School and Tax Boundaries in Derwood, MD
Neighborhood guidance: how it works here
School and tax boundaries in Derwood don’t follow the ZIP code or the mailing city. Much of the area sits in the Montgomery County Public Schools Magruder cluster. It includes Shady Grove and Redland middle schools and Candlewood, Mill Creek Towne and Flower Hill elementary schools. Starting in 2027-28, MCPS groups Magruder with Gaithersburg, Quince Orchard and Watkins Mill in its Central North Region.
Rockville High sits in a different group, the Central Region. A home near the southern edge may fall on either side. That changes which regional programs a student can apply to. We never guess.
Assignment runs by home address. MCPS publishes a lookup called the School Assignment Tool. Each address you like goes through it before any offer is written. A subdivision name, a listing remark or a neighbor’s memory isn’t proof.
Census boundaries add another layer. The Derwood census-designated place is a small area inside the ZIP, and 42.0% of its occupied homes are rented, against 25.6% across ZIP 20855. Data about Derwood depends on which boundary a source uses. We tell you which one each number comes from.
Tax lines are the third map. A small number of parcels sit inside Rockville and pay city tax and city stormwater charges. Everything else pays county rates, with county trash and stormwater lines. The tax bill shows which side a home is on.
Three maps, one address.
Neighborhood guidance explains how we compare areas. Tax-line effects on monthly cost are in managing a home purchase in Derwood, and naming your search area in writing is on buyer representation agreement in Derwood. For a town with fewer overlapping lines, see School and tax boundaries in Olney. Any address you’re considering is worth sending to a Derwood real estate agent for all three checks.
Derwood service area
Neighborhoods in Derwood
Neighborhood-level guidance comes standard: pricing, timing, and positioning tuned to the block, not just the ZIP code.
Related services and nearby areas
Everything else we publish about this service, this city, and the rest of the DMV.
Common questions in Derwood
Sources for these figures
Last reviewed October 9, 2026 by Levi Loveless, licensed in Maryland and Virginia. Every rule, rate and figure on this page links to the source we checked.
Next steps for sellers and buyers
Whichever side of the move you are on, start here.
Check all three maps at once.
What does neighborhood guidance cover in Derwood?
Neighborhood guidance helps you compare parts of Derwood on the things that shape daily life and long-term cost. We look past the listing photos at boundaries, commute, amenities, rules and resale patterns, so you can pick a street that fits how you actually live.
- School assignment: Assigned schools can differ from what a street name suggests, so we show you how to confirm them with the school system.
- Tax districts: Homes a few blocks apart can sit in different taxing areas, so we check the rate that applies to each address.
- Commute testing: Driving or riding your route at rush hour tells you more than any map estimate.
- Visits at different times: Walking a street on a weekday evening and a weekend morning shows you traffic, noise and parking.
- HOA and community rules: You'll review covenants, fees and restrictions before you commit, so nothing surprises you after closing.
- Nearby amenities: Parks, trails, groceries and transit within reach can change how a home feels day to day.
- Resale patterns: Recent sales show which pockets hold value and which take longer to sell.
- Planned changes: We point you to public planning and zoning records so you know about nearby projects before you buy.
Which high school cluster serves Derwood?
Much of Derwood falls in the MCPS Magruder cluster, which includes Shady Grove and Redland middle schools. Each Derwood address gets checked individually with the Montgomery County Public Schools School Assignment Tool before an offer, since a line can split a street.
Derwood at a glance
| Service | Neighborhood guidance |
|---|---|
| City | Derwood |
| County | Montgomery County, MD |
| Median home value | $719,800 (owner-occupied homes, Derwood CDP, 2020-2024) |
| Agent | Levi Loveless, RE/MAX Realty Group |
| Licensed in | Maryland and Virginia |
| Office | 7373 Wisconsin Ave Suite 1700, Bethesda, MD 20814 |
| Phone | (301) 275-7744 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077.
“They were fierce negotiators and worked tirelessly to get me a reduced sales price, which is a testament to their skill and expertise.”
Monica Z., Google review
Derwood, MD boundaries, HOAs and Rockville city lines
Is Derwood, MD part of Rockville?
No. Derwood is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, and most homes use a Rockville mailing address. A Rockville address does not mean the home is inside City of Rockville limits. Check the property's tax record on the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation site to confirm the taxing jurisdiction.
Where does Derwood, MD end and Redland begin?
Derwood and Redland are separate census-designated places with boundaries drawn by the Census Bureau, and both use Rockville or Gaithersburg mailing addresses. Subdivision names do not always follow those census lines. We confirm which area a specific address falls in when it matters for your search or your listing description.
Which Derwood, MD neighborhoods have no HOA?
Some older single-family sections of Derwood have no mandatory HOA, while townhouse communities and newer developments usually do. Check the listing, the recorded deed covenants and whether an HOA disclosure package exists. We confirm HOA status, fees and rules on any Derwood home before you write an offer.
Do Derwood, MD homeowners pay City of Rockville property tax?
Not if the home sits outside Rockville city limits, which is the case for most Derwood addresses. Those owners pay Montgomery County and state property taxes only. Confirm on the property's tax record with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation before you buy or set a listing price.
Who provides water to Derwood, MD homes?
Most Derwood homes are served by WSSC Water, the regional utility for Montgomery and Prince George's counties, while some edge properties may differ. Confirm service on the seller's bills or with WSSC Water for a specific address. We check water and sewer service during the contract period for every Derwood purchase.
What school district is Derwood, MD in?
Derwood addresses are served by Montgomery County Public Schools. Assignments follow the exact street address, not the ZIP code or mailing name, so neighbors can be assigned differently. Check the MCPS boundary tool for the address before you write an offer, and we will help you confirm tax and municipal lines at the same time.
How do I check if a Derwood, MD home is in an HOA before buying?
Ask the listing agent for the HOA name and resale package, and read the deed and plat for covenants. In Maryland the seller must provide HOA disclosures, and you have a short window to review them. We check dues, rules and any pending assessments before you commit.
Is Derwood, MD property tax lower than Gaithersburg?
It can be. Derwood is unincorporated, so owners pay the county rate only, while addresses inside the City of Gaithersburg add a city rate. Homes with a Gaithersburg mailing name may still be outside the city. Compare actual tax bills on the SDAT record for the addresses you are weighing.
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