Summary:
Zip code 21701 in Frederick, MD, is home to three public high schools—Gov. Thomas Johnson High, Frederick High, and Linganore High—serving grades 9-12 within the Frederick County Public Schools district, which ranks in the top 20% of Maryland districts.
Linganore High is the standout school in the area, earning a 4-star rating and ranking 46th out of 227 high schools statewide (80th percentile). It excels in English Language Arts, with 76.1% of students proficient—far above the state average of 51.7%—and boasts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 14.8%. In contrast, Frederick High has shown remarkable improvement, climbing from the 8th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 54th percentile in 2025-2026, despite having the highest poverty rate (59.5% free/reduced lunch) and a graduation rate of 88.4%. Gov. Thomas Johnson High is the most volatile performer, with rankings swinging from the 49th percentile to the 14th percentile in recent years, and it struggles significantly in math, with only 11.1% of students proficient.
Math proficiency is a universal challenge across all three schools, with none reaching the state average of 27.1%. However, Frederick High shows a curious spike in Algebra II proficiency (50%), suggesting only top students take that course. Spending per student varies from $15,217 at Linganore High to $17,662 at Gov. Thomas Johnson High, but higher spending does not correlate with better outcomes—Linganore outperforms despite lower funding. Overall, Linganore High is the top choice for strong ELA performance and stability, while Frederick High is a school on the rise worth watching.
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