Education Excellence in K-12
Ask families why they choose to move to Montgomery County and the answer is often the same: the schools. Montgomery County has earned a well-deserved distinction as a top school district that starts in the early years and continues through high school graduation and beyond. With a record number of national blue-ribbon schools, a clear record of consistent achievement and a focus on inclusion and diversity, it’s no wonder Montgomery County is a highly sought-after school district.
Top High Schools in the State
High School Graduation Rate
National Blue-Ribbon Schools
Largest School System in Maryland
At the head of the class
Great communities like Montgomery County start with the foundation of a top tier educational system. Montgomery County has a very well-deserved reputation as a top school district, with a strong educational pipeline across all grade levels. From K – 12 and beyond, some of the best schools in the nation are located right here in our area. While MCPS is known for high achievement and top student performance, the school system is equally well known for its commitment to diversity and innovation.
National Blue Ribbon Schools
An impressive 39 local schools are National Blue-Ribbon Schools and the County is home to the top 5 high schools in our state. MCPS is more than 160,000 students strong and the 15th largest school system in the country. Winner of the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award in 2010, Montgomery County is proud of its strong dedication to educational excellence and diversity. Students in classrooms come from 158 countries and speak 115 languages, with abundant inclusion opportunities including a robust program of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
Award-winning MCPS Ranks First in College-Preparedness and STEM Career Readiness
Montgomery County Public Schools ranks first among other school districts nationwide for having the most students recognized for college preparedness and a career in science or technology. The College Board and Project Lead the Way awarded more than 3,000 students in the U.S. for their accomplishments in the 2016-2017 academic year. Compared to other school districts, MCPS had the most students who’d earned the College Board/Advanced Placement and Project Lead the Way student achievements.
Schools of Distinction
The public-school system draws from Pre-K through high school in 205 schools across the County. Ivy League acceptances and scholarship money far surpasses the national average for Montgomery County students. Another area of distinction for MCPS is the excellence student performance on Advanced Placement exams. MCPS students took more than 34,000 AP exams in 2016 which equates to 65.5% participation rate in 2016. The percentage of African American and Hispanic students taking and passing AP exams surpasses the state average.
A Continuum of Specialty Educational Options
Starting with Kindergarten and continuing through high school, MCPS recognizes areas of specialty within this top educational system. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education continues to be a strong academic area of interest, with the all-important arts component weaving its way back with STEAM education. In addition, world language immersion options in Chinese, French and Spanish are available, along with magnet school programs. Specialty programs are available for high school students including International Baccalaureate (IB) magnets, visual arts, humanities, and STEM-focused programs.
AMONG THE Top 10 High Schools in the State
Looking for the highest ranking high schools in Maryland? Montgomery County is home to 7 in our state. High school participation in Advanced Placement classes is more than double the nation’s average.
Poolesville High School
WALT WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL
Winston Churchill High School
Walter Johnson High School
Thomas S. Wootton High School
Richard Montgomery High School
BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE HIGH SCHOOL
Advance Placement participation: 56%, more than twice as high as the national rate.
Private School Educational Excellence
Families come from all over the country—and the world—to attend Montgomery County Public Schools. Businesses choose Montgomery County thanks to the abundance of workforce talent and the excellent school system. It’s a big reason why many businesses decide to locate here. available. Private school options are also available serving various needs: smaller class size, single-gender classrooms, religious schools for various denominations, schools that serve students with disabilities and more. One source to find the right private school is the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, which provides a Find a Private School database.