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Wheaton High

Q: Is Wheaton High a good school?

Wheaton High ranks 119 th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

119^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 48% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Wheaton High in Silver Spring, MD, is a large, diverse high school serving 2,794 students in grades 9-12 as part of the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools district, where over half of students qualify for free and reduced lunch.

Wheaton High stands out for its strong English Language Arts (ELA) program, with 59.5% of students proficient—a rate that actually exceeds the district average and is higher than nearby schools like John F. Kennedy High (42.4%) and Springbrook High (55%). However, math proficiency is a significant challenge at just 13.1%, which is far below the district average of 36.9%, though it is the highest among its most comparable high-poverty neighbors like Northwood High (2.6%) and Rockville High (6.5%). Chronic absenteeism affects 35% of students, which is high but not the worst in the area—schools like Albert Einstein High (41.4%) and John F. Kennedy High (48.9%) have even higher rates.

The school's state ranking has been volatile, dropping from a 72nd percentile (4-star) rating in 2021-2022 to its current 48th percentile (2-star) ranking, suggesting post-pandemic recovery challenges. The graduation rate of 83.2% is below the district average of 88.7% and has been declining, while the dropout rate has spiked to 13.2%. Interestingly, per-student spending at Wheaton ($17,330) is in the middle of its peer group, indicating that outcomes are more about program effectiveness than funding levels. The school's large size offers diverse course options, but the pronounced gap between strong ELA and weak math performance points to a need for targeted support in mathematics instruction.

2,794

Students ?

16.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,330

Per pupil spending ?

56.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

12401 Dalewood Dr
Silver Spring, MD 20906-4114

(301) 321-3400

District: Montgomery County Public Schools

Feeder schools for Wheaton High:

Elementary:	Arcola Elementary
	Bel Pre Elementary
	Brookhaven Elementary
	East Silver Spring Elementary
	More...
	Flora M. Singer Elementary
	Forest Knolls Elementary
	Georgian Forest Elementary
	Glen Haven Elementary
	Glenallan Elementary
	Harmony Hills Elementary
	Highland Elementary
	Highland View Elementary
	Kemp Mill Elementary
	Montgomery Knolls Elementary
	New Hampshire Estates Elementary
	Oak View Elementary
	Oakland Terrace Elementary
	Pine Crest Elementary
	Piney Branch Elementary
	Rock View Elementary
	Rolling Terrace Elementary
	Sargent Shriver Elementary
	Sligo Creek Elementary
	Strathmore Elementary
	Takoma Park Elementary
	Viers Mill Elementary
	Weller Road Elementary
	Wheaton Woods Elementary
	Woodlin Elementary
Middle:	A. Mario Loiederman Middle
	Argyle Middle
	Eastern Middle
	Newport Mill Middle
	More...
	Odessa Shannon Middle
	Parkland Middle
	Silver Spring International Middle
	Sligo Middle
	Takoma Park Middle

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

59.3%

African American:

19.2%

White:

9.6%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare Wheaton High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 44th percentile in 2012 → 48th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Maryland average (24% vs 38% meeting standards)

!Mathematics scores 14 pts below the Maryland average

!Near the bottom of Montgomery County Public Schools's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school24%

District avg47%

Maryland avg38%

119^th of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Bottom 48%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 42% (2016) to bottom 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

21^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	38.3	119 of 227	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.1	107 of 220	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.6	84 of 146	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.0	63 of 225	72.0%	★★★★☆
2018	33.2	109 of 197	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	43.1	136 of 233	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	48.2	130 of 233	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	66.0	112 of 231	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2013	37.0	129 of 185	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	55.1	105 of 187	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	38.0	129 of 183	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	59.2	123 of 220	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	48.2	142 of 213	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	46.7	143 of 214	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	50.5	109 of 209	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	45.5	122 of 204	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	37.8	133 of 204	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2004	46.7	103 of 201	48.8%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Maryland percentile	Rating
2021	78.8	12 of 40	70.0%	★★★★☆

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)

White (2021)70th percentile

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts60%+8 vs state

Mathematics13%-14 vs state

Algebra I13%-8 vs state

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by a parent
Monday, November 18, 2019

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Schools Near Wheaton 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)	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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wheaton High	Public, Magnet	9-12	12401 Dalewood Dr	Silver Spring	20906	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 321-3400	2,794	172	16.2	56.6%	269 (9.6%)	537 (19.2%)	1,656 (59.3%)	257 (9.2%)	4 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	66 (2.4%)	38.3	119^th of 227 public high schools	47.6%		40.1	107^th of 220 public high schools	51.4%	12	13.1	59.5	59.5	13.1	$17,330	$1,092	$16,237
Thomas Edison High School of Technology	Public	9-12	12501 Dalewood Dr	Silver Spring	20906	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-2000	0	32	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Albert Einstein High	Public, Magnet	9-12	11135 Newport Mill Rd	Kensington	20895	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-2700	1,991	134	14.8	42.4%	453 (22.8%)	318 (16.0%)	967 (48.6%)	135 (6.8%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	93 (4.7%)	45.2	88^th of 227 public high schools	61.2%		53.8	57^th of 220 public high schools	74.1%	31	10.1	59.7	59.7	10.1	$19,371	$1,200	$18,171
John F. Kennedy High	Public, Magnet	9-12	1901 Randolph Rd	Silver Spring	20902	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-0100	1,880	126	14.9	56.0%	80 (4.3%)	405 (21.5%)	1,277 (67.9%)	87 (4.6%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (1.4%)	25.2	162^nd of 227 public high schools	28.6%		17.7	182^nd of 220 public high schools	17.3%	20	8.7	42.4	42.4	8.7	$20,159	$1,338	$18,821
MCPS Transitions School	Public	12	11721 Kemp Mill Rd	Silver Spring	20902	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-5900	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Northwood High	Public, Magnet	9-12	11211 Old Georgetown Rd	Rockville	20852	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-6950	1,654	117	14.1	58.4%	173 (10.5%)	383 (23.2%)	983 (59.4%)	62 (3.7%)	4 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (2.4%)	40.8	107^th of 227 public high schools	52.9%		34.1	126^th of 220 public high schools	42.7%	19	2.6	59.6	59.6	2.6	$20,165	$1,326	$18,839
Rockville High	Public, Magnet	9-12	2100 Baltimore Rd	Rockville	20851	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-6600	1,550	105	14.7	46.7%	336 (21.7%)	229 (14.8%)	723 (46.6%)	173 (11.2%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	80 (5.2%)	49.3	71^st of 227 public high schools	68.7%		58.8	42^nd of 220 public high schools	80.9%	29	6.5	68.8	68.8	6.5	$21,353	$1,369	$19,983
Springbrook High	Public, Magnet	9-12	201 Valley Brook Dr	Silver Spring	20904	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-3800	1,838	119	15.3	59.9%	78 (4.2%)	671 (36.5%)	845 (46.0%)	188 (10.2%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	50 (2.7%)	38.3	118^th of 227 public high schools	48.0%		40.5	104^th of 220 public high schools	52.7%	14	12.5	55.0	55.0	12.5	$18,609	$1,111	$17,497
Rock Terrace School	Public	6-12	11400 Marcliff Rd	Rockville	20852	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-4650	77	21	3.5	49.4%	18 (23.4%)	25 (32.5%)	22 (28.6%)	10 (13.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.6%)								(n/a)					$84,418	$5,196	$79,222
Alternative Programs	Public	6-12	14501 Avery Road	Rockville	20853	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-5000	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	8.7	223^rd of 227 public high schools	1.8%					(n/a)	0.0	21.7	21.7	0.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Wheaton High

What is the racial makeup of Wheaton High?

Students at Wheaton High are 59% Hispanic, 19% African American, 10% White, 9% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Wheaton High in?

Montgomery County Public Schools

How many students attend Wheaton High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,794 students attended Wheaton High.

What schools feed into Wheaton High?

Is Wheaton High a good school?

Wheaton High ranks 119^th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Wheaton High!

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MDMaryland District Rankings

Schools in Silver Spring, MD

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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.