2022 Best International Baccalaureate Schools in the Washington, D.C. Area

Richard Montgomery High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• Rating 3.99 out of 5  562 reviews

Parent: My daughter graduated from Richard Montgomery and she got an excellent education! RM is our zoned school but she tested into and was accepted into the IB programme. The teachers were exceptional and compassionate. The administrators were receptive to parental input. We have an amazingly involved PTSA that advocates for staff and students. My daughter applied to eight universities and was accepted to seven. My daughter is now in her freshman year and has transitioned well as she has a strong foundation. The school is diverse and there are extracurricular activities for almost any interest. The students are encouraged to provide input for change. Overall, it’s a great environment and my daughter really thrived...Read 562 Reviews

• grade A+

• 2,505 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• Rating 3.92 out of 5  437 reviews

Senior: B-CC is a pretty above average school I’d say. My time here was alright, honestly. I enjoyed the amount of activities here, honestly there’s something for everyone and I find that pretty nice! Academics are pretty good and rigorous however I think the culture here can get a bit stressful for any student who cares about going to college. From my personal experience, I found it hard to connect with some of my wealthier peers, many here come from families who have enough money to not have to worry about the price of anything really. Teachers were definitely my favorite part of the whole experience next to the amount of things you can get involved in...Read 437 Reviews

• grade A+

• 2,257 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School

• Private School
• OLNEY, MD
• 9-12
• Rating 4.28 out of 5  198 reviews

Alum: Good Counsel is a great academic institution that provides a diverse culture for learning, growth, and engagement. The teachers and administrators are enthusiastic, compassionate, and passionate about what they do. The administration ensures that class sizes are kept small for great student to teacher ratios. They have great clubs for students to become involved in; like the Entrepreneurship Club, the Key Club, Robotics, just to name a few. The cafeteria food was delicious and varied. They offer competitive (championship teams) and non competitive sports activities; football, swimming, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, volleyball, rugby, and water polo to name a few. GC has a great IB program and a strong college prep and AP program too. I was very prepared for college and did very well making the Dean's List during my freshman year at a top ten university. ...Thank you GC!Read 198 Reviews

• grade A+

• 1,255 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Washington Liberty High School

• Arlington Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• Rating 4.03 out of 5  543 reviews

Freshman: Its currently my first year attending Washington Liberty High School. The middle school to high school transition is tough as it is, so the addition of a pandemic hasn't made it any easier. Fortunately, my teachers have been understanding and helpful during these times of hardship. There haven't been changes to make deeper student or teacher connections which hopefully is only due to virtual learning. Overall, I really like my teachers and classes-not too many loads of assignments which is a plus!...Read 543 Reviews

• grade A+

• 2,493 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Meridian High School

• Falls Church City Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.85 out of 5  158 reviews

Junior: The school is very good, but the community is very high-class (economically) and is extremely liberal. This means that the school itself has great facilities and resources. However, it is a public school, so it doesn't spend as much as you would expect on teachers. This means that the education is very inconsistent, as different teachers have different styles of teaching and the counseling staff is just okay. It also means that the food is not that great. Lastly, the sports are not very good, which also has an effect on the school culture, although it's not like it is non-existent. The course range is very wide, and the classes have fairly good pacing, so students can catch up or go ahead of the class independently outside of the class. The extracurriculars are pretty good, as they are mostly student-led and get decent amounts of funding. Overall, this school is a great one for you to attend if you have the money to live in the community...Read 158 Reviews

• grade A+

• 845 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

British International School of Washington

• Private School
• WASHINGTON, DC
• PK, K-12
• Rating 3.36 out of 5  11 reviews

Parent: Our daughter goes to the Pre-Nursery program for 2 year olds (the description on this Niche site says that Preschool program starts at age 4 - not correct) and she is thriving. She is able to recognize letters and count, and loves her music class. There's library session once a week, and very well thought out learning modules. The teachers are excellent and have wonderful communication with the parents. My husband and I were both former teachers at private institutions and we love the school!...Read 11 Reviews

• grade A+

• 510 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Robinson Secondary School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 7-12
• Rating 3.91 out of 5  537 reviews

Junior: Everyone here is very welcoming! I started the 8th grade here and knew nobody, but many people struck up conversations with me and many became good friends all the way to junior year. The education here is outstanding and the teachers make sure you know the material well enough before you move on. This school is an IB school, only a few IB schools are available across America, Robinson happens to be one of them. The campus is huge and while it can get a bit crowded during passing time, it's still huge and the space inside is very wide enough for it to not feel completely crowded. The courts outside are also very spacious with gorgeous grounds. We even get to sit outside for lunch. Overall, this school is great for education and for making new connections...Read 537 Reviews

• grade A

• 3,810 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Marshall High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.96 out of 5  356 reviews

Sophomore: Marshall has so many opportunities for its students. Between the large number of student-organized clubs and teachers ready to help engaged students to the best of their ability, Marshall aims to both educate its student body while teaching how to use these opportunities to your advantage. Marshall is also an IB school, giving students the option to continue their future college journey internationally. Even if pupils may choose different paths, the IB Diploma and courses allow them to challenge themselves academically and creatively, further preparing the students. ...To further improve, Marshall could update current activities going on in the school to provide a larger sense of spirit and community. Although recent events have taken place and increasing effort has been put in to encourage more school spirit, individuals would benefit from a more inclusive and balanced environment (academics, sports, arts, etc.)...Read 356 Reviews

• grade A

• 2,170 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

• Falls Church City Public Schools, VA
• 6-8
• Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Middle School Student: I really liked the experience, the environment was very welcoming and everyone was kind. It was easy to talk to teachers and the faculty and staff were always ready to help with anything. The school had many activities for students to be involved in and had something that everyone could join...Read 2 Reviews

• grade A

• 662 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oak Street Elementary School

• Falls Church City Public Schools, VA
• 3-5

• grade A

• 550 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

South Lakes High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.89 out of 5  516 reviews

Sophomore: South Lakes has an amazing community in which learning is really prioritized. It has a great performing arts department and the IB Diploma Program is there as well. IB provides for a lot of cool discussions on the thinking process, but there is a heavy push from the school to take a full IB Diploma. It is a very work heavy track and not a great fit for all, yet the strong encouragement to take IB classes remains the same from student to student. ...The teachers I have had have been amazing especially during Covid-19. They are understanding and Supportive and are a huge help to students. My teachers have made it a goal to make me succeed and it shows in their teaching. One thing I would recommend with taking classes, is to take personal finance over the summer! There are so many fun classes and awesome teachers to have, that getting that class out of the way so super helpful!...Read 516 Reviews

• grade A

• 2,549 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rockville High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• Rating 3.7 out of 5  418 reviews

Parent: High school is never easy, but Billie Jean Bensen is phenomenal and the attitude of the administration trickles down to the staff and the students and makes for a great atmosphere at Rockville HS.Teachers at Rockville are the absolute best; I feel so fortunate that my kids have had so many wonderful teachers. (This is the kids' opinion, too.) The English department is flawless, and I can only think of 3 teachers (in 7 years) who haven't been great. Extracurriculars are very well run (drama, yearbook, literary mag) but the music/band department lost some great teachers since we started...Rockville is the smallest high school in the district, so it has fewer course choices than most, and sometimes they combine classes which can be frustrating. And the career counselor needed to retire easily 10 years ago. The IB/AP program is good. They do great work with/for teens, and it's a tough age. I've volunteered often and like what I see. RHS is a haven with teachers who really care. A+!...Read 418 Reviews

• grade A

• 1,440 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Benjamin Banneker Academic High School

• District of Columbia Public Schools, DC
• 9-12
• Rating 3.68 out of 5  307 reviews

Niche User: I’m looking for a high school for my son to enroll so I called & spoke with Ms.Anthony who is very helpful, guiding, professional, respectful & courteous. She gave me all the information I needed including the correct phone #I needed to call, I’m very grateful for her help, that’s very nice of her! ...Happy Holidays ! Thank you very much!Read 307 Reviews

• grade A

• 523 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

District of Columbia International School

• Public School
• WASHINGTON, DC
• 6-12
• Rating 3.82 out of 5  28 reviews

Freshman: As the only school in DC to offer all branches of the International Baccalaureate system, graduates from DCI will be better prepared for college and have the advantage of an IB diploma going into post-secondary education and the workforce. Not only is the faculty accepting and helpful to students and parents as they build bonds with families and are genuinely invested in their work, but countless friendships are made across grade levels which is the best place for advice and help. There are some organizational issues as the school is just five years old, but the majority of them do not affect the student body and will likely be resolved through trial-and-error. If you are considering applying as 6-8th grader I recommend it 100% but as a 9th or 10th grader I do hope you have some experience in whatever language track you are applying to because starting from scratch can be a difficult and overwhelming experience because of the rigor of the IB program. Nevertheless, we welcome you!...Read 28 Reviews

• grade A minus

• 1,264 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Albert Einstein High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• Rating 3.84 out of 5  347 reviews

Junior: Currently, I am a student at Albert Einstein High School. It's a really great school, especially for the arts since we have both visual and performing arts programs here! I also really love the IB program; the teachers are great and I actually feel challenged in school. Some of the teachers could be better, especially in the math department, but overall I love going to school here and there's great school spirit during homecoming week and at pep rallies!...Read 347 Reviews

• grade A minus

• 1,818 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Springbrook High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• Rating 3.7 out of 5  469 reviews

Junior: Springbrook for me so far is a great school it has helped me in many ways, more than I can count. The teachers are great, I have amazing grades so I can't really complain. Springbrook does a really good job of preparing kids for the SAT's. For example, mine is coming up March 25th and I feel ready, not only because I was informed about at school but by visiting the college board. To conclude, if you are an 8th grader reading this I highly implore you to come to Springbrook you won't regret you're decision especially because it's an Ib league school!...Read 469 Reviews

• grade A minus

• 1,746 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Edison High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.71 out of 5  332 reviews

Alum: When I was at Edison, I thought it was the smallest and most run-down school in the county (except for Lee). And within Fairfax County that may have been true, but once I go to college I realized my graduating class was bigger than many of my classmates entire schools and that the quality of education at ANY Fairfax County school was far superior than most else in the state and the country. The whole IB thing, not a huge fan after the fact since all my classmates came into college with so much AP credit and I got ZERO. The max HL classes a student can do is four but you can take as many AP tests as you want, plus AP tests are easier! Sure, you may not learn as much or be as good of a writer if you do AP rather than IB, but that college credit could enable you to graduate earlier and save a lot of money. For students that don't do IB there's little hope of getting into a top rated school (like UVA) and maybe one student every few years goes Ivy League from Edison...Read 332 Reviews

• grade B+

• 2,189 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Seneca Valley High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• Rating 3.59 out of 5  359 reviews

Junior: Seneca Valley High School is a very diverse and amazing school. It's very easy to get involved with the school and the teachers there are amazing. They motivate you, persuade you and push you to be your best self. They are also great with having one on one time with students. The environment overall is very safe with the students, staff and administration. Their sports teams and clubs make it worthwhile. You get to meet amazing people and start friendships that have a positive impact on your life. They also have a variety of clubs, so anyone can be interested. In Addition at Seneca Valley they have an International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. This helps extraordinarily with college readiness as these classes can be very challenging. Additionally, they have many choices of classes and it helps you for the real world. Furthermore they have career programs like the Medicine Program, engineering program, child development and more! My experience at Seneca Valley will be one to remember...Read 359 Reviews

• grade B+

• 1,226 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Annandale High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.67 out of 5  451 reviews

Freshman: This was my first year at Annandale high school, I was really nervous but my sister had told me good things about the school. Overall my freshman year was okay, the teachers were amazing! But the administration wasn’t the best, and the students were okay as well. I enjoyed being on the tennis team, and hope to join more clubs my sophomore year...Read 451 Reviews

• grade B

• 2,218 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lewis High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.56 out of 5  265 reviews

Senior: I came here after moving away from my home state. The first thing i noticed was how friendly everyone is here. The teachers do work with students with our success in mind. All the students (now friends), teachers and my counselor were extremely helpful in adjusting to Lee and Virginia. There's loads of miscellaneous clubs and sports to join (I'm in Cranes for a Cause and I run). Every now and then the school will host events too (chili cook off, international night, musicals, and spirit weeks). I do wish we had more of a heads up when it comes to class meetings or schedule shifts though (having my plans get thrown out isn't great). Besides timing, Lee is pretty good at utilizing remind, announcements and social media (Instagram) to reach out to students. Overall, I know I will miss Lee after I graduate...Read 265 Reviews

• grade B

• 1,806 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Watkins Mill High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• Rating 3.67 out of 5  408 reviews

Senior: Watkins Mill is one of a kind school. Its small so everyone knows everyone else, and the staff are the most supportive in all of MCPS. They really care about the students and don't hold us back. WMHS is often stereotyped and generalized but these rumors stem from ignorance and racism. Its a quiet school. We study, we have dun, and we move on instead of peaking in high school. Clubs and organizations are supported and there is emphasis on joining sports and clubs. You don't forget your time at the mill. Its a blessing to go to such a supportive school and be accepted for who you are instead of facing hostilities and microaggressions...Read 408 Reviews

• grade B

• 1,590 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Unity Reed High School

• Prince William County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.92 out of 5  315 reviews

Senior: I chose to attend Stonewall Jackson High School because of the IB program and the diversity. Stonewall is the most diverse high school in PWC and I love that. I have met people from all over the world and from so many different cultures. My experience at SJ has been mostly positive, I have met some great people here that I now consider very close friends. I have had some amazing teachers and an excellent counselor. I am a rising senior so my experience isn't over it but so far I have enjoyed attending this school. The IB program is very rigorous but honestly worth it because of all the information that you learn, it helps you understand the world better and takes a deeper dive into history compared to regular classes. Art club is an awesome club, which I am a member of, it is ran by our awesome art teachers and its a fun thing to do after school. Many students and I here used their voice to be heard during our school name change, we are now the Unity Reed Lions. Go Lions!...Read 315 Reviews

• grade B minus

• 2,699 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

John F. Kennedy High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• Rating 3.5 out of 5  350 reviews

Senior: I liked john f Kennedy because it is a diverse school. there was a lot of student from my community John F. Kennedy High School is a public high school located in Montgomery County, Maryland. Part of Montgomery County Public Schools, the school is within the census-designated place of Glenmont, although it has a Silver Spring mailing address. Opening its doors in 1964,[4] Kennedy High School was originally going to be called East Wheaton High School, but due to President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, the school was renamed after him.[5] It initially enrolled students in 7th through 10th grades,[6] but by the fall of 1966 changed to the now-standard 9th through 12th grade format, graduating its first full 12th grade class in the spring of 1967...Kennedy's early history is that of an experimental, innovative school, with no school bells, broad lesson plans, innovative class subjects, pass-fail grading, an eight-period day with one free period during the day...Read 350 Reviews

• grade B minus

• 1,817 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mount Vernon High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• Rating 3.68 out of 5  314 reviews

Senior: I joined Mount Vernon Highschool in January 2018 and I had missed two quarters of my Freshmen year. I had struggled with my accent but I managed to fit very easily because of the atmosphere of excellence and teachers and students make lessons easy and understanding for everyone. I like how Mount Vernon High schools offer students with choices to pick classes they are interested in and classes such as AP, IB, Dual enrollment for students who want to challenge themselves and seek higher education. I am very proud of the different resources and facilities we have including the safety and involvement of parents and teachers to help students cope with their struggles. With one of the best athletics and clubs available, students can participate in extracurricular activities while focusing on their studies. There are teachers who are always available for students and counselors there to guide them as well. Food is provided to ensure the health conditions of the students and others as well...Read 314 Reviews

• grade B minus

• 2,002 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Gar-Field High School

• Prince William County Public Schools, VA
• PK, 9-12
• Rating 3.79 out of 5  473 reviews

Senior: I have had many teachers who genuinely care for their students and want to do whatever possible to see them succeed. They challenge and push us, but in the best way. I feel the staff really do try their best to support us, help us have a good experience, and not only asking but taking our input into consideration. There are always those teachers who not all students enjoy but I have not had any personal experience with them thus far. There have been rumors about the kind of students who attend and the school itself which people believe make it a bad school but I think that is far from the truth. The student body is incredibly diverse and it is something that makes me proud. No school is perfect but I feel like I am genuinely listened to, included, and helped. I am glad to be spending my high school experience here...Read 473 Reviews

• grade B minus

• 2,457 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio