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Damascus High

Q: Is Damascus High a good school?

Damascus High ranks 45 th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

45^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 227 Maryland High Schools

Better than 80% of Maryland high schools

Summary

Damascus High in Damascus, MD, is a public high school serving 1,390 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district. The school stands out for its exceptional English Language Arts (ELA) performance, with 73.2% of students proficient—far exceeding the district average of 58.5% and on par with top nearby schools like Clarksburg High (69.1%) and Northwest High (73%). However, this strength contrasts sharply with a critically low mathematics proficiency rate of just 5%, which is dramatically below the district average of 36.9% and the lowest among its MCPS neighbors, including Gaithersburg High (10.8%) and Watkins Mill High (5.4%).

Despite these academic challenges, Damascus boasts a strong graduation rate of 93.1% for the 2024-2025 school year, the highest among its immediate MCPS neighbors, and a low dropout rate of 3.1%. Yet, the school also reports a high chronic absenteeism rate of 34.4%, significantly above the district average of 22.6% and second only to Gaithersburg High (51.0%) in the area. This combination of high graduation and high absenteeism raises questions about whether students are truly mastering material, especially given the low math scores. When compared to nearby Frederick County schools like Urbana High (64.3% math proficiency, 93% ELA, 12.2% chronic absenteeism) and Oakdale High, Damascus falls short across all academic metrics, despite spending $20,784 per student—higher than Urbana's $14,432.

The school's performance trends are moving in opposite directions: ELA proficiency has steadily risen from 60.7% to 73.2% over four years, while math proficiency has plummeted from 11.9% to 5%. This suggests a potential issue with math instruction or curriculum that warrants investigation, especially since only 5% of students are proficient in Algebra I. Parents should note that while Damascus excels in ELA and graduation rates, the low math scores and high absenteeism are significant concerns that may require additional support or intervention for students, particularly when compared to top-performing schools in neighboring districts like Frederick County Public Schools.

1,390

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,784

Per pupil spending ?

30.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

25921 Ridge Rd
Damascus, MD 20872-1846

(240) 207-2400

District: Montgomery County Public Schools

Feeder schools for Damascus High:

Elementary:	Cedar Grove Elementary
	Clearspring Elementary
	Damascus Elementary
	Lois P. Rockwell Elementary
	More...
	Woodfield Elementary
Middle:	Hallie Wells Middle
	John T. Baker Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

37.8%

Hispanic:

30.6%

African American:

13.4%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare Damascus High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 70th percentile in 2012 → 80th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Maryland high schools

✓93% graduate within 4 years

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2012

Worth a look

!Mathematics scores 22 pts below the Maryland average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school43%

District avg47%

Maryland avg38%

45^th of 227

Maryland public high schools ?

Top 20%▲ up 6 pts since 2016

From top 26% (2016) to top 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Maryland High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

12^th of 26High Schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools

8^th of 24Montgomery 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	60.0	45 of 227	80.2%	★★★★☆
2025	54.6	51 of 220	76.8%	★★★★☆
2024	61.6	28 of 146	80.8%	★★★★☆
2022	58.4	46 of 225	79.6%	★★★★☆
2019	51.1	64 of 138	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	66.8	61 of 233	73.8%	★★★★☆
2015	76.8	17 of 233	92.7%	★★★★★
2014	77.5	55 of 231	76.2%	★★★★☆
2013	73.7	48 of 185	74.1%	★★★★☆
2012	73.3	56 of 187	70.1%	★★★★☆
2011	68.2	71 of 183	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	72.7	68 of 220	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	80.1	26 of 213	87.8%	★★★★☆
2008	78.4	40 of 214	81.3%	★★★★☆
2007	73.4	38 of 209	81.8%	★★★★☆
2006	66.1	56 of 204	72.5%	★★★★☆
2005	65.7	42 of 204	79.4%	★★★★☆
2004	49.7	77 of 201	61.7%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Maryland (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts73%+21 vs state

Mathematics5%-22 vs state

Algebra I5%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Damascus 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 (2025)	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
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
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%)	56.7	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	160^th of 227 public high schools	29.5%		25.3	150^th of 220 public high schools	31.8%	10	5.4	44.9	44.9	5.4			$21,020	$1,518	$19,502
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
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	91^st of 227 public high schools	59.9%		40.5	105^th of 220 public high schools	52.3%	14	3.8	56.5	56.5	3.8			$19,473	$1,318	$18,155
Oakdale High	Public	9-12	5850 Eaglehead Drive	Ijamsville	21754	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-3400	1,702	88	19.4	17.6%	976 (57.3%)	207 (12.2%)	218 (12.8%)	187 (11.0%)	6 (0.4%)	4 (0.2%)	102 (6.0%)	77.3	14^th of 227 public high schools	93.8%		66.5	26^th of 220 public high schools	88.2%	12	44.1	91.8	91.8	32.4	70.8	53.0	$15,052	$816	$14,236
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
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	149^th of 227 public high schools	34.4%		24.3	153^rd of 220 public high schools	30.5%	4	10.8	45.1	45.1	10.8			$20,333	$1,272	$19,061
Linganore High	Public	9-12	12013 Old Annapolis Rd	Frederick	21701	Frederick County	Frederick County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(227) 203-3500	1,647	85	19.4	16.7%	1,167 (70.9%)	94 (5.7%)	209 (12.7%)	91 (5.5%)	5 (0.3%)	3 (0.2%)	78 (4.7%)	59.3	46^th of 227 public high schools	79.7%		59.1	41^st of 220 public high schools	81.4%	5	25.4	76.1	76.1	10.0	76.7	51.2	$15,217	$730	$14,487
Glenelg High	Public	9-12	14025 Burnt Woods Rd	Glenelg	21737	Howard County	Howard County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(410) 313-5528	1,363	79	17.2	10.2%	805 (59.1%)	81 (5.9%)	104 (7.6%)	273 (20.0%)	4 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	87 (6.4%)	63.5	33^rd of 227 public high schools	85.5%		72.7	18^th of 220 public high schools	91.8%	15	26.9	90.0	90.0	13.7	32.3		$18,024	$840	$17,184

Frequently Asked Questions about Damascus High

What district is Damascus High in?

Montgomery County Public Schools

Is Damascus High a good school?

Damascus High ranks 45^th of 227 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Damascus High?

Damascus High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Cedar Grove Elementary
Elementary : Clearspring Elementary
Elementary : Damascus Elementary
Elementary : Lois P. Rockwell Elementary
Elementary : Woodfield Elementary
Middle : Hallie Wells Middle
Middle : John T. Baker Middle School

How many students attend Damascus High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,390 students attended Damascus High.

What is the racial makeup of Damascus High?

Students at Damascus High are 38% White, 31% Hispanic, 13% African American, 11% Asian, 7% Two or more races.

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Latest Maryland data All new data »

2025–26 MCAP test scoresJul 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.