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Northwest High

Q: Is Northwest High a good school?

Northwest High ranks 31 st of 220 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

31^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 220 Maryland High Schools

Better than 86% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Northwest High is a public magnet high school located in Germantown, MD, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,386 students. It is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district, which is ranked 8th out of 25 districts in Maryland and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Northwest High consistently ranks among the top high schools in Maryland, ranking 31st out of 220 schools in the 2024-2025 school year. The school's performance on MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) tests is impressive, with 71.6% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, significantly higher than the Montgomery County (57%) and Maryland (50.8%) averages. However, the school struggles with mathematics, with only 7.8% of students proficient or better in MCAP Mathematics, well below the county (35.7%) and state (26.5%) averages. Northwest High maintains a high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 89.2% to 91.8% over the past five years, consistently outperforming the state average. The school has experienced relatively high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 23.2% to 30.1% over the past few years, which is a concern compared to the state average.

Northwest High performs well academically compared to nearby schools, such as Richard Montgomery High and Poolesville High, which also rank among the top high schools in Maryland. However, schools like Gaithersburg High and Watkins Mill High, which are closer in proximity to Northwest High, have lower academic performance and higher rates of free/reduced-price lunch recipients. The student-teacher ratio at Northwest High (16.5-17.3) is generally higher than the nearby high-performing schools like Poolesville High (19.5) and Thomas S. Wootton High (18.3).

2,300

Students ?

16.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,959

Per pupil spending ?

36.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

13501 Richter Farm Rd
Germantown, MD 20874

(240) 740-7100

District: Montgomery County Public Schools

Feeder schools for Northwest High:

Elementary:	Clopper Mill Elementary
	Darnestown Elementary
	Diamond Elementary
	Dr. Ronald E. McNair Elementary
	More...
	Germantown Elementary
	Great Seneca Creek Elementary
	Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary
Middle:	Kingsview Middle
	Lakelands Park Middle

Racial breakdown:

African American:

26.2%

Hispanic:

26.1%

White:

21.0%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 69th percentile in 2014 → 86th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (48% vs 37% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 14% of Maryland high schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 17 percentile points since 2014

Worth a look

!Mathematics scores 19 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school48%

District avg46%

Maryland avg37%

31^st of 220

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 14%▲ up 19 pts since 2015

From top 33% (2015) to top 14% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 25High Schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools

8^th of 25Montgomery County Public Schools among Maryland districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2025	63.3	31 of 220	85.9%	★★★★☆
2023	58.0	33 of 127	74.0%	★★★★☆
2022	58.5	43 of 225	80.9%	★★★★☆
2021	70.6	11 of 32	65.6%	★★★★☆
2019	57.0	52 of 138	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.0	35 of 197	82.2%	★★★★☆
2017	57.7	58 of 180	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	59.2	83 of 233	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	59.8	78 of 233	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	74.0	72 of 231	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	70.5	65 of 185	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	68.6	70 of 187	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	68.3	69 of 183	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	62.1	111 of 220	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	65.0	106 of 213	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	66.5	97 of 214	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2007	63.8	72 of 209	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	58.0	83 of 204	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	65.4	44 of 204	78.4%	★★★★☆
2004	48.5	86 of 201	57.2%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	61.7	10 of 25	60.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	68.9	12 of 35	65.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	70.2	17 of 40	57.5%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2021)66th percentile~ school

Asian (2021)60th percentile-6 vs school

White (2021)58th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts72%+21 vs state

Mathematics8%-19 vs state

Algebra I8%-14 vs state

5.0

3 ratings

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1★0

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Schools Near Northwest High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				MCAP Mathematics (2025)	MCAP English Language Arts (2025)		MCAP Algebra I (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northwest High	Public, Magnet	9-12	13501 Richter Farm Rd	Germantown	20874	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-7100	2,300	138	16.7	36.1%	482 (21.0%)	602 (26.2%)	600 (26.1%)	471 (20.5%)	3 (0.1%)	3 (0.1%)	130 (5.7%)	63.3	31^st of 220 public high schools	85.9%					(n/a)	7.8	71.6	71.6	7.8	$17,959	$1,282	$16,677
Seneca Valley High	Public, Magnet	9-12	19401 Crystal Rock Dr	Germantown	20874	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-6400	2,409	159	15.1	49.2%	274 (11.4%)	892 (37.0%)	861 (35.7%)	269 (11.2%)	3 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	105 (4.4%)	40.5	105^th of 220 public high schools	52.3%					(n/a)	3.0	59.3	59.3	3.0	$19,473	$1,318	$18,155
Quince Orchard High	Public	9-12	15800 Quince Orchard Rd	Gaithersburg	20878	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-3600	2,100	131	16.0	38.0%	656 (31.2%)	312 (14.9%)	769 (36.6%)	224 (10.7%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	124 (5.9%)	48.3	77^th of 220 public high schools	65.0%					(n/a)	3.5	63.3	63.3	3.5	$18,368	$914	$17,454
Watkins Mill High	Public, Magnet	9-12	10301 Apple Ridge Rd	Gaithersburg	20879	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 284-4400	1,577	114	13.8	51.7%	86 (5.5%)	355 (22.5%)	955 (60.6%)	130 (8.2%)	4 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	43 (2.7%)	25.3	150^th of 220 public high schools	31.8%					(n/a)	3.6	43.6	43.6	3.6	$21,020	$1,518	$19,502
Gaithersburg High	Public, Magnet	9-12	101 Education Blvd	Gaithersburg	20877	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 284-4500	2,441	175	13.9	55.7%	206 (8.4%)	485 (19.9%)	1,527 (62.6%)	145 (5.9%)	3 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	70 (2.9%)	24.3	153^rd of 220 public high schools	30.5%					(n/a)	6.2	42.8	42.8	6.2	$20,333	$1,272	$19,061
Clarksburg High	Public, Magnet	9-12	22500 Wims Rd	Clarksburg	20871	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-6000	2,241	131	17.0	36.9%	308 (13.7%)	625 (27.9%)	614 (27.4%)	572 (25.5%)	7 (0.3%)	3 (0.1%)	104 (4.6%)	50	73^rd of 220 public high schools	66.8%		56.3	38^th of 146 public high schools	74.0%	35	5.6	63.6	63.6	5.6	$18,789	$1,206	$17,583
Thomas S. Wootton High	Public	9-12	2100 Wootton Pkwy	Rockville	20850	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-1500	1,870	101	18.5	13.4%	635 (34.0%)	238 (12.7%)	174 (9.3%)	700 (37.4%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	113 (6.0%)	83.1	7^th of 220 public high schools	96.8%		85.5	2^nd of 146 public high schools	98.6%	5	5.5	85.7	85.7	5.5	$17,926	$1,166	$16,760
Poolesville High	Public, Magnet	9-12	17501 W Willard Rd	Poolesville	20837	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-2400	1,351	67	20.2	12.1%	493 (36.5%)	109 (8.1%)	130 (9.6%)	512 (37.9%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	102 (7.5%)	87.9	2^nd of 220 public high schools	99.1%		84.5	3^rd of 146 public high schools	97.9%	1	20.8	92.5	92.5	20.8	$17,621	$1,014	$16,607
Richard Montgomery High	Public, Magnet	9-12	250 Richard Montgomery Dr	Rockville	20852	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-6100	2,366	134	17.6	29.3%	653 (27.6%)	367 (15.5%)	627 (26.5%)	555 (23.5%)	7 (0.3%)	1 (0.0%)	143 (6.0%)	63	32^nd of 220 public high schools	85.5%		55.8	41^st of 146 public high schools	71.9%	9	5.2	73.8	73.8	5.2	$17,472	$1,056	$16,417
Col. Zadok Magruder High	Public, Magnet	9-12	5939 Muncaster Mill Rd	Rockville	20855	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-5550	1,671	109	15.3	48.2%	343 (20.5%)	321 (19.2%)	734 (43.9%)	195 (11.7%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (4.2%)	43.5	94^th of 220 public high schools	57.3%					(n/a)	1.4	61.6	61.6	1.4	$20,372	$1,605	$18,767

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest High

What district is Northwest High in?

Montgomery County Public Schools

How many students attend Northwest High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,300 students attended Northwest High.

What is the racial makeup of Northwest High?

Students at Northwest High are 26% African American, 26% Hispanic, 21% White, 20% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Northwest High?

Northwest High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Clopper Mill Elementary
Elementary : Darnestown Elementary
Elementary : Diamond Elementary
Elementary : Dr. Ronald E. McNair Elementary
Elementary : Germantown Elementary
Elementary : Great Seneca Creek Elementary
Elementary : Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary
Middle : Kingsview Middle
Middle : Lakelands Park Middle

Is Northwest High a good school?

Northwest High ranks 31^st of 220 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Northwest High!

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Schools in Germantown, MD

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.