Bester Elementary

490 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Bester Elementary School, located at 385 Mill St in Hagerstown, Maryland, is a public school serving students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Washington County Public Schools system. The school is known for its focus on community integration and student support, acting as a "community school" that provides various resources to help address the holistic needs of its student population and their families.

The school environment at Bester emphasizes academic growth alongside social-emotional development. With a commitment to fostering a positive learning culture, the faculty and staff work to provide inclusive classroom settings and targeted interventions to ensure that every student has the tools necessary to succeed. By partnering with local organizations and maintaining strong communication with families, Bester Elementary strives to bridge educational gaps and create a supportive foundation for its students in the Hagerstown community.

490

Total Students

43.2

Full-Time Teachers

11.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

84.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Bester Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	141
Hispanic	106
Black	149
Asian	1
Two or More	92
Pacific Islander	1

Black
149 (30.4%)
White
141 (28.8%)
Hispanic
106 (21.6%)
Two or More
92 (18.8%)
Asian
1 (0.2%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Washington County Public Schools
Phone:	(301)766-8001
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	490
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	43.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	392
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	23

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 42

Kindergarten 75

Grade 1 71

Grade 2 68

Grade 3 70

Grade 4 74

Grade 5 90

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for Bester Elementary
Grade	Student Count
Pre-Kindergarten	42
Kindergarten	75
Grade 1	71
Grade 2	68
Grade 3	70
Grade 4	74
Grade 5	90

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for Bester Elementary
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	250	51%
Male	240	49%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)