Sequoyah Elementary School
Derwood, MD 20855
Phone: (240) 740-5880
District: Montgomery County Public Schools
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 488 students
Sequoyah Elementary School, a public school located in Derwood, MD, serves grades K-5 in the Montgomery County Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 7 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
Sequoyah Elementary School is a public school located in Derwood, MD. 488 students attend Sequoyah Elementary School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 7/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program data from Maryland State Department of Education, and using 2025 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program End-Of-Course data from Maryland State Department of Education. |
| Student Growth | 6/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student Growth - Elementary Level data from Maryland State Department of Education, and using 2025 Student Growth - Middle Level data from Maryland State Department of Education. |
Posted: November 21, 2025
I have two grandchildren enrolled here, and I am very satisfied with the education they receive. The teachers and administrator are consistently engaged and supportive of the students and families.
Posted: November 21, 2025
Posted: November 21, 2025
Posted: November 21, 2025
Posted: November 21, 2025
Posted: November 21, 2025
Posted: November 21, 2025
Posted: November 21, 2025
Posted: November 26, 2024
Posted: November 26, 2024
Posted: November 26, 2024
Posted: November 26, 2024
Posted: November 26, 2024
Posted: November 26, 2024
Posted: November 26, 2024
Posted: November 26, 2024
Great school, great teachers, staff, and administration. Great parents and teachers association.
Posted: June 6, 2024
My eldest started at Sequoyah in the third grade and is now in high school. I currently have a child that started Kindergarten virtually (during the pandemic) and still there, thriving. The teachers and administrators are welcoming and advocate for the needs of the children. The PTA have created a sense a community and welcoming to all parents. There's plenty of events and programs to keep students and families engaged throughout the year.
Posted: June 6, 2024
Posted: June 6, 2024
Posted: June 6, 2024
Posted: June 6, 2024
Posted: June 6, 2024
Posted: June 6, 2024
Posted: June 6, 2024
Posted: September 2, 2023
The school administration is very invested in the safety, education and progress of the students. The school feels like a community where parents and teachers work closely to support the students , My only issue with the school is how the county has the school zoned, some of the neighborhoods that feed into the school are from across town and create a large disparity in the socioeconomic make of the school. Resulting in challenges when attempting to achieve equitable experiences for students and families.
Posted: September 2, 2023
Posted: September 2, 2023
Posted: September 2, 2023
Posted: September 2, 2023
Posted: September 2, 2023
Posted: September 2, 2023
Posted: September 2, 2023
Posted: December 18, 2019
They didnt deal with bullying effectively. They only cared about the children of the elite families when it came to bullying.
Posted: December 18, 2019
Posted: December 18, 2019
Posted: December 18, 2019
Posted: December 18, 2019
Posted: December 18, 2019
Posted: December 18, 2019
Posted: June 13, 2019
This school is horrible. I'm glad we are done here.
Posted: June 13, 2019
Posted: June 13, 2019
The favoritism show to a select few is disgusting and undeniable.
Posted: June 13, 2019
Posted: June 13, 2019
They sweep valid conerns under the carpet. They cater to only the "elite" families.
Posted: June 13, 2019
Let the test results speak for themselves.
Posted: June 13, 2019
Only if they bullied child comes from one of the "elite" families.
Posted: April 11, 2018
Posted: April 11, 2018
Posted: April 11, 2018
Posted: April 11, 2018
Posted: April 11, 2018
This school has great resources available for the parents and children.
Posted: April 11, 2018
Posted: April 11, 2018
Posted: September 7, 2017
Posted: September 7, 2017
Posted: September 7, 2017
Posted: September 7, 2017
This school is horrible in terms of helping new parents and the kids. Their Simple philosophy is this:: you are good only if you not need any extra help from the principal or other resources. One cookie cutter!!! Sad to experience something like this specially when it comes to your child!!
Posted: September 1, 2017
Posted: September 1, 2017
Posted: September 1, 2017
Posted: May 3, 2016
Like the other reviews I was questionable about the school based on the overall score. Since moving into the neighborhood my son had to change elementary schools for his 1st grade year. He went from a struggling reader to almost completely independent by the end of the 1st semester! They work very hard with the reading, writing, and math in the 1st grade level. My son brings home TONS of work he complete almost everyday. He gets along well with his classmates. I enjoy the fact that class sizes are relatively small. Only 16 in his 1st grade class compared to the 25 he had in Kindergarten from the previous school. The only question I have about this school is the county's decision to bus in students outside of the technical boundary (a neighborhood that is closer to other elementary schools). My only guess for this is the need to spread lower income and number-wise to various schools to decrease the likelihood of having a poor performing school. I would rate this school a 9/10, only because I do miss the activities my son's previous elementary school provided more often (Fun Run, Carnival, etc) which made the school feel much friendlier and welcoming. This is not to say Sequoyah does not participate in family activities, we have had bingo night, outdoor movie night, family math night, etc.
Posted: May 3, 2016
Posted: May 3, 2016
Posted: May 3, 2016
Posted: April 12, 2016
Posted: April 12, 2016
Posted: April 12, 2016
Posted: April 12, 2016
My daughter is currently in 3rd grade and I am very happy with the administration. My daughter attended another school for her 1st and 2nd grade year and she struggled academically. I decided to move and originally I had doubts because of the scores displayed on greatschools.org, but I took a chance. I can honestly say Sequoyah has done a wonderful job. My daughter has improved in reading, writing and math. She's reading chapter books and writing legible sentences. I am very impressed with the staff. Ms. Smolen is one of the best teachers at Sequoyah! My daughter wasn't happy with her past teachers, but she loves Ms. Smolen. My daughter is also a member of the Kidsco before and after school program. The staff are very organize and I love that they provide a fun, safe and educational environment for the children. The Staff are very good with helping the kids with homework and keeping them entertained. The Sequoyah administration and Kidsco are a blessing.
Posted: November 15, 2015
My daughter is currently at Kindergarten and I cannot be happier. This school offers her so much and the kids are being taught so well. I am not sure why the ratings are so low.
Posted: November 15, 2015
Posted: November 15, 2015
Posted: November 15, 2015
Posted: January 20, 2015
We love the school! My daughter is in kindergarten and I have no complaints at all.
Posted: October 28, 2014
Great school so far. I was a little intimidated by the Great Schools Rating a year and a half ago but I am glad that I overlooked and here I am now. My son is in first grade and he is way above in his reading and math level to the point that the I have to supplement his work at home with 2nd grade problems, activities, etc. In working with my son's teacher, I understand that they create different groups within the classroom to make sure every student does not slow down if they are getting ahead of the game. I am very pleased so far with the education that my son is receiving. In another note, I have to say that there were some isolated issues bulling and the principal and assistant principal took decisive actions to stop it; this makes me very happy.
Posted: September 15, 2014
I am a parent of two children who recently attended Sequoyah ES. The school provides an absolutely welcoming environment. The school does a great job of creating and maintaining a positive learning environment. We were impressed by the professionalism of all of the teachers we worked with. The principal and staff were wonderful about meeting with me to develop solutions to meet the learning needs of my children. The PTA is well-organized and worked with parents and staff to provide information forums, as well as the fun events that create a sense of community. My children thrived there academically and have since enrolled at a highly gifted center. I truly miss our 'home' school.
Posted: April 16, 2014
My child attends Sequoyah Elementary School. It's a wonderful school with fantastic staff. The parents are always welcomed and involved with the childs performance. My daughter loves her teachers and really enjoys learning. She is excited to go to school every day. She is excelling in all subjects - if she needs pushing in one area (including social skills), the teacher notifies me. I am extremely happy with our experiences with Sequoyah!
Posted: April 2, 2014
My child is a current student at the school and has been for several years now. Not only the principal but the new vice principal counselors and teaching staff have left not only myself down but they have let down my child. My child has fallen behind and it has not been communicated by the staff to me the parent. Several requests for meetings as well as weekly communication was ignored. Several times throughout the year I have requested help in making sure my child got on grade level or close to it. The teachers have refused to allow my child to leave less that 30 minutes early without coming to the office to discuss a personal matter about my child. My child cries going to school daily and can not wait until she does not have to attend there anymore until then it is a daily battle with the staff. The school also prides themselves in being the best school handling the very large issue of bullying however my child has been bullied since she started there and nothing has been done to make sure that my child is safe secure and happy. I've been very disappointed in the school yet the county will not help me to move my child.
Posted: September 3, 2013
My son is a Kindergarten student and has been attending Sequoya Elementary for the last week and a half. I have to say that I am very happy with the school. The principal, teachers, and staff care about their school and it looks that they are dedicated to helping every child succeed along with the PTA. Everyone has been doing an outstanding job and my son loves it. The principal is very professional and charming and open to help us with any concern that we have. Look forward to a great year.
Posted: July 8, 2013
Hello.... My Name Is Allieu Kanu...My First Visit At This School Was Outstanding..... There Were Smiles All Over The Faces Of The Vice Principle And The School Secretary's Face... What A Great Experience.... My Stay Was Very Satisfactory And That Makes My Day...
Posted: February 21, 2013
This school has a very diverse population, yet the staff have high expectations for learning and behavior for every student. Each team of teachers works hard to ensure the success of the students. The leadership team does a good job of soliciting and reflecting feedback to set and reflect on goals. I've been at this school for several years, and I can certainly testify to the dedication and compassion of the teachers here.
Posted: February 9, 2012
Great principal and good dedicated teachers make it a great place to learn. And committed and dedicated PTA is another plus.
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwood | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Olney | MD | 4.9 mi | |
| 2 | Old Farm | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Rockville | MD | 6 mi | |
| 3 | Lakelands | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Gaithersburg | MD | 6.2 mi | |
| 4 | White Flint | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Rockville | MD | 6.7 mi | |
| 5 | Water's Landing | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Germantown | MD | 9.2 mi | |
| 6 | DuMont Oaks | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Silver Spring | MD | 9.2 mi | |
| 7 | Forest Knolls | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Silver Spring | MD | 9.3 mi | |
| 8 | Iverly | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Silver Spring | MD | 9.4 mi | |
| 9 | Hillandale | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Silver Spring | MD | 10.6 mi | |
| 10 | Maple Lawn | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Fulton | MD | 11.7 mi | |
| 11 | Takoma Park | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Takoma Park | MD | 12 mi | |
| 12 | The Willoughby | Condominium/Townhouse | Chevy Chase | MD | 12.3 mi | |
| 13 | Fox Farm | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Great Falls | VA | 14.3 mi | |
| 14 | Leeway Overlee - N Arlington | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Arlington | VA | 17.8 mi | |
| 15 | Falls Church City | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Falls Church | VA | 18 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentlands | Gaithersburg | MD | 6.9 mi | |
| 2 | White Oak | Silver Spring | MD | 10.6 mi | |
| 3 | Silver Spring | Silver Spring | MD | 11.3 mi | |
| 4 | Hammond Hills | Laurel | MD | 12.3 mi | |
| 5 | Laurel | Laurel | MD | 14.7 mi | |
| 6 | Arlington | Arlington | VA | 15.8 mi | |
| 7 | Georgetown | Washington | DC | 16.2 mi | |
| 8 | Washington DC | Washington D.C. | DC | 17.6 mi | |
| 9 | Falls Church | Falls Church | VA | 17.7 mi | |
| 10 | Vienna | Vienna | VA | 18.2 mi |
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Walter Reed Medical Center | 9.5 mi. |
| Fort Myer | 17.9 mi. |
| Henderson Hall | 18.8 mi. |
| Pentagon | 18.8 mi. |
| Marine Barracks Washington | 19.1 mi. |
| Fort McNair | 19.3 mi. |
| Washington Navy Yard | 19.3 mi. |
| Defense Health Headquarters Falls Church | 19.4 mi. |
| Coast Guard Headquarters DC | 19.8 mi. |
| Fort Meade NSA | 20.7 mi. |
| Mark Center Alexandria | 21.3 mi. |
| Bolling AFB Joint Base Anacostia | 21.3 mi. |
| NRO Chantilly | 25.1 mi. |
| Andrews AFB | 26.1 mi. |
| Fort Detrick | 26.5 mi. |
| Fort Belvoir | 29.6 mi. |
| Coast Guard Curtis Bay | 29.6 mi. |
| US Naval Academy | 35.6 mi. |
| Annapolis Naval Station | 36.2 mi. |
| Indian Head Naval Base | 38.1 mi. |
| Quantico Marine Base | 45.3 mi. |
| Shepherd Field | 49.8 mi. |
