Summary:
Zip code 20901 in Silver Spring, Maryland, is home to a single large high school, Montgomery Blair High, which serves grades 9-12 and is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district.
Montgomery Blair High presents a striking paradox. The school is a standout for its English Language Arts (ELA) performance, with 73% of students proficient, far exceeding both the district (58.5%) and state (51.7%) averages. However, math proficiency is critically low at just 7.9%, dramatically below the district (36.9%) and state (27.1%). This 65-percentage-point gap between ELA and math is the school's most defining feature. The school's state ranking has improved rapidly, jumping from the 44th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 83rd percentile in 2025-2026, likely driven by its strong ELA scores. Despite this rising prestige, the school struggles with a dropout rate of 13.5% and a chronic absenteeism rate of 33.7%, both significantly worse than district averages.
Key metrics paint a complex picture. The graduation rate is 85.4%, below the district's 88.7%, and 43.63% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school spends $17,726 per student, a substantial amount that raises questions about resource allocation given the low math results. The student-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. The extremely low math proficiency, based on the Algebra I End-of-Course exam, suggests a fundamental challenge in ensuring students master foundational concepts. In essence, Montgomery Blair High appears to be a school of two halves: one group excels in ELA and boosts the school's ranking, while another significant portion struggles with math, attendance, and staying in school, creating a complex environment for families to evaluate.
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