The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Burnt Mills Elementary
Burnt Mills Elementary is a regular public school in Silver Spring, Maryland, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade within the Montgomery County Public Schools system. The school is part of a large, diverse community that sits just north of Washington, D.C., an area known for its substantial immigrant population and a mix of urban downtown density and inner suburban residential neighborhoods. Parents and residents considering this school will find a student body that differs notably from the county average in socioeconomic composition and academic profile.
The school’s enrollment is substantial for an elementary school in this region. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, placing the school’s economic need well above the district-wide norm. The student population is racially and ethnically diverse. Black students make up the largest share, followed by Hispanic students and Asian students, with White students and students of two or more races each representing a smaller portion. This composition reflects the broader diversity of Silver Spring, which has sizable Salvadoran, Ethiopian, Indian, and Chinese communities.
Test results from the most recent school year show proficiency rates that are lower than those of many other elementary schools in Montgomery County. In English language arts, proficiency among tested grade levels fell in a range well below half of students meeting the bar. In math, the proficiency rate was lower still. Science results for fifth graders were particularly low. These are straightforward facts: the school’s academic attainment on state assessments is soft. A parent considering this school should investigate what academic supports and interventions are available and how the school is working to improve outcomes. Because data for English learner and special education enrollment were not available, it is not possible to assess how those populations factor into the overall scores, but this is a question families can raise directly with the school.
What the data does not show is also worth noting. There is no multi-year academic trend information beyond a single point, so it is not possible to tell from this data whether performance is improving, declining, or stable. The comparison fact-set, which would ordinarily position this school against others in the county, could not generate usable results because the cohort was too small; a reader should not interpret this as a verdict on the school but rather a limitation of the available benchmark data.
Burnt Mills is a neighborhood school in a district that has recently made district-wide changes to its elementary literacy curriculum, adopting new programs. The district has also been conducting system-wide boundary studies as part of long-term facilities planning, a process families in the area may want to track. The school itself is not a charter or magnet, and no Title I status was provided.
The housing market in the surrounding area carries a significant cost. Home values are high, and rents are also substantial, reflecting the region’s proximity to Washington, D.C. For a family, the decision to live in this attendance zone involves a major housing commitment. The downtown Silver Spring core is walkable and transit-connected, with the Paul Sarbanes Transit Center providing access to Metro, MARC, and bus lines. The Purple Line light rail is under construction and expected to open in the late 2020s, which could affect the area’s growth and accessibility.
This is a school where a family should look carefully at the academic trajectory and support structures. The community is richly diverse and well-located for transit and urban amenities, but the school’s current test results are a clear area of concern that warrants a direct conversation with the principal or a school visit. No graduation rate is reported because the school does not serve high school grades, and no chronic absenteeism data were available.
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