15 Bethesda Schools Among Best For Grades K-8: U.S. News

BETHESDA, MD — Elementary and middle schools in Bethesda have been ranked among the best in Maryland, according to a brand-new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

For the inaugural list, U.S. News published rankings and data on more than 80,000 public elementary and middle schools across the United States.

Schools are ranked at the state and district levels. The best charter schools and best magnet schools ranked as stand-alone categories.

U.S. News ranked Bannockburn Elementary and Thomas S. Pyle Middle School both ranked as the highest in the state among schools in Bethesda according to the new list. Both were ranked second for elementary and middle schools respectively.

Here’s a look at how elementary schools in Bethesda ranked compared with others in the state:

2: Bannockburn Elementary
11: Potomac Elementary
12: Westbrook Elementary
14: Carderock Springs Elementary
16: Seven Locks Elementary
20: Bradley Hills Elementary
21: Wyngate Elementary
33: Burning Tree Elementary
59: Luxmanor Elementary
70: Bethesda Elementary
82: Wood Acres Elementary
233: Ashburton Elementary

Here’s a look at how middle schools in Bethesda ranked compared with others in the state:

2: Thomas S. Pyle Middle School
12: North Bethesda Middle
14: Westland Middle

To determine the rankings, U.S. News used data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze two areas at each school:

• Math and reading proficiency — or how well students perform on state assessments.
• Math and reading performance — or how well they perform compared with expectations.

The state assessment data used in the rankings is from the 2018-19 school year and, therefore, predates any effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on test-taking.

Schools were also ranked within their district. Here’s how elementary schools in Montgomery County Public Schools measured up:

1. Bannockburn Elementary
2. Cold Spring Elementary
3. Wayside Elementary
4. Travilah Elementary
5. Potomac Elementary

Here are the top five middle schools in Montgomery County:

1. Thomas W. Pyle Middle School
2. Herbert Hoover Middle
3. Robert Frost Middle School
4. Cabin John Middle School
5. North Bethesda Middle

Nationally, California has 5,534 ranked elementary schools — the most of any state — followed by Texas at 4,446; New York at 2,211; Florida at 2,128; and Illinois at 2,038 schools.

California also has the most ranked middle schools with 2,319, followed by Texas at 1,942; Illinois at 1,243; New York at 1,219; and Florida at 997.

See the complete list of 2021’s Best K-8 Schools.