Five of MCPS’ 25 high schools are listed in the top 100 on the national High School Challenge rankings. They are Bethesda-Chevy Chase (59), Richard Montgomery (65), Poolesville (69), Walter Johnson (82), and Winston Churchill (98). All MCPS high schools are among the top 1,000 on the national list.

In the regional rankings, MCPS’ performance is especially impressive, with five MCPS high schools ranked among the top ten schools in the D.C. region and two additional schools, Thomas S. Wootton and Walt Whitman, in the top 20. All MCPS high schools are in the top 100 regionally.

In addition, eight MCPS high schools are among the top ten ranked schools in Maryland and all 25 high schools fall within the top 56 on the Maryland list. Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School is ranked first in the state.

“I am proud of the outstanding performance of our students and schools on the High School Challenge,” said Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools. “These results reflect the continuing commitment of the Board of Education to providing all students with access to college-level work so that they are better prepared for college and the workforce.”

“It is a tribute to our students, teachers, administrators and supporting services staff that every one of our high schools is ranked in the top 100 in this region,” said Christopher Barclay, president of the Board of Education. “This is truly a school district where expectations are high for all students.”

MCPS high schools made substantial gains on the national list from last year, notably Northwood High School (up 326 places compared to 2010), Seneca Valley High School (up 232 places), and Watkins Mill High School (up 117 places).

The High School Challenge has expanded this year to include the national rankings formerly published in Newsweek.  The Challenge Index is a measure devised 14 years ago by Washington Post reporter Jay Mathews to rank high schools on their success in effectively preparing students for college. The ranking formula divides the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other college-level tests a school gave in 2010 by the number of graduating seniors.

Detailed results for MCPS high schools on the High School Challenge are shown in the attached tables.