The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jackson Road Elementary
Jackson Road Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Silver Spring, Maryland, part of the Montgomery County Public Schools system. It is one of many neighborhood elementary schools in a large and well-resourced district that serves a wide range of communities.
On the state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Jackson Road Elementary’s results show that a share of students met the proficiency bar, but the majority did not. In math, the proportion of students scoring proficient or above rose as grade levels advanced, from a low in third grade to a higher share by fifth grade. In English language arts, the pattern was similar, with proficiency shares increasing from third to fifth grade but still leaving most students below the proficient threshold. In fifth-grade science, the share reaching proficiency was the lowest among the three tested subjects. Across all tested grades and subjects, the school’s overall proficiency was below the midpoint when compared to other Maryland schools for which data is available. It is worth noting that these results reflect a single year of assessment; the data does not include trend lines from prior years, so it is not possible to say whether these numbers represent a stable pattern or a change from previous years.
The school’s enrollment is drawn from the immediate neighborhood. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating that a large portion of families have limited household income. The student body is diverse: a majority of students are Black and Hispanic, with smaller shares of White, Asian, and multiracial students. The school serves a relatively large elementary population with a full range of grade levels. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the provided records, and neither discipline, staffing, nor attendance figures were included. Because Jackson Road Elementary serves only through fifth grade, no graduation rate is reported; that metric does not apply to this grade band.
Silver Spring is an unincorporated census-designated place in southeastern Montgomery County, directly adjacent to Washington, D.C. It is densely populated and notably diverse, with large immigrant communities from El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, and China. The downtown core is an urbanized, walkable area centered on the Paul Sarbanes Transit Center, which connects residents to the Metro Red Line, MARC train, and bus services. The area has seen sustained redevelopment over the past two decades, with mixed-use projects and a growing population. The school itself sits in a predominantly residential area within the larger Silver Spring mailing address, which spans a wide swath of eastern Montgomery County. Housing in the zip code area is expensive by national standards, typical of the Washington suburbs, and rents are also elevated. A parent moving into this catchment area should expect a competitive housing market.
Montgomery County Public Schools is one of the largest and most established districts in Maryland. The district adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum starting in the 2023-24 school year, which affects how reading is taught across all its elementary schools, including Jackson Road. The district’s operating budget has grown steadily and now accounts for nearly half of county spending, reflecting a strong financial commitment to education. Ongoing boundary studies could eventually affect which schools serve which neighborhoods; families should be aware that attendance zones are subject to change.
For a parent considering Jackson Road Elementary, the picture is straightforward. This is a school in a high-cost, transit-connected suburban community within a well-funded district. State test results show that most students are not yet meeting proficiency standards in reading, math, or science. The student body is majority low-income and racially diverse. The school does not offer the kind of detailed program or pathway data that would allow a comparison of specialized offerings, and there are no publicly reported figures on discipline or staff composition to consult. A family looking at this school may want to speak directly with the principal or visit classrooms to understand how the school addresses its academic challenges and supports the needs of its student community.
See more original research from School Decision →