Potomac Heights Elementary

Q: Is Potomac Heights Elementary a good school?

Potomac Heights Elementary ranks 451 st of 859 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Potomac Heights Elementary is a public elementary school in Hagerstown, Maryland, serving 348 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Washington County Public Schools district, which is ranked 12th out of 25 districts in the state.

Potomac Heights Elementary has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 40.8% White, 19.83% African American, 21.55% Hispanic, 1.15% Asian, and 16.09% two or more races. This diversity is higher compared to nearby schools like Jonathan Hager Elementary and Emma K. Doub Elementary, which have a higher percentage of White students. However, Potomac Heights Elementary's academic performance, as measured by MCAP test scores, is mixed compared to the district and state averages, with lower proficiency rates in Mathematics (29.1%) and English Language Arts (41.8%) for all grades.

Potomac Heights Elementary has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 55.72% to 72.13% over the past three school years. This is significantly higher than nearby schools like Fountaindale Elementary (53.97%), indicating a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. While the school's performance in 3rd grade Mathematics (33.9%) and 3rd grade English Language Arts (47.3%) is closer to or exceeds the district and state averages, the overall academic outcomes suggest the need for targeted interventions and support to improve student achievement.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

301 E Magnolia Ave
Hagerstown, MD 21742-3431

(301) 766-8305

District: Washington County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
451^st of 859 Maryland Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,768

Students who attend Potomac Heights Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Northern Middle
High:	North Hagerstown High

Student/teacher ratio: 17.3

Number of students: 336

Racial breakdown:

White:

41.7%

African American:

21.4%

Hispanic:

19.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 74.4%

See top rated Maryland elementary schools

Compare Potomac Heights Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Potomac Heights Elementary ranks worse than 52.5% of elementary schools in Maryland. It also ranks 16^th among 24 ranked elementary schools in the Washington County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 40.56. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Potomac Heights Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (41.7%), African American (21.4%), Hispanic (19.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 74.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Potomac Heights Elementary is 17.3. 22 elementary schools in the Washington County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Potomac Heights Elementary employs 19.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Potomac Heights Elementary is $13,768. 23 elementary schools in the Washington County Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Potomac Heights Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Washington County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Washington County Public Schools 12^th of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Potomac Heights Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Potomac Heights Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	46.42	498^th	803	38.0%
2005	45.74	478^th	805	40.6%
2006	39.61	534^th	804	33.6%
2007	64.28	320^th	818	60.9%
2008	70.52	260^th	838	69.0%
2009	69.08	291^st	850	65.8%
2010	57.02	429^th	855	49.8%
2011	50.62	473^rd	853	44.5%
2012	56.40	430^th	857	49.8%
2013	59.27	370^th	847	56.3%
2014	62.13	374^th	867	56.9%
2015	65.09	278^th	859	67.6%
2016	60.26	315^th	845	62.7%
2017	39.83	477^th	847	43.7%
2018	54.11	355^th	857	58.6%
2019	44.04	437^th	853	48.8%
2021	29.07	495^th	802	38.3%
2022	61.85	308^th	862	64.3%
2023	57.78	315^th	855	63.2%
2024	40.56	451^st	859	47.5%

See the entire list of Maryland Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Female students at Potomac Heights Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	27.49	521^st	796	34.5%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Potomac Heights Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	26.03	530^th	788	32.7%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Potomac Heights Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	19.06	424^th	528	19.7%

See the entire list of Best Maryland Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Potomac Heights Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1989	282	28	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	313
1990	290	27	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	321
1991	319	40	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	361
1992	326	38	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	368
1993	320	39	6	1	0	n/a	n/a	366
1994	323	34	6	3	0	n/a	n/a	366
1995	303	21	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	328
1996	303	21	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	328
1997	293	18	5	5	0	n/a	n/a	321
1998	305	18	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	328
1999	288	30	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	322
2000	274	29	2	4	0	n/a	n/a	309
2001	259	35	3	7	1	n/a	n/a	305
2002	240	40	3	14	1	n/a	n/a	298
2003	240	40	3	14	1	n/a	n/a	298
2004	240	53	4	15	2	n/a	n/a	314
2005	239	54	4	9	1	n/a	n/a	307
2006	229	62	1	13	1	n/a	n/a	306
2007	224	58	2	18	1	n/a	n/a	303
2008	226	69	5	18	0	n/a	n/a	318
2009	229	67	4	14	0	n/a	n/a	314
2010	228	73	5	16	0	n/a	n/a	322
2011	228	40	7	15	0	0	35	325
2012	182	33	6	9	0	0	22	252
2013	177	26	8	9	0	1	18	239
2014	163	21	3	8	0	0	19	214
2015	153	15	0	10	0	0	15	193
2016	147	19	1	10	0	0	20	197
2017	174	56	3	33	0	0	38	304
2018	173	44	2	41	0	0	44	304
2019	147	54	1	43	0	0	51	296
2020	167	44	2	50	0	0	48	311
2021	159	57	3	52	1	0	51	323
2022	160	66	3	55	1	1	55	341
2023	142	69	4	75	1	1	56	348
2024	140	72	9	66	0	0	49	336

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Potomac Heights Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	313	17.5	17.8	n/a
1990	321	18.0	17.8	17.1
1991	361	17.0	21.2	26
1992	368	19.0	19.3	27.4
1993	366	21.0	17.4	27.6
1994	366	21.0	17.4	28.4
1995	328	19.5	16.8	20.4
1996	328	19.5	16.8	20.4
1997	321	19.5	16.5	18.7
1998	328	19.5	16.8	17.7
1999	322	19.5	16.5	22
2000	309	18.0	17.2	24.6
2001	305	18.5	16.5	29.2
2002	298	19.1	15.6	35.6
2003	298	19.1	15.6	35.6
2004	314	17.0	18.5	42.4
2005	307	21.0	14.6	43.6
2006	306	22.0	13.9	49
2007	303	21.0	14.4	45.5
2008	318	22.0	14.5	44
2009	314	24.0	13.1	44.6
2010	322	24.6	13.0	43.2
2011	325	24.0	13.5	49.2
2012	252	20.0	12.6	42.9
2013	239	20.0	11.9	43.5
2014	214	19.0	11.2	34.6
2015	193	18.0	10.7	36.8
2016	197	16.0	12.3	37.6
2017	304	19.3	15.7	46.1
2018	304	19.0	16.0	50.3
2019	296	19.4	15.2	50.7
2020	311	19.0	16.3	58.5
2021	323	20.0	16.1	56.7
2022	341	20.0	17.0	55.7
2023	348	19.8	17.5	72.1
2024	336	19.3	17.3	74.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Potomac Heights Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	313	17.5	17.8	n/a
1990	321	18.0	17.8	17.1
1991	361	17.0	21.2	26
1992	368	19.0	19.3	27.4
1993	366	21.0	17.4	27.6
1994	366	21.0	17.4	28.4
1995	328	19.5	16.8	20.4
1996	328	19.5	16.8	20.4
1997	321	19.5	16.5	18.7
1998	328	19.5	16.8	17.7
1999	322	19.5	16.5	22
2000	309	18.0	17.2	24.6
2001	305	18.5	16.5	29.2
2002	298	19.1	15.6	35.6
2003	298	19.1	15.6	35.6
2004	314	17.0	18.5	42.4
2005	307	21.0	14.6	43.6
2006	306	22.0	13.9	49
2007	303	21.0	14.4	45.5
2008	318	22.0	14.5	44
2009	314	24.0	13.1	44.6
2010	322	24.6	13.0	43.2
2011	325	24.0	13.5	49.2
2012	252	20.0	12.6	42.9
2013	239	20.0	11.9	43.5
2014	214	19.0	11.2	34.6
2015	193	18.0	10.7	36.8
2016	197	16.0	12.3	37.6
2017	304	19.3	15.7	46.1
2018	304	19.0	16.0	50.3
2019	296	19.4	15.2	50.7
2020	311	19.0	16.3	58.5
2021	323	20.0	16.1	56.7
2022	341	20.0	17.0	55.7
2023	348	19.8	17.5	72.1
2024	336	19.3	17.3	74.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Potomac Heights Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$772 (5.4%)	$13,541 (94.6%)	$14,313
2020	$684 (5.6%)	$11,586 (94.6%)	$12,243
2021	$1,488 (12.0%)	$10,972 (88.3%)	$12,432
2022	$1,042 (8.7%)	$10,895 (91.3%)	$11,938
2023	$1,174 (8.5%)	$12,594 (91.5%)	$13,768

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Potomac Heights Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 437^th of 853 Elementary schools	Ranks 315^th of 855 Elementary schools	14.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	296	348	17.6%
African American	54	69	27.8%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	1	4	300%
Hispanic	43	75	74.4%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	147	142	3.4%
Two or More Races	51	56	9.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	50.7%	72.1%	21.5%

Schools Near Potomac Heights Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCAP Mathematics (2024)				MCAP English Language Arts (2024)				MCAP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MCAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Potomac Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	301 E Magnolia Ave	Hagerstown	21742	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 766-8305	336	19	17.3	74.4%	140 (41.7%)	72 (21.4%)	66 (19.6%)	9 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (14.6%)	40.6	451^st of 859 public elementary schools	47.5%		57.8	315^th of 855 public elementary schools	63.2%	136	33.9	25.0	27.1	29.1	47.3	37.2	39.6	41.8	18.4	$13,768	$1,174	$12,594
Pangborn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	195 Pangborn Blvd	Hagerstown	21740	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(301) 766-8282	711	52	13.6	79.9%	269 (37.8%)	146 (20.5%)	185 (26.0%)	13 (1.8%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	95 (13.4%)	29.1	546^th of 859 public elementary schools	36.4%		25.3	589^th of 855 public elementary schools	31.1%	43	28.0	21.1	17.5	22.3	36.1	32.1	33.7	34.0	17.6	$18,794	$3,453	$15,341
Fountaindale Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	901 Northern Ave	Hagerstown	21742	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 766-8156	414	26	15.9	53.9%	198 (47.8%)	71 (17.1%)	74 (17.9%)	22 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (11.8%)	85	121^st of 859 public elementary schools	85.9%		86	114^th of 855 public elementary schools	86.7%	7	65.7	46.4	52.4	54.8	66.7	65.2	67.7	66.5	47.6	$17,351	$1,341	$16,010
Paramount Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	19410 Longmeadow Rd	Hagerstown	21742	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 766-8289	416	27	15.2	50.2%	223 (53.6%)	74 (17.8%)	66 (15.9%)	14 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.4%)	78	183^rd of 859 public elementary schools	78.7%		75.1	205^th of 855 public elementary schools	76.0%	22	52.5	45.3	38.9	45.2	68.3	81.0	63.9	70.8	33.3	$17,071	$1,446	$15,625
Bester Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	385 Mill St	Hagerstown	21740	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(301) 766-8001	461	42	10.9	88.9%	148 (32.1%)	124 (26.9%)	96 (20.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	91 (19.7%)	11.3	800^th of 859 public elementary schools	6.9%		14.1	746^th of 855 public elementary schools	12.7%	54	11.0	11.5	7.5	10.1	16.7	17.9	18.8	17.8	9.1	$21,025	$4,814	$16,211
Salem Avenue Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1323 Salem Ave Ext	Hagerstown	21740	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(301) 766-8313	705	50	13.9	87.1%	225 (31.9%)	146 (20.7%)	189 (26.8%)	8 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	136 (19.3%)	32	515^th of 859 public elementary schools	40.0%		35	509^th of 855 public elementary schools	40.5%	6	34.3	16.0	21.6	23.9	41.7	36.3	37.9	38.5	10.7	$18,536	$3,803	$14,733
Eastern Elementary	Public	3-5	1320 Yale Dr	Hagerstown	21742	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(301) 766-8122	440	33	13.4	82.0%	116 (26.4%)	140 (31.8%)	101 (23.0%)	12 (2.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (15.9%)	37	470^th of 859 public elementary schools	45.3%		36.4	494^th of 855 public elementary schools	42.2%	24	30.8	20.4	21.0	23.8	38.2	43.3	46.0	42.7	17.9	$19,418	$3,537	$15,881
Ruth Ann Monroe Primary	Public	PK, KG-2	1311 Yale Drive	Hagerstown	21742	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(301) 766-8668	584	45	12.9	77.1%	157 (26.9%)	180 (30.8%)	133 (22.8%)	25 (4.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	88 (15.1%)								(n/a)										$19,855	$3,967	$15,888
Jonathan Hager Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	12615 Sedgwick Way	Hagerstown	21740	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 766-8440	490	33	15.0	73.7%	139 (28.4%)	197 (40.2%)	76 (15.5%)	10 (2.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (13.3%)	30.8	532^nd of 859 public elementary schools	38.1%		45.1	406^th of 855 public elementary schools	52.5%	126	30.3	31.9	23.3	28.5	26.7	39.4	30.1	32.0	10.8	$16,768	$2,830	$13,938
Emma K. Doub Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1221 S Potomac St	Hagerstown	21740	Washington County	Washington County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 766-8130	370	22	16.6	64.3%	196 (53.0%)	55 (14.9%)	57 (15.4%)	9 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (14.3%)	71.6	230^th of 859 public elementary schools	73.2%		69	241^st of 855 public elementary schools	71.8%	11	40.3	36.2	47.8	41.7	62.7	56.9	56.7	58.9	42.6	$15,922	$1,453	$14,469

Frequently Asked Questions about Potomac Heights Elementary

How many students attend Potomac Heights Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 336 students attended Potomac Heights Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Potomac Heights Elementary attend?

Students who attend Potomac Heights Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Northern Middle
High : North Hagerstown High

What is the racial makeup of Potomac Heights Elementary?

Students at Potomac Heights Elementary are 42% White, 21% African American, 20% Hispanic, 15% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What district is Potomac Heights Elementary in?

Washington County Public Schools

Is Potomac Heights Elementary a good school?

Potomac Heights Elementary ranks 451^st of 859 Maryland elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Potomac Heights Elementary!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.