7 Best Public High Schools in Montgomery County

Poolesville High School is considered to be the best of the public high schools in Montgomery County. It is a magnet school with a focus on science, mathematics, and engineering, highly regarded for its STEM programs. Poolesville has 1,272 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 20 to 1. According to state test scores, 86% of students are at least proficient in math and 89% in reading.  Poolesville High School received an A+ rating from Niche.   Poolesville High School is rated by Niche as the best public high school in Montgomery County and in Maryland overall.  Poolesville HS has a graduation rate of 99% and last year’s average SAT score was 1410.  To see homes in Poolesville, click here.

If you want your children to attend one of the 7 best public high schools in Montgomery County, then you might consider Whitman High School.  Located in Bethesda, MD, Whitman has 2,029 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. According to state test scores, 91% of students are at least proficient in math and 91% in reading. It also received an A+ rating from Niche.  Whitman is listed as the second best public school in Montgomery County and the third best in Maryland.  Click here to see homes in the Whitman school district.   Whitman has a strong AP program and is described by Niche as having a gifted and talented program.  The average SAT score last year was 1390 and 96% of students graduated.

Winston Churchill High School is considered number 3 of the 7 best public high schools in Montgomery County and fourth overall in Maryland.  Located in Potomac, MD , Churchill has 2,212 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. According to state test scores, 84% of students are at least proficient in math and 82% in reading.  It also received an A+ overall rating from Niche in addition to A+ ratings for Academics, Teachers and College Prep. DIversity received an A and Administration was rated B-. The average SAT score was 1380 last year with a 96% graduation rate. .     To see homes in the Churchill school district, click here.

Thomas S. Wootton High School, located in Rockville, l is known for its academic excellence and strong extracurricular programs.  It has 1,943 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1. According to state test scores, 88% of students are at least proficient in math and 92% in reading.  Wootton has an average SAT score of 1370 and an average graduation rate of 98%.  Niche gave Wootton an A+ overall rating too and ranked it as 6th overall in Maryland.  If this sounds like your new school district, click here to see the homes for sale now.  Diversity is rated as an A.

Walter Johnson High School is another reputable high school in Bethesda, Walter Johnson is recognized for its rigorous academic curriculum and diverse activities. It has 2,870 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1. According to state test scores, 82% of students are at least proficient in math and 84% in reading.  94% of students graduate and the average SAT score was 1320.    Click here to see the homes for sale in the Walter Johnson school district.  Walter Johnson got an A from Niche for diversity and for clubs and activities, an A- for Administration and an A+ for Teachers, College Prep and Academics.

Richard Montgomery High School. located in Rockville, is known for its International Baccalaureate (IB) program and strong academic offerings.  It has 2,334 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1. According to state test scores, 68% of students are at least proficient in math and 77% in reading. Like the other schools on this list, it receives an overall grade of A+ from Niche. It also receives an A+ for diversity. It has a 94% graduation rate and an SAT average of 1350. It is listed as the 8th best overall high school in Maryland. To see the homes for sale in the Richard Montgomery school district, click here.

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda is known for its strong academics, its International Baccaluareate program, and a wide range of extracurricular activities. It has 2,289 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. According to state test scores, 71% of students are at least proficient in math and 87% in reading. It received an A+ from Niche for overall with an A for diversity, teachers and club activities and a B- for administration.  Its graduation rate is 93% and the average SAT score is 1310. BCC is considered the 7th of the best public high schools in Montgomery County and the  9th best public high school in Maryland.  To see homes for sale in the BCC school district, click here.

Remember that school rankings change from year to year.  This year’s number one may shift to second or third but the range of rankings generally remains the same.  Montgomery County, MD, is home to a number of excellent schools, some of which rank high even on a national level. Ultimately however an excellent school should be viewed in the context of what is the best match for your family.  The school you choose can depend on various factors, including your preferences, the specific needs of the student, the academic offerings including AP classes and the availability of extra curricular activities.

If you are moving to Montgomery County and have questions about the different communities please give us a call at 240-401-5577 or email us at lise@lisehowe.com.  As a nearly life long resident of Montgomery County, we are familiar with the various areas and school districts.  Even if you do not have school aged children, you probably want to choose a home in a good school district since your home value reflects the quality of the public schools nearby.