2024 Best Public High Schools in Maryland

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  353 reviews

Senior: Poolesville High School is a 3/4 magnet school with academically ambitious and intelligent individuals. During my experience there, I'm constantly challenged by our projects and curriculum, and have received a top quality education thanks to our hardworking teachers. I enjoy how small Poolesville, and especially my program (SMCS), is, because it fosters a tight-knit community of like-minded peers who want to succeed, but also want to help each other succeed. One thing I would like to see change is the maintenance of our school setting, where our building is old and unreliable, and the air is often poor due to badly-timed construction.... Read 353 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,272

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Howard County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  364 reviews

Senior: River Hill overall has a very strong academic system and an excellent environment. The system encourages kids to pursue their dreams and provides them with the tools necessary to do so. Most of the teachers genuinely care about their students and will go the extra mile for them(after/before school help, providing resources, etc). Due to the number of kids who go on to prestigious universities, there is some pressure on the students that can be overbearing at times. However, school counselors are there to deal with these issues and anything else that may arise. Overall, River Hill is a great place to send your children!... Read 364 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,508

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  263 reviews

Senior: I have found that over the past two years I have been at Whitman it is a great academic environment! Although it might be a bit competitive, staff and teachers really do try to give students the best secondary level education that MCPS has to offer. There are lots of options extracurriculars such as sports, theatre, co-ed, and more! Personally, I have been involved in Whitmans theatre department. It is a great way to try new things and meet so many new people since Whitman is a large school! I’m regards to a bad experience I have seen or experienced at Whitman was the Antisemetism hate speech that was found by students on campus. Hopefully one day students such as ourselves not just in Whitman but across the world can come to realize that no one deserves any kind of hate such as this.... Read 263 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,029

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  336 reviews

Junior: Quality of Education: The school has a strong academic program with highly qualified teachers, rigorous curriculum, and excellent resources to support student learning. Extracurricular Activities: The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, such as sports teams, clubs, music and drama programs, and community service opportunities, which can enhance students' social and personal development. Diversity and Inclusion: The school has a diverse student body, staff, and faculty that fosters a culture of respect and inclusion for all students. Alumni Success: The school has a strong track record of alumni success, such as students who have gone on to prestigious universities, successful careers, and other notable achievements.... Read 336 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,212

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Howard County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  327 reviews

Junior: I love Marriotts Ridge. Almost all of my teachers have genuinely cared for the student’s education and put in full effort to teach them. I had a lot of teachers I was very comfortable and close with. I always felt safe at Marriotts Ridge. All the counselors are so kind and helpful as well. I love how involved with sports, clubs, etc everyone is. Most of the students value their education which sets a great example for everyone else, and creates a studious environment. Spirit weeks and athletic events are always so enjoyable, especially because so many people participate!... Read 327 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,662

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  550 reviews

Senior: Teachers are overall pretty good. Some teachers however do not prioritize students and do not commit the necessary time and effort to their lessons and office hours and students suffer as a result. Administration improved over the course of my time there, and became more involved in school events and addressed socio-political issues more in order to create a more positive environment for students. I think to solve the problem of inefficient or undedicated teaching, their should be more peer review between teachers and admin to verify that teachers are addressing students needs. Outside of the staff, the students create a very positive environment for each other through clubs, groups, sports, and advocacy. It is a mostly open minded school and a safe space for people from all walks of life. Outside of the people in general, the building is in serious need of renovation, as much has not been changed since its establishment in the 70s.... Read 550 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,943

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  534 reviews

Senior: I have really loved my 4 years spent at WJ and think that it is a great facility. The building is nice and kept clean and the bathrooms aren’t too disgusting. The staff are all wonderful and so engaged with learning. I love the opportunities available at this school through all the clubs and sports teams and events the school sponsors. The SGA is great and leadership puts on such fun school activities. The best parts are definitely the great connections I have been able to make with teachers. One of my former teachers is even taking me and a group of students to Spain this spring break which I am so excited for. The worst parts are probably some of the students. The school is very cliquey so it can be hard to find your people but it’s a little easier to do that with all the opportunities though. College readiness is somewhat there if you know where to look. I definitely think they could do better describing what seniors need to be doing in the moment, but overall I love my school!... Read 534 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,870

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  596 reviews

Junior: It's a pretty good school. In a newcomer from Canada, and as a junior that just moved, my experience was pretty smooth. Yes, there were some bumps along the way, and not all the teachers and staff at this school are the best. Even so, I can say that there are still a lot of teachers that are very good at their job and you can tell that they enjoy being there. There are also a lot of extracurricular activities in this school that you can sign up for that are super fun! The only one I'd add is probably a badminton club :)... Read 596 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,334

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  459 reviews

Junior: The teachers are very 50/50 in terms of whether they are good or not. Either you get a very good teacher, or you get a bad teacher. The teachers for the advanced classes often vary, and I found myself grabbing out, especially during my Freshman (COVID) year as well. Many of the teachers won't offer support to students for the simplest of reasons. I was denied once because I "Submitted an assignment a few minutes before it was due" and the teacher said I "was lazy." Teacher toss-up aside, I loved the experience at this school. The students are very interconnected but also not connected. There are two middle schools that feed into the high school, so social life is a safety net if you don't want to expand. The school has some issues with college preparation. They don't chart what you should be doing for college (best possible grades, very rigorous cirriculum), which leaves the parents to hire private consultants. However the classes offered are wide and rigorous.... Read 459 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,289

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Howard County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  375 reviews

Alum: Centennial must have been one of the best academic institutions I have ever been to. Ignoring the early start time, the teachers are all approachable and open to answer any discrepancies one can have. As someone who only took the highest level of classes there, these teachers convey their ideas well and all are adequately trained to teach these classes. Each teacher has a unique style of teaching, from lectures to largely student led classes; I believe it helps with college preparation really well. They are open to suggestions and letters of recommendation, enabling me to craft a beautiful college package senior year. Indeed, these stresses together deprived me of sleep. If I could come up with criticism for the school, it would not be of the teachers, but the building itself. It is in horrid need of a renovation. The inconsistency of AC in the classrooms and the infamous crowded intersection impedes traffic, making it almost impossible to get to class before the 5 minute bell rings.... Read 375 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,377

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  788 reviews

Senior: Montgomery Blair is by far one of the most diverse and welcoming school communities I've been a part of. At Blair, you will find a variety of electives that show your unique interests, ranging from Horticulture Science to Hip Hop History & Culture. Whatever class you're interested in, there's likely a class here at Blair! Additionally, we have good athletic teams, especially our track & field team which made it to nationals last year. Also, we have a really good black history month performance called Sankofa. I would definitely recommend Blair to anyone looking to go to high school in the DMV.... Read 788 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,176

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  636 reviews

Senior: I am currently a senior at Northwest High School and have loved all my four years at this school. It is known to be one of the biggest and most diverse schools in Montgomery County. The staff and club activities are my favorite part about the school. The teachers and administrators are very easy-going and understanding. The school spirit is also top-notch. Overall, nice school!... Read 636 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,519

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Howard County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  485 reviews

Junior: Most of Mount Hebron Highschool always reaches expectations and I rarely have had personal trouble with the school. If one teacher or activity is bad, another one will help you sort that specific problem out. I would say that most of the staff in the school are good educators and people. The activities presented to students have strong variety and easy access. I do not see many students being left behind in this school and when one is struggling, teachers are very willing to stay behind with that student and help them. There are a few things that I think could be improved. The environment between students very often toxic which I would like to see the school address. However, other than this minor issue the school is overall fantastic.... Read 485 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,639

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Baltimore County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  665 reviews

Senior: At Eastern Tech, you meet many smart, creative, hard-working individuals who drive you to go past your limits. More so, the teachers are remarkable. The teachers inspire you to be who you want, and pursue your dreams! I am so thankful to have had teachers who inspire me to not only grow, but work hard to pass my limits. Eastern Tech has taught me to fight all challenges thrown at me, and to not shut my character down for the opinion of others. Without Eastern Tech, I would not be who I am today.... Read 665 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,215

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Frederick County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  525 reviews

Senior: The academic rigor at Urbana High School is very good. Depending on the student's capabilities and available time, the level of classes greatly varies. UHS offers AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment, all of which I've taken. The teachers, for the most part, are qualified for their job and genuinely care about the students. There's a wide variety of clubs and sports offered, but they can be disorganized. Some students are academically competitive to a fault, especially in the more advanced classes. This makes the classroom more about winning rather than collaboratively learning.... Read 525 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,929

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Howard County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  471 reviews

Senior: Atholton High School provides it's students with a wide range of courses such as AP, Honors, GT, and even courses at the county's college; a great opportunity. The ability to take courses about specific professions or even shadow professionals is great. Atholton High School's advanced course teachers are all somewhat passionate about their subjects. You can hear it in their voices and in the stories they tell. They enjoy teaching. However, they fail to acknowledge their age group. Yes, they teach advanced courses, classes meant for college students; but they fail to acknowledge that their actual students are still somewhat children. I have never been explicitly on anything but these are things I feel a small handful of teachers need to hear. Kids are only young once. Let them be alive just a little. Don't be judgemental of that. Don't give them loads of HW, and then preach 8 hours of sleep. Still a fairly nice school overall.... Read 471 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,456

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Prince George's County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  253 reviews

Senior: The Academy of Health Sciences has shaped me into the person I am today, and there is nothing I would change about the experience I've had! The program is extremely rigorous, especially the teacher prep pathway that I was a part of. Parents and students should have a very serious conversation about work ethic before making the decision to attend AHS because the level of difficulty is not for everybody. To overcome these challenges, students are provided with wonderful support staff, and the school is so small that everyone feels like a large, dysfunctional family.... Read 253 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 498

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  485 reviews

Junior: For academics and activities (clubs, sports) this is a great school! It's easy to tell how dedicated each staff member and student is to their work. That being said, it's a very high stress environment (especially during freshman year) because of the workload and often because of staff that downplays the struggles that students go through. Be prepared for some difficult teachers and annoying students. For those looking to apply, I would still say that the good outweighs the bad. As long as you develop good time management (quickly) and are ready to continuously challenge yourself with the workload, you'll be fine.... Read 485 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,854

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Howard County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  224 reviews

Junior: Glenwood is great, I am going into my third year and it has been great so far the school is very well taken care of and the teachers are very nice. I am actually doing a tree planting there this year which the school was very happy to do! Last year the school did flood a little so some of the floor tiles were taken out to replace, but they were not replaced for months after ward, closer to the end of school.... Read 224 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,298

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Baltimore City Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  666 reviews

Senior: I have learned a lot from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. As the top STEM school in the state of Maryland, I have been prepared to excel in college-level math, science, and engineering courses. In addition to earning a Maryland state diploma, I've taken special, career-focused classes that will earn me a "Poly" diploma. My career focus is computer science, so I've taken classes such as Foundations of Computer Science, AP CS Principles, and AP Computer Science A. For those AP classes, I scored a 4 and a 5, respectively. Furthermore, BPI gives students the opportunity to take a variety of AP courses. In my freshman, sophomore, and junior years I studied in AP Modern World History and AP Language and Composition (plus the AP CS courses). Currently, I'm in AP Literature, AP Calculus AB, and AP Music Theory. I have no doubt that BPI has prepared me to excel far beyond expectations in my secondary education!... Read 666 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,601

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Baltimore County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  611 reviews

Freshman: Western Tech is a great school for those interested in the magnet programs they offer! Freshman year has been great and every day is certainly memorable. Each class always brings something exciting to the table and also allows students to actively participate during class time and group activities. Classes are not the only wonderful aspect about this school. In general, students get along well and there are not too many violence-related incidents on the campus. There are almost no instances of drugs, alcohol, or other addictive/unhealthy substances on school property. There is only one complaint I have about this school: size. Despite Western has a population of over 900 students, hallways are crowded and there are no sports fields for gym classes (students go to a nearby medical center field). Overall, this school is amazing. You will definitely be able to make friends, do your best in your classes as selected effectively by the guidance counselors, and have fun here at Western Tech!... Read 611 reviews

• grade A

• Students 937

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Howard County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  397 reviews

Senior: Attending Reservoir High School was quite the experience, however it was very memorable. When I first started my freshmen year everyone was sure nice to me and everyone was full of spirit. Unfortunately my high school years were taken away from me because of Covid, but through virtual learning my teachers tried their best to motivate us and to make the most of it. Both teachers and administrators were there for me whenever I needed them. When we finally came back to the building there were lots of safety procedures put out to keep us safe. Despite that RHS has a variety of different clubs, and if you can't find what you want then you can create your own. I will never forget my experience here in Reservoir High School and it will have a place in my heart. Go Gators!... Read 397 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,814

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  458 reviews

Senior: Overall, Quince Orchard is a great school! Staff are kind, supportive, and welcoming, as are many students. The school has great spirit and excellent sports teams. Quince Orchard also has rigorous academics and offers many AP/ honors classes. One con, however, is the process of signing up for classes- it can be hard to get the classes you want, especially as underclassmen.... Read 458 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,069

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  363 reviews

Senior: Sherwood High School is debatably the best school in Montgomery County; from their stellar athletics to their teachers that strive to create the best learning experience for their students, Sherwood does not leave too much more to be desired. Throughout my tenure at Sherwood, the worst experience I had was when members of our school wounded up in a Washington Post article for calling opposing players at a sports match derogatory slurs. However, the athletic director and the administration handled the situation well and the school has avoided similar problems since that day.... Read 363 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,769

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Carroll County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  392 reviews

Junior: Century is an incredible school with a mostly wonderful staff full of teachers who deeply care about their students and have a passion for teaching. It has very competitive athletics that continue to have successful season as well as a positive environment and high team moral. I truly do feel that I as a student has the ability to call for change within our school and that my suggestion will be considered and not just cast aside. There are so many opportunities for students to be involved whether it be through the countless student led clubs, student government, and honor societies there is a place for everyone.... Read 392 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,140

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1