Montgomery County Public Schools operates 204 schools (grades PK–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Montgomery County Public Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 160,000 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 204 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $17,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Suburban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools is the public school district assigned to zip code 20904 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Serving students from Pre-K – 12th, this district is the primary public education system for families living in and around zip code 20904. The sections below cover the district’s resources, scale, rating, and everything families need to know about enrollment and school assignment.
Funding and Resources
Montgomery County Public Schools reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $17,000 per year, placing it near the Maryland state average of approximately $16,500 and above the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Above-average spending generally translates to more instructional resources per student, stronger program variety at the middle and high school levels, and better-maintained facilities. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With 204 schools, Montgomery County Public Schools operates as a major metropolitan district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 160,000 students in total. Major metropolitan districts operate dozens to hundreds of schools across wide geographic areas. They often include magnet schools, gifted programs, dual-language academies, and career and technical education pathways not available in smaller systems. Within-district quality variation is significant: a school two miles from your address might be rated very differently from your assigned school.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
Montgomery County Public Schools has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 6/10, placing it in the average tier. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Montgomery County Public Schools falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 20904
Children in zip code 20904 are assigned to Montgomery County Public Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 20904, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Montgomery County Public Schools at (240)740-3000 or visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Maryland districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Silver Spring
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Montgomery County Public Schools serves zip code 20904, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 20904 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Maryland, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Montgomery County Public Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 20904.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Montgomery County Public Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 20904 data.