Bester Elementary School

385 Mill St
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(School attendance zone shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 524 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, Bester Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Maryland for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 19% (which is lower than the Maryland state average of 25%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 23% (which is lower than the Maryland state average of 45%).
The student:teacher ratio of 13:1 is lower than the Maryland state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 65% of the student body (majority Black), which is lower than the Maryland state average of 66% (majority Black).

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Grades: Prekindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 524 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 65%
  • : Bottom 50% in MD
  • : 19% (Btm 50%)
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • : 15-19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MD Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Bester Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Maryland for:

School Overview

Bester Elementary School's student population of 524 students has declined by 14% over five school years.
The teacher population of 39 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-5
(offers virtual instruction)
Total Students
524 students
This chart displays total students of Bester Elementary School by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Bester Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
39 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Bester Elementary School by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Bester Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

Bester Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,347 schools in Maryland (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Bester Elementary School is 0.74, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.73. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (MD)
#923 out of 1347 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Bester Elementary School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
19%
25%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Bester Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
23%
45%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Bester Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
15-19%
36%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Bester Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
14:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Bester Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
n/a
7%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Bester Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2007-08 school year data.
Hispanic
17%
21%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Bester Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Black
28%
33%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Bester Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
White
35%
34%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Bester Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
20%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Bester Elementary School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Bester Elementary School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in Maryland.
0.74
This chart displays the diversity score of Bester Elementary School and the public school average diversity score of Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
81%
38%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Bester Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
1%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Bester Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Maryland by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MD Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bester Elementary School's ranking?
Bester Elementary School is ranked #923 out of 1,347 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Maryland.
What schools are Bester Elementary School often compared to?
Bester Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Boonsboro Elementary School, Cascade Elementary School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
19% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 25% MD state average), while 23% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 45% MD state average).
How many students attend Bester Elementary School?
524 students attend Bester Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
35% of Bester Elementary School students are White, 28% of students are Black, 20% of students are Two or more races, and 17% of students are Hispanic.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Bester Elementary School?
Bester Elementary School has a student ration of 13:1, which is lower than the Maryland state average of 14:1.
What grades does Bester Elementary School offer ?
Bester Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (offers virtual instruction).
What school district is Bester Elementary School part of?
Bester Elementary School is part of Washington County Public Schools School District.

School Reviews

Review Bester Elementary School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

Should Teacher Salaries be Public Information?
Should Teacher Salaries be Public Information?
Public school teachers are considered public servants – but does that make their salary details public information? Learn about the heated debate surrounding whether teacher salaries should be made public.
The Link Between Education and Incarceration: The NAACP Report
The Link Between Education and Incarceration: The NAACP Report
Education and the rate of incarceration have been linked in a recent NAACP report. Learn about the report and the troubling findings.
Bussing: North Carolina's New Student Assignment Plan
Bussing: North Carolina's New Student Assignment Plan
We analyze a new plan for student assignment in two North Carolina school districts and the public reaction to the idea of bussing students – as well as alternatives that have been proposed by education experts.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Grades: Prekindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 524 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 65%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 19% (Btm 50%)
  • : 23% (Btm 50%)
  • : 15-19% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MD Dept. of Education

Quick Links