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Carderock Springs Elementary School

Bethesda, MD 20817

Phone: (240) 740-0540
District: Montgomery County Public Schools

School Review
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GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 349 students

Carderock Springs Elementary School, a public school located in Bethesda, MD, serves grades K-5 in the Montgomery County Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 10 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Carderock Springs Elementary School is a public school located in Bethesda, MD. 349 students attend Carderock Springs Elementary School.

School Ratings

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	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	9/10	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

We owe a lot to the Carderock school community. The teachers are excellent, the curriculum is strong, and the staff does what any highly rated school would be expected to do. From an academic perspective, Carderock is a great school.

However, our experience with the parent community was painful. For years, we assumed the challenges our children faced must be because they were somehow difficult. We never blamed the system or the community. We did everything we could to be involved . I personally organized several major school events without PTA, Foundation, or staff support. I have never done so much kindness for anyone in my life.

But instead of creating connection, our involvement seemed to polarize some parents, and we became even more socially excluded. To be clear, the most hurtful part was not how we were treated...we got used to being left out... but how our children were excluded. Watching that happen was devastating.

That experience pushed us to make a very difficult decision: we left Carderock, sold the home we all loved, and moved to a new area so our children could grow in a more welcoming environment. It felt like losing years of our life , memories, friendships, and a community we tried so hard to be part of. It was emotionally excruciating.

But leaving turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Within six months of moving, our whole family began thriving. We made hundreds of new friends, and our children are now valued, included, and happy.

After we left, our kids wrote postcards to their classmates., guess what? no one replied. We mailed birthday gifts, again no one called. That confirmed to us that the door was closed, and we were right to move on.

I share this in the hope that it helps new parents make informed decisions. Carderock is an exceptional school for some families, and many students will have a wonderful experience there. But for some, it does not work.

For context: I am a successful professional, ex-Wall Street and a business owner, yet throughout our time at Carderock, about 99% of parents would look me up and down and then turn away. I dont want that to happen to anyone else, especially to children.

We have no resentment now. The pain ultimately led us to a happier life, and for that we are grateful

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 18, 2025

The school is of the privileged, by the privileged, for the privileged.
Step out of line, and the parents will quietly erase you. Uninvite, exclude, and suffocate you in silence. Now that the new staff seem woven into the pocket system, another layer in the quiet machinery of belonging.

Posted: November 18, 2025

Posted: October 24, 2024

My children have had the best experience at Carderock.

The teachers are amazing and do so much for the students. There are also tons of activities for families and plenty of opportunities for community building.

There has been some recent post COVID administrative turnover, but teachers have had a lot of consistency compared to what we have heard from other schools and districts.

Posted: October 24, 2024

Posted: August 10, 2024

Carderock springs elementary has been the lowest point of our life. Last couple decades, before we came to Carderock, we lived a happy successful joyful and hopeful life, with near exponential growth. Our life came to a stand still at CSES because of so many hurtful experiences for our kids and us. It has been very painful. Last year my child told me at bedtime that all of her classmates are always talking about birthday parties. We told her not to worry because she was probably not invited because we gave by mistake the wrong email address to the school, we said next year it will be fixed. Next year came, life took another worse turn. Kids parents would send emails on chat saying they had leftovers from a big birthday they hosted, but they left out one kid from the class. Our child was being completely cut off, we do not know why. I emailed and texted several parents inviting them to facilitate playdates. I never had so many unanswered emails and texts. Now, we knew that our looks, our skin color was the reason. It made sense. At every sports or other class events, most people always avoid eye contact with us. It is fully clear now. But it hurts, why punish my child? Punish me as a parent, but please how can you be so merciless to a
1st or 2nd grader. My child has such kind heart, she would cut and give her heart to someone if they needed one. What wrong did she do to these CSES parents? We are thinking, so elementary school is like this, how will it be in middle and high school? I always thought I could solve any problem, but I have failed miserably at CSES. Prejudice won, we lost.

Posted: August 10, 2024

Posted: July 13, 2024

We had such a super sad, totally unpleasant, and really upsetting experience at Carderock. For years, we were so puzzled about what was going on. Our daughter was completely left out of all social events, playdates, and birthday parties. We started to think maybe our daughter wasn't friendly or lacked social skills. Then, when our second child entered Carderock, the same thing happened again! Our little one was never invited to anything.

It really started to feel like there was a big problem. We thought it would be an easy fix, so we decided to invite people for playdates. Before inviting, we volunteered at the school and asked other kids if they wanted playdates with our kids. With big smiles, the kids almost always said yes... BUT...to our surprise, nearly all the parents declined our playdate invitations.

We are so heartbroken and in so much pain because we have no way to help our kids. We came to Carderock with so much hope and dreamed of building a bigger family for our kids. Its been so sad to see our kids feeling so much in despair. We never wish to use the R word, but maybe it is that?

Posted: July 13, 2024

Posted: November 3, 2023

Staff is doing their job. It is like playing soccer, you can just kick the ball or you can play like Messi! I am with staff.
Jokes aside, I have travelled all over the world for work and have seen all kinds of school systems. My review here is also a kind petition to school leadership to please stop selling kids names for $$$. Please.
We cannot fathom any underlying principle, basic, ethic, moral or value of selling kids name and displaying it on large banners outside school on parking lots, entrance and street names.
Should we teach kids that it is okay to buy fame for $$$?
My kids have asked me OVER AND OVER again....why can't we buy display of their names on school boards and banners. I have fumbled many times to answer this question.
I walked around the parking lot.....I see big names.
Some displayed names in the past have belonged to.....lets not go there.....
There are 62,000 schools in America....no other school sells kids names and puts them in boards and banners. This factoid should be enough.
or, lets find another school in some country where they do sell kids name....viola that justifies the practice!
Again, jokes aside...
This discussion has come up SEVERAL times in the past....
Do you have an answer for my kids----why we cannot afford? What about equity? What about earning name for yourself?
This is a public school....right?.....or some "powerful" "royals" control the school?
Again, jokes aside...
please lets have a healthy discussion on why we should sell kids names for few dollars and display on banners when no other school does it....
PTA...? knock knock? hello?
Again, jokes aside...this is a kind petition to stop selling kids names.

Posted: November 3, 2023

Posted: October 2, 2023

The teachers and the staff are excellent, but the school clearly struggles with inclusion due to its lack of diversity. Some (if not most) parents from the majority socioeconomic group form exclusive cliques, which excludes children whose parents are not invited to join. I see many young children struggling with this, even though they may not yet understand what is happening, which is extremely harmful. The new principal is passive and won't do anything, which is not helping at all.

Posted: October 2, 2023

Posted: March 6, 2023

We give it a two because the staff and most of the teachers are simply amazing. However, there needs to be more than that to a school. There is no discipline or code of conduct. This is obvious at lunch time, playground, classrooms and on buses. Also, bullying is rampant at all levels and parents feel they have no recourse and children who speak up are often victims of retaliation and no protection. The principal is a great follower of bureaucratic policies but has zero leadership skills and zero compassion for the children or families in need. Wont dare think or act outside the box and on behalf of the community she works for. Sadly neither the PTA nor concerned parents feel they have the power to change the status quo. This school, under a strong leader, has the potential to be great. Perhaps its time to let someone else take the rains.

Posted: March 6, 2023

Posted: December 30, 2022

Overall, a wonderful school. So many school events, enrichment activities and extra-curricular activities that it can be hard to stay on top of all/most of them but what a fantastic thing to complain about. The community I do wish the school did a better job dealing with very disruptive/violent children but understand that MCPS can be very limiting in this area especially with young children.

Posted: December 30, 2022

Posted: October 10, 2022

My children loved CSES and the teachers are very involved.

Posted: October 10, 2022

Posted: August 22, 2021

"you look so pretty", "you are looking beautiful", "oh my god you are so pretty"....these are verbatim statements from carderock school teacher during zoom school. While the teacher would celebrate the beauty of 1-2 kids (based on skin color), 30 other kids just watched. This happened day after day! I know, some parents and some school staff still live in the "princess culture", but I think there is an urgent need to request school teachers (not just in Carderock, but all schools in America) to please stop this pandering of barbie culture. LOOKS driven behavior problems are probably number one cause of suicide, depression and permanent personality scarring for kids. I tried hard to tell my kid that "Hey, you are also beautiful", but she did not agree because she saw and heard the teacher saying "beautiful" and "pretty" only for 1-2 selected kids. In today's day and age I find this disturbing. Women can do anything (not just sit and paint their face everyday for selfies!). For Carderock, since it is located in a zipcode with very affluent families, I think it is very problematic if teachers favor one or some kids because of looks. I have seen some parents sending their kids with makeup to Pre-K (nothing wrong with it in some sense), but if the kid cannot add 5+5 or understand logic, science or language....what lesson are we teaching to kids. I am kindly requesting the school staff and PTA to please please please train the teachers to stop favoring kids based on color of skin.

Posted: August 22, 2021

Posted: July 24, 2021

I have to first give 5 star to all teachers who pour their heart and soul to the school and work very sincerely to help kids development.

However, I am quite disappointed with the school for lack of "real" leadership. I feel school could and should have done more but seems to have done the bare minimum.

Some major problems with the school:
1. Almost complete lack of STEM focus
2. Some teachers are sincere, but some work like as if they work at the DMV (world has changed a lot)
3. Royalty treatment for some families and staff (aren't public schools about equity)

--
The zoom school gave us an opportunity to first hand experience and see how the school operates.
1. I did not see much focus on STEM. We live in an age where you can buy great science kits for $10 and help kids see and feel science. However, school did not make any effort. Maybe they do not have the right teachers....I know people with science background almost never teach...but maybe we should allow parents to do some activities and design lessons. Point is...this is not 1960s.....we are living in an age where we can give amazing content to kids in a highly interactive and fun manner.

2. I thought some teachers were outright rude. I know MCPS is a government organization. But, please have some mercy....most kids have a heart of gold. It is disheartening to see that some teachers lack any empathy.

3. Royalty. This is puzzling. I do not know why one family has a reserved parking spot in the school. How do I explain that to my three daughters? How do I tell them why another kid comes to school as if he/she is the king/queen. Why? ....Also why does the "Attendance Secretary" have a reserved parking spot. I think I last saw reserved spot was for Nobel Laureates at Stanford. Why does a clerical employee have a permanent spot? why is there is no spot of a STEM teacher? Why does the school principal come in a scary looking giant pick up truck, as if he is trying to show that he is the king. Shouldn't we teach kids that ostentatious display of material things is of no value?

Posted: July 24, 2021

Posted: September 17, 2017

My daughter started kidergarten last year at Carderock, and I can say this is a fantastic school. She had a knowledge and intellectual curiosity explosion right after she started. There were only two kindergarten classes of a good size ( not huge classes at all) and the teacher was fantastic! The PTA is composed of heavenly involved parents, and are able to compensate in areas where insufficient funding from Montgomery county may have an impact. There is a strong sense of community as well.

Posted: September 17, 2017

Posted: June 17, 2015

Great school but beware, classes are huge. I didn't take off any stars because it is the County's fault and the school really does its best to deal with the numbers. The fact that they can have 27 kids in a kindergarten class with very little para-support is outrageous. If you look at the actual class sizes, they range from 27 to 25 for all grades. They don't have a full time skilled nurse there so don't expect any competent medical care for any emergencies.

Posted: June 17, 2015

Posted: September 13, 2013

I went to Carderock Springs and loved it! I was very prepared for Pyle Middle School when I left and had a blast! I was given a well-rounded, rigorous, and engaging education. I graduated from Walt Whitman High School, and went onto received an undergraduate and graduate degrees from Goucher College and Johns Hopkins, respectively. I am now an elementary school teacher and attribute my love of learning from my experiences at Carderock Springs.

Posted: December 3, 2012

The percentage of Asians is nowhere near 14%. We are an Asian family, there isn't even 1% Asian - each class has an average of 2 Asians out of 27 students. The class size is not 19 anymore. You know how people treat you when you are in the 1% - not a good environment for minorities.

Reviews provided by GreatSchools^™

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1	The Willoughby	Condominium/Townhouse	Chevy Chase	MD	4.6 mi
2	Old Farm	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Rockville	MD	5.2 mi
3	White Flint	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Rockville	MD	5.2 mi
4	Falls Church City	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Falls Church	VA	7 mi
5	Leeway Overlee - N Arlington	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Arlington	VA	7.1 mi
6	Shreevewood	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Falls Church	VA	7.4 mi
7	Takoma Park	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Takoma Park	MD	8.7 mi
8	Barkley	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Fairfax	VA	8.8 mi
9	Forest Knolls	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Silver Spring	MD	8.9 mi
10	Fox Farm	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Great Falls	VA	9.3 mi
11	Broyhill Crest	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Annandale	VA	9.4 mi
12	Stonehurst	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Fairfax	VA	9.5 mi
13	Lakelands	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Gaithersburg	MD	9.9 mi
14	DuMont Oaks	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Silver Spring	MD	10 mi
15	Twenty400	Apartment Complex	Arlington	VA	10.5 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Arlington	Arlington	VA	5.7 mi
2	Falls Church	Falls Church	VA	6.6 mi
3	West Falls Church	Falls Church	VA	7.3 mi
4	Vienna	Vienna	VA	7.5 mi
5	Silver Spring	Silver Spring	MD	7.8 mi
6	Georgetown	Washington	DC	8.1 mi
7	Washington DC	Washington D.C.	DC	10 mi
8	Kentlands	Gaithersburg	MD	10.2 mi
9	Pentagon City	Arlington	VA	10.4 mi
10	Annandale	Annandale	VA	10.6 mi

Base	Distance
Walter Reed Medical Center	4.4 mi.
Defense Health Headquarters Falls Church	8.2 mi.
Fort Myer	8.6 mi.
Henderson Hall	9.5 mi.
Pentagon	9.9 mi.
Mark Center Alexandria	10.9 mi.
Fort McNair	11.4 mi.
Coast Guard Headquarters DC	11.8 mi.
Marine Barracks Washington	11.9 mi.
Washington Navy Yard	12 mi.
Bolling AFB Joint Base Anacostia	12.9 mi.
NRO Chantilly	16.5 mi.
Fort Belvoir	18.8 mi.
Andrews AFB	19.5 mi.
Fort Meade NSA	24.6 mi.
Indian Head Naval Base	27.2 mi.
Quantico Marine Base	34.3 mi.
Fort Detrick	34.3 mi.
Coast Guard Curtis Bay	35.6 mi.
US Naval Academy	36.8 mi.
Annapolis Naval Station	37.7 mi.
Dahlgren NSWC	44.9 mi.

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Carderock Springs Elementary School

Bethesda, MD 20817

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