2019 Top Schools with an IB Program in the Washington, D.C. AreaAbout this List

Richard Montgomery High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• 473

Junior: Richard Montgomery High School is an amazing place to be a student. It has excellent academic courses (for example the International Baccalaureate Program) as well as great sports programs. The teachers and Administrators genuinely care about each student and their overall success in school and life. The culture is incredibly welcoming and light hearted, with everyone being supportive and being able to find friends easily. My experience at Richard Montgomery has been great! One thing I would like to see improve in the school is more mixture between kids in IB and not in IB, which works pretty well for people in sports/activities but in classes and school events it is difficult for kids to interact with IB/ non- IB classes. Overall Richard Montgomery is one of the best High Schools to attend in MCPS both academically and Socially.
Read 473 Reviews

• A+

• 2,391 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• 381

Senior: BCC is the best, it's 100% better than Whitman. Whitman, not so great. Teachers at BCC are so nice and caring, but they are tough. They want to make sure everyone learns everything they can, and that means grades won't come easy. The students here are all super nice, with most of them being very welcoming. Sports here are A1. Our soccer team won states last year, and the tennis team flexes on everyone else. Baronathletics.net
Read 381 Reviews

• A+

• 2,064 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Oakton High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 402

Junior: I enjoy the diversity and the friendly administrative staff at Oakton, but it also has an unbreakable culture for overloading on APs, therefore, there is always high demands set on entering students by the atmosphere at the school. Everything else at the school is quite mundane and nothing out of the ordinary; bad school food, good and bad teachers, ever-changing restroom and retake policies etc. Overall, Oakton's academics seem to have an immense focus on business education, thus there are many options available for business classes. But the school culture taken into a complete perspective is creative and very realistic; thoroughly prepares students for college and work.
Read 402 Reviews

• A+

• 2,512 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Washington-Lee High School

• Arlington Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 455

Parent: Wonderful school, needs more diversity though. The school is conveniently located and secure. There are plenty of sports and clubs to meet all student's interest. The staff is friendly and eager to help students succeed. Fantastic curriculum. Overall had a great high school experience!
Read 455 Reviews

• A+

• 2,537 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Marshall High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 292

Alum: Loved the teachers, loved the courses. Rigorous, yet rewarding International Baccalaureate program. Amazing athletics department. Major renovations were finished in 2016 and the school is gorgeous now. Teachers really care about the students and respect them, so the students respect the teachers as well. Really great vocational school "Marshall Academy" within the high school that offers Automotive Tech, Criminal Justice, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Cyber Security, Computer Systems A+, Chinese, Cisco CCNA Networking, and more! Amazing extracurriculars and a very supportive community.
Read 292 Reviews

• A+

• 2,173 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Robinson Secondary School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 7-12
• 447

Junior: At Robinson, the academic rigor is very impressive, and the school enviornment is very positive. Many students here have learned to challenge themselves academically as well as socially; with the amount of people that go to the school currently (4,000+), it's hard to not make genuine connections with someone you meet. Robinson is an IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma school, which has helped many students significantly in preparing and planning for college. The college and career advisor/specialist is very well rounded and actually knows what she's doing and how to help students whether they're looking to join college or the workforce after high school. Robinson is also a school with several varsity sports, many of which have won state championships or been named all-state teams (including, but not limited to: girls and boys lacrosse, cheerleading, and gymnastics,).
Read 447 Reviews

• A+

• 3,938 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

George Mason High School

• Falls Church City Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 133

Alum: As a student who moves often, I was nervous going into George Mason. Since George Mason is placed in an area where many kids of diplomats and government workers come and go, the students there were used to new students coming in and were very accepting. Although the school has the stereotypical division amongst the students such as jocks, thespians, brainiacs, etc, there was no animosity amongst the groups which I appreciated. There are many talented students in the arts programs, and being a theater kid myself, I was able to grow in a very healthy environment.
Overall, education, after school activities, and faculty wise, I had an excellent experience at George Mason High School and I deeply miss the people there.
Read 133 Reviews

• A+

• 808 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

South Lakes High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 450

Senior: There are many aspects of South Lakes High School that have made my experience positive. The level of diversity is extremely high so the environment is very welcoming. Teachers are extremely accessible to you and always try to meet your needs. Also, I personally have taken part in the IB Diploma program. While rigorous, this program is excellent and truly improves your writing and critical thinking skills. It has also made me much more responsible because I have had to learn how to manage my time in order to keep up with academics as well as my other pursuits. Additionally, all the IB teachers are extremely qualified and love what they do making for a quite positive experience. If I had to see anything change, I would like smaller class sizes but I understand that the student population is quite large and this is only minor.
Read 450 Reviews

• A

• 2,523 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

• Falls Church City Public Schools, VA
• 6-8

• A

• 587 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rockville High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• 352

Senior: Rockville High School is a very humble and accepting school for all. I admire it's diversity and welcoming nature. The teachers and staff are more than willing to help out students in need. The one thing I would change about my school is to control students prone to readiness. Certain groups of students within the school tend to be rowdy and childish, yet security does little to take the situation seriously other than an "eye roll," metaphorically speaking.
Read 352 Reviews

• A

• 1,451 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

• Falls Church City Public Schools, VA
• 2-5

• A

• 822 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Benjamin Banneker Academic High School

• District of Columbia Public Schools, DC
• 9-12
• 268

Senior: Benjamin Banneker Academic High School is an excellent school in terms of college prep and readiness. The people there make learning both fun and interesting and makes school a lot easier. However, a problem in the school would be the lack of communication between students and teachers. Many times when students have problems with things going on in the school, they have a hard time bringing their concerns to the staff for reasons ranging from not having a healthy relationship with them to the fear that their concerns will fall on deaf ears. A change that I would like to see in my school would be a better relationship/problem solving between staff and students.
Read 268 Reviews

• A

• 482 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Albert Einstein High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• 298

Alum: I loved it at AEHS! What was so great about it was that we were such a tight community. Everyone knew everyone and we were all friends. Although we each had our own friend groups we all got along with each other. I also loved the diversity. We had so many minorities in our school (myself included) and it was incredible getting to meet people from different cultures. I also loved the school spirit. Our football games, especially our homecoming games, were so fun and exciting! We genuinely had a family atmosphere at AEHS. It was also a great learning experience. While we definitely had some teachers that weren't the greatest, we had many who were incredible. Also, for my specifically, I enjoyed the fact that Einstein has an Academy of Finance. I'm a business major, specifically marketing, and I think that this academy definitely prepared me well for college.
Read 298 Reviews

• A

• 1,748 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Edison High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 273

Junior: Thomas A. Edison is a great school to go to! From meeting different people from all around the world to unique clubs and sports. Academics are well taught but teachers need to be a bit more open minded. The food can be better, too, no one wants to eat the same thing everyday. Plus, vegetarians, vegans, and pecitarians have very limited options (a PB&J ) b/c they’re serving small hamburgers everyday. The rest of the school is a fun, safe, and nice learning environment
Read 273 Reviews

• B+

• 2,070 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Annandale High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 397

Senior: My experience at Annandale High School was fairly good. I moved from another high school in Ethiopia to Virginia in my junior year. This is my senior year at Annandale. Being a new student has it's own disadvantage, in my first days I usually get lost in the school and be late to class, however the teachers were mostly understanding and the students are very kind and helpful. They would show me directions and sometimes they walk to my class themselves. In one year I make lots of friends. The whole staff of the school is very kind and supportive. Also the school is very diverse. When I started school at Annandale I was scared at first. I was scared of not making friends, being bullied and fail my classes, but it all turned out just fine. I was also worried about communication skills, because my English wasn't that good. Now I'm a senior and I'll leave this school in June, i had an experience in this school, looking back there are lots of things I would miss from this school. GO ATOMS!
Read 397 Reviews

• B+

• 2,160 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Springbrook High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• 397

Senior: Coming into any high school is terrifying. Wondering if you'd fit in, if you'd have any friends or if the teachers would like you. Springbrook Highschool is a IB school. Something else that is special about Springbrook is the diversity. At Springbrook high, you are able to meet students from all different backgrounds. Different cultures, races, ethnicity. I love the fact that I'm able to be in a school with so many peers with different backgrounds. It helps me become open-minded, and allows me to learn more about different cultures! Being apart of sports and clubs is also another thing I love. When in sports and clubs, I feel proud to be representing Springbrook high school and I think thats the best feeling. Many times people doubt and look down on our High school but I think we can prove them wrong. Especially when it comes to sports, other schools tend to doubt us. No matter win or lose we stand up and wear Springbrook on our Chests proudly!
Read 397 Reviews

• B+

• 1,792 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Seneca Valley High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• 318

Senior: Attending Seneca Valley High School for 4 years has been a wonderful experience. The athletics, academics, teachers, staff, and students form a strong community that I never had in my previous schools. The thing about Seneca Valley that stands out the most is the 2-year International Baccalaureate program that is offered, which is extremely challenging and will greatly help you in college. Another interesting fact is that Seneca Valley is currently in construction of a new school, which will be the biggest high school in Maryland! I am truly going to miss this school and hope future students have the same experience as I did.
Read 318 Reviews

• B+

• 1,203 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Watkins Mill High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• 363

Junior: My experience so far as a junior at Watkins Mill high school has been very interesting to say the least. Being a new student on top of being a full IB diploma candidate has caused me to gravitate towards very amazing and hard working students! Everyone I have met has been tremendously friendly; pointing me to classrooms and initiating conversation. The environment at Watkins Mill is very warm, and playful. From the administration to the students, everyone is very relaxed and there is no passivity or tensions. As far as the curriculum, every teacher I’ve had goes a reasonable pace and of course the work load will challenge every student, but it forces you to apply yourself even more. Classroom sessions are normally very interactive and there’s a lot of learning through dialogue which makes it easier to communicate your thoughts on what you do or don’t understand, as opposed to just staring at a board and taking notes.
Read 363 Reviews

• B+

• 1,584 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Lee High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 236

Junior: Lee is a fairly decent school, despite its rather debatable reputation. There are a lot of people with a lot of different mindsets and different ways of handling things. The teachers manage to do well teaching the variety of students, and I know some who actually go around and ask whether or not their way of teaching is helpful for her students. However, there are still some things that could definitely be improved. I feel that mental health issues could be more explored, as I know students with depression who feel that their teachers don't respect or care for them. There is also a lot of stress that goes along with that, especially with the IB students. Test after test and essay after essay hardly ever gives the students a chance to relax and de-stress themselves.
Read 236 Reviews

• B

• 1,816 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Justice High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 323

Senior: Justice High School, formally known as J.E.B Stuart High School, has improved immensely over the past few years. I love the diverse students that attend Justice, it brings a sense of culture and different point of views to the classroom. The teachers working at this school truly care about their students and do everything they can to help with their academic success. However, despite this, the split between IB Diploma Candidates and regular diploma candidates is radical. Unfortunately the school does not do enough to bring every one together and it feels like a me vs. them environment.
Read 323 Reviews

• B

• 2,134 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

John F. Kennedy High School

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• 311

Junior: I'm a junior at Kennedy and this is my first year there but I've been having a great year there so far! There's lots of clubs, programs, and activities for everyone. The teachers are really involved and definitely care about their students' futures. In comparison to my old school there's definitely way more diversity and more help for college readiness! Overall a great school, I would definitely recommend going there or sending your child there.
Read 311 Reviews

• B-

• 1,593 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Stonewall Jackson High School

• Prince William County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 264

Alum: I loved how diverse it was! I had teachers from different backgrounds and unique perspectives on the material we learned. As well, even though I was a caucasian female, I was in the minority, but I loved it. Most of my friends were from the Middle East or South America. In many movies it shows schools with high ethnic diversity to be run down, poorer, and have a higher percentage of gangs or alcohol abuse for students at that school. That does not have to be the case though and Stonewall Jackson is proof. We excelled in academics, a few sports and student club involvement. I am not saying everyone got along perfectly, that discrimination didn’t happen or that no one drank alcohol, but I do know that it was less than other nearby schools that were predominately white. I never felt unsafe at my school and actually felt protected by my peers rather than threatened. We were close and it allowed for a positive and uplifting environment for higher learning.
Read 264 Reviews

• B-

• 2,724 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mount Vernon High School

• Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
• 9-12
• 265

Senior: I've attended Mount Vernon my whole high school career. Many people may say that Mount Vernon isn't the best and they'll compare it to other schools, but the teachers and staff there genuinely care for their students and want to see each and every one of us succeed. When testing season comes around the corner almost every teacher stays after school to help their students better understand material and be prepare for difficult questions that are meant to trick you. The staff at Mount Vernon is outstanding!
Read 265 Reviews

• B-

• 2,050 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Gar-Field High School

• Prince William County Public Schools, VA
• PK, 9-12
• 424

Senior: What I love about Gar-Field is its diversity and student engagement activities. Not only does Gar-Field contain the most diverse race of students, but it also provides a great variety of subjects of different levels. Because of its International Baccalaureate Program, students are given the choice to be academically engaged in a more challenging environment that will be able to assist them in their trip through college and society. Yet this does not limit the students from choosing the courses they are interested in as the high school provides various forms of diplomas such as regular, IB, IBCP, and Advanced; however, because of its IB Program, a large divide exists between the non-IB students and IB students since their classes are so different and students are rarely able to communicate and associate with the others on a daily basis.
Read 424 Reviews

• B-

• 2,621 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Laurel High School

• Prince George's County Public Schools, MD
• 9-12
• 505

Senior: Being at Laurel High School helped me realize that it does not matter where you come from, all that matters is your work ethic and how you will use our intelligence and abilities to make our world and better place. Laurel High School’s performance company dance team is wonderful! The dance instructor is dedicated and super creative. Our reputation is great! I highly recommend it. She changes lives!
Read 505 Reviews

• C

• 1,844 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio