Gaithersburg Middle, Gaithersburg MD

Original Research by School Decision on Gaithersburg Middle

Gaithersburg Middle School is a regular public school in Montgomery County serving grades six through eight. It sits in the city of Gaithersburg, a large and diverse community that, according to publicly reported descriptions, combines historic Olde Towne residential and commercial areas with newer planned neighborhoods and corporate biotechnology campuses. The school is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools system, a large district that has adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum and is conducting systemwide boundary studies that may eventually affect attendance areas. The district’s overall budget has grown substantially, reflecting a long-term commitment that also shapes local property tax burdens.

The school’s state assessment results for the most recent year are a central piece of its academic picture. In mathematics, proficiency rates across all three grades are very low, with the eighth-grade rate particularly thin. English language arts proficiency is higher but still below a level most families would consider sturdy; about a third of students meet the state standard in each grade. Science and social studies scores, tested only in eighth grade, show similar patterns: roughly one in six students scored proficient in science, and about one in four in social studies. These figures come from Maryland’s MCAP and MISA assessments, and they point to a school where many students are working well below grade-level benchmarks. A parent considering Gaithersburg Middle may want to ask the school directly about the specific supports and interventions in place for math and literacy, as well as how the school tracks individual student progress beyond the annual state tests. Multi-year trend data is not yet available—only one year of results is reported—so it is not possible to say whether these numbers represent a change from prior years.

Enrollment is sizable for a middle school, and the student body is economically diverse. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a marker of significant economic need. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black population and smaller shares of White, Asian, and multiracial students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the school’s profile; families may wish to contact the school for that information, especially if those programs matter to their child.

Gaithersburg itself is a high-cost housing market. Home prices and rents both sit well above national averages, and the area’s biotechnology and federal research employers drive an economy that remains competitive. The city has MARC commuter rail stations and a nearby Metro station, though many areas are car-oriented. The school’s locale is a mix of residential streets and commercial corridors, with walkability varying by neighborhood.

Beyond test scores, the available data does not include information on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or program offerings such as advanced courses, arts, or extracurriculars. Those gaps mean a parent’s picture of daily life at the school is incomplete from this profile alone. The district’s ongoing boundary analysis could eventually change which students attend this school, though no timeline for specific changes is publicly reported.

Gaithersburg Middle serves a large, economically diverse student population in a region with high housing costs and a strong employment base. Its academic performance on state assessments is an area that would warrant direct inquiry with the school, particularly for families whose children need strong foundational support in math and reading.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 610%

School 10% · district not reported

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 75%

School 5% · district not reported

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 80%

School 0% · district not reported

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 631%

School 31% · district not reported

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 739%

School 39% · district not reported

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 832%

School 32% · district not reported

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Science

Grade 816%

School 16% · district not reported

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 829%

School 29% · District 50% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

This schoolMontgomery County Public Schools, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income36%Higher-income50%14 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income15%Higher-income30%15 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income12%Higher-income27%16 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income8%Higher-income16%9 pp gap