2024 High Schools with the Best Teachers in the Washington, D.C. Area

• Washington Latin Public Charter Schools, DC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  147 reviews

Alum: I loved my experience at Latin. The community is tight-knit, with great support from teachers. There were great extra curricular opportunities, from student-run clubs to award-winning sports teams. The college counseling was incredible, especially compared to experiences of heard of from people at other schools in the city. As an alum, I always get shocked reactions from people who learn that I studied Arabic and Latin at a public school! I'm extremely thankful for my time at this school. I feel very lucky to have attended.... Read 147 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 376

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Washington, DC•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  15 reviews

Senior: Washington Leadership Academy has been a transformative experience. The environment is conducive to learning, and the teachers go beyond mere academics, guiding us towards college readiness. Their dedication is palpable, making each assignment an opportunity for growth. What sets this academy apart is its resourcefulness—making the most of what they have. I appreciate the consistent inclusion of computer science classes, a forward-thinking approach that not only equips us for the future but also enhances our transcripts. WLA isn't just a school; it's a dynamic space where education extends beyond textbooks, preparing us holistically for the challenges ahead.... Read 15 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Students 386

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Friendship Public Charter Schools, DC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.65 out of 5  17 reviews

Alum: Overall, a great school! Provides a world class education and multiple opportunities for student success. For example dual enrollment college courses, college ready programs, engineering and agricultural academies.... Read 17 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Students 334

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• 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+

• grade A+

• Students 2,029

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  352 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 352 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,272

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• KIPP DC Public Charter Schools, DC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  123 reviews

Senior: One thing I liked about KIPP DC College Prep was the activities. Before the global pandemic, the football games were always amusing and entertaining, the basketball games were better. Although there's a mix of skillful and compelling teachers, others were adverse and unpleasant. The security was adequate, but the food was satisfactory.... Read 123 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Students 773

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• 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+

• grade A+

• Students 2,212

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  532 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 532 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 2,870

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• E.L. Haynes Public Charter Schools, DC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  39 reviews

Sophomore: The staff at E.L Haynes are very welcoming and the school really cares for all students. We always have amazing opportunities and teachers always encourage us to try our best and push our limits. This school has taught me so much and has made me more motivated for college. I recommend this school, it’s so wonderful!... Read 39 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Students 443

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• 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+

• grade A

• Students 2,289

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  586 reviews

Junior: I’ve been a student for 2 years now, and I’ve experienced good and, not so good. The general community at TJ is pretty great, most people are friendly and welcoming with, of course, a few exceptions. I’ve also had some AMAZING teachers, and some teachers I would prefer not to interact with. For a school that is so STEM focused, some of the STEM teachers just don’t seem to understand that not everyone learns the same way, or some people just won’t get it the first time. The expectations are HIGH, as everyone knows, but in reality, if you ask, some teachers will tell you that the average test scores for regular honors classes is about a B+ (this includes a bunch of As and a bunch of Fs). I don’t know much about AP and post-AP as I haven’t taken any of those yet though. Certain people will thrive at TJ, I personally am doing well academically as long as I take a portion of my time to study, but you wouldn’t really know until you try it out. But, overall, it’s an experience worth taking!... Read 586 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 1,902

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  549 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 549 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 1,943

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Arlington Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  580 reviews

Junior: I just started school at Washington Liberty this August after moving to the area this summer, and really enjoy it! The school itself is very nice and all it’s facilities are in great condition(to include the brand new Annex building!). The majority of the teachers are very nice here and the education seems great, as there are dozens of course options, to include many duel-enrollment, IB, and AP classes as well. The lunch here is not great, as the portions are very small and what you do get is not very good quality/enjoyable, but it is edible to say the least. Overall, I am pleased with my experience thus far at Washington Liberty.... Read 580 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,549

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Washington, DC•

• Public School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  50 reviews

Senior: I'll be starting off with the best parts of District of Columbia International School. For one, the staff here are really helpful, if you're paying attention. While the subjects can be quite difficult (in senior year), it can be easy if you put in the work and do your best. The students are very diverse, and very friendly. While DCI can have some good traits, there are also bad things (for the students). For starters, the food is sub-par, and not fresh, and most students don't like it, and if you procrastinate a lot on work, you can be left with homework that will start to stress you out. For seniors, its a lot worse because they have to do a lot of things, such as finding colleges, scholarships, doing hours etc.... Read 50 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 1,523

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• 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+

• grade A

• Students 2,334

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• District of Columbia Public Schools, DC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  426 reviews

Senior: School Without Walls HS provides students with a rigorous education that will prepare them for college and beyond. While it is known as a humanities magnet school, the humanities are not emphasized more than science or math. Multiple AP courses are available to students and there is a good mix of electives. I have liked the support I received from my counselor when choosing courses or navigating high school in general, the support from teachers for challenging concepts, and support from administration on other matters. I also particularly enjoy the school culture in which most students are motivated to learn and friendly with one another, and the variety of clubs that build community and allow for leadership. The school pushes everyone to be independent in managing their time and taking responsibility for their actions which comes with privileges such as off-campus lunch. Wholly, I have had a positive experience in high school and would recommend the school to those ready to learn!... Read 426 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 597

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Washington, DC•

• Public School•

• 5-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  37 reviews

Freshman: BASIS is very academics focused and although it can be overwhelming at times, it has helped me develop time management skills and taught me how to allocate my time effectively. At BASIS, I have developed into someone who can focus on long term goals and make decisions to better prepare myself for colleges. BASIS offers lots of AP classes, which is a huge advantage in allowing me to explore and find out what I might be interested in studying in college. Despite the vigorous classes, the actual school building is pretty small and since BASIS DC offers 5th-12th grade, at times I feel stuffed, dampening the environment at BASIS. I think BASIS should work on more effective communication because often information about things like when grade reports are going out differ from teacher to teacher. By making sure that accurate information is shared with everyone, the school can run more efficiently and students will have a better understanding of the things that are going on in school.... Read 37 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 650

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Charles County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  791 reviews

Alum: Being in any of the CTE programs will make your experience better. I was in the Culinary Arts program and it was so much fun! I graduated with 4 certifications from being in the program and it has really helped to jumpstart my career. I was also a cheerleader which was also so much fun. You make your experience at the school by how much you participate in the athletics (playing or just in the crowd), the clubs, the arts (chorus, band, orchestra, theater, etc) and your overall spirit for the school. I had fun there and I know others that did as well.... Read 791 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 1,865

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  787 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 787 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 3,176

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  511 reviews

Junior: The school has been recently redone, so the interior and exterior are very new and modern. The teacher and counselor support through personal as well as academic matters is also an important aspect of Oakton. The worst part about Oakton is the competitive culture. Students overload themselves with APs and take all of the hardest classes just feel a little less like they're failing compared to everyone else at the school. Everyone always seems to be trying to one-up each other, which, in a way, is good because it causes people to strive to be their best, but there is a limit. When it becomes excessive, it stops making students better and begins tearing apart their self-esteem and collectiveness. It can be stress-inducing. Personally, I'm competitive, so most of the time, i like constantly having to improve myself to match my peers. Although there is stress from competition, the opportunities provided at Oakton are worth it. The diversity in classes and clubs offered is amazing.... Read 511 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,635

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  634 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 634 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 2,519

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Washington, DC•

• Public School•

• 8-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  33 reviews

Alum: Being in Richard Wright was like having a full-time job, it's always something to do surrounded by people who are like family. Anyone who's ever attended knows what I mean when a say it's almost like a mini-government, and to further extend that statement we actually have a school government called the Ambassador club. Which I was a part of as the leading treasure foe two years, definitely one of the best experiences I had at the school. You get lots of exposure to corporations and partnerships they have with the school, so of course my resume was flawless before I even graduated. I would love to get more into the family aspect of Richard Wright because it was so unique. I'm positive some student wouldn't even talk about their schools like this because of the disconnect due to the large numbers of classes. This school definitely gave me the exposure and a broad aspect of how the real-world works. For example, I know that I will have these connections for a lifetime.... Read 33 reviews

• grade C+

• grade A

• Students 296

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  404 reviews

Senior: It is ver clear as soon as someone walks into Madison that the school is well funded. The building and classrooms are nice, and student resources are endless. Madison provides students with a variety of clubs, sports, and activities so everyone is encouraged to attend extracurriculars. Additionally, there is a wide variety of students at Madison with a variety of interests. I have found the teachers at Madison to be very prepared and caring towards their students. That being said, the grading system has changed yearly, and many students, and teachers, are left unsatisfied with the clarity of some of the new policies. In the future, I would like to see Madison more organized in implementing new things to make sure the teachers and the students are prepared.... Read 404 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 2,212

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  683 reviews

Senior: Lots of opportunity to follow your interests/passions and grow. Education is good. There is a mix of both amazing and draining teachers throughout each subject, with the best ones tending to teach the rigorous classes. This school is what you make of it; there are tons of opportunity to experience and expand your learning outside the classroom as long as you take the initiative. The large student body makes it both easy to start initiatives, but also hard to stand out. Horrible lunch and vending machines tho. Overall a very typical high school experience, but the lack of rigorous Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes makes it hard to stand out against competitive students at nearby schools. Very, very, extremely ethnically diverse. Administration is a tough cookie to crack, and college readiness depends on the county-wide ACES program.... Read 683 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 2,316

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  257 reviews

Senior: Wheaton High School offers many exceptional opportunities and courses. I found myself offers always engaging with in-class curriculums and peers. I enjoyed my aroma of positivity and enthusiasm from students who were excited to learn, and teachers who were excited to teach. I often struggled with my anxiety which led to the pitfalls of my attendances. My anxiety came when I entered Hon Pre-Calculus. The rigorous course made to doubt my academic ability on countless occasions. My thoughts got so bad to the point where the passion I had for school slowly died. I carried this attitude for the rest of my sophomore year. When I entered junior year, I realized that I had to make up for all my missed opportunities. I spoke with my counselor, who pointed me on the path of recovery. By the end of junior year, I learn that life is always going to be tough, it’s the response that matters.... Read 257 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 2,375

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1