is 59.0%.

The school occupies a residential site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Darnestown Elementary has expanded 25%, going from 284 students in 2018 to 356 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 73% to 51% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio tightened from 16.2:1 in 2018 to 11.1:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, members of the Darnestown Elementary community share and discuss classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Members of the school community can share what they know.