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Poolesville High

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

5^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 98% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Poolesville High is a top-tier public high school in the rural town of Poolesville, Maryland, serving 1,351 students in grades 9-12 as part of the highly-regarded Montgomery County Public Schools district. This school consistently earns a 5-star rating and ranks in the top 5% of all Maryland high schools, with an exceptional 94.5% of students proficient in English Language Arts—far exceeding the district average of 58.5% and the state average of 51.7%. This performance is notably higher than nearby high-performing peers like Winston Churchill High (91.5%) and Thomas S. Wootton High (87%), and dramatically surpasses schools like Gaithersburg High and Watkins Mill High.

However, a striking "math paradox" emerges: while ELA scores are world-class, only 15.5% of students are proficient in math, which is below the state average (27.1%) and district average (36.9%). This pattern is common across MCPS high schools—for instance, Winston Churchill (10.3%) and Wootton (8.6%) show similarly low math scores—but it stands in stark contrast to Urbana High in Frederick County Public Schools, which achieves 64.3% math proficiency. This suggests the low math scores are likely a district-wide issue related to testing policies or course-taking patterns, not a reflection of Poolesville's overall quality.

Poolesville also stands out for its efficiency: it spends $17,621 per student, less than lower-performing schools like Watkins Mill ($21,020) and Gaithersburg ($20,333), while achieving top-tier results. The school has a low chronic absenteeism rate (20.8%) compared to the district average (22.6%) and far below schools like Gaithersburg (51.0%). While the school excels overall, data from 2020-2021 shows that performance for White students (3 stars) was lower than for Male (5 stars) and Female (4 stars) students, indicating room for growth in ensuring all demographic groups achieve at the same high level.

1,351

Students ?

20.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,621

Per pupil spending ?

12.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

17501 W Willard Rd
Poolesville, MD 20837-2006

(240) 740-2400

District: Montgomery County Public Schools

Feeder schools for Poolesville High:

Elementary:	Monocacy Elementary
	Poolesville Elementary
Middle:	John Poole Middle

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

37.9%

White:

36.5%

Hispanic:

9.6%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 99th percentile in 2015 → 98th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Maryland average (74% vs 38% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 2% of Maryland high schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Montgomery County Public Schools

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Mathematics scores 12 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school74%

District avg47%

Maryland avg38%

5^th of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 2%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 26High 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
2026	85.5	5 of 227	97.8%	★★★★★
2025	87.9	2 of 220	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	84.5	3 of 146	97.9%	★★★★★
2023	71.8	14 of 127	89.0%	★★★★☆
2022	88.6	3 of 225	98.7%	★★★★★
2021	90.2	4 of 32	87.5%	★★★★★
2019	85.6	6 of 138	95.7%	★★★★★
2017	85.9	10 of 180	94.4%	★★★★★
2016	83.1	10 of 233	95.7%	★★★★★
2015	86.2	2 of 233	99.1%	★★★★★
2014	80.8	24 of 231	89.6%	★★★★★
2013	83.0	20 of 185	89.2%	★★★★☆
2012	82.5	14 of 187	92.5%	★★★★★
2011	85.3	14 of 183	92.3%	★★★★★
2010	85.6	10 of 220	95.5%	★★★★★
2009	80.3	25 of 213	88.3%	★★★★☆
2008	83.1	14 of 214	93.5%	★★★★★
2007	79.0	18 of 209	91.4%	★★★★★
2006	77.0	25 of 204	87.7%	★★★★☆
2005	77.3	12 of 204	94.1%	★★★★★
2004	59.0	21 of 201	89.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	86.5	5 of 31	83.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	91.8	4 of 35	88.6%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	74.6	13 of 40	67.5%	★★★☆☆

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)89th percentile~ school

Female (2021)84th percentile-4 vs school

White (2021)68th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts94%+43 vs state

Mathematics16%-12 vs state

Algebra I16%-6 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★2

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3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Very hands on. Close Quote

Schools Near Poolesville High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MCAP Mathematics (2026)	MCAP English Language Arts (2026)		MCAP Algebra I (2026)	MCAP Algebra II (2026)	MCAP Geometry (2026)	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 (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	MCAP Geometry End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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%)	85.5	5^th of 227 public high schools	97.8%		87.9	2^nd of 220 public high schools	99.1%	3	15.5	94.5	94.5	15.5			$17,621	$1,014	$16,607
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%)	64.1	31^st of 227 public high schools	86.3%		63.3	31^st of 220 public high schools	85.9%		17.9	73.0	73.0	17.9			$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%)	44.7	90^th of 227 public high schools	60.4%		40.5	105^th of 220 public high schools	52.3%	15	3.8	56.5	56.5	3.8			$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%)	61.1	42^nd of 227 public high schools	81.5%		48.3	77^th of 220 public high schools	65.0%	35	11.2	74.2	74.2	11.2			$18,368	$914	$17,454
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%)	56.8	55^th of 227 public high schools	75.8%		50	73^rd of 220 public high schools	66.8%	18	17.8	69.1	69.1	17.8			$18,789	$1,206	$17,583
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	159^th of 227 public high schools	30.0%		25.3	150^th of 220 public high schools	31.8%	9	5.4	44.9	44.9	5.4			$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%)	28.5	148^th of 227 public high schools	34.8%		24.3	153^rd of 220 public high schools	30.5%	5	10.8	45.1	45.1	10.8			$20,333	$1,272	$19,061
Urbana High	Public	9-12	3471 Campus Dr	Ijamsville	21754	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-3550	1,989	99	20.0	16.5%	940 (47.3%)	220 (11.1%)	255 (12.8%)	426 (21.4%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	141 (7.1%)	89.1	4^th of 227 public high schools	98.2%		83.2	6^th of 220 public high schools	97.3%	2	64.3	93.0	93.0	52.0	91.3	77.2	$14,432	$767	$13,664
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%)	80.4	12^th of 227 public high schools	94.7%		83.1	7^th of 220 public high schools	96.8%	5	8.6	87.0	87.0	8.6			$17,926	$1,166	$16,760
Damascus High	Public	9-12	25921 Ridge Rd	Damascus	20872	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 207-2400	1,390	86	16.1	30.6%	526 (37.8%)	186 (13.4%)	426 (30.6%)	152 (10.9%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	95 (6.8%)	60	45^th of 227 public high schools	80.2%		54.6	51^st of 220 public high schools	76.8%	6	5.0	73.2	73.2	5.0			$20,784	$1,610	$19,174

Frequently Asked Questions about Poolesville High

What district is Poolesville High in?

Montgomery County Public Schools

What schools feed into Poolesville High?

Poolesville High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Monocacy Elementary
Elementary : Poolesville Elementary
Middle : John Poole Middle

Is Poolesville High a good school?

Yes! Poolesville High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 5^th of 227 Maryland high schools.

How many students attend Poolesville High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,351 students attended Poolesville High.

What is the racial makeup of Poolesville High?

Students at Poolesville High are 38% Asian, 36% White, 10% Hispanic, 8% African American, 8% Two or more races.

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresNewJul 28, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 MCAP test scoresAug 26, 2025

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.