Best Schools in Silver Spring, Maryland
81 schools · 59 Elementary · 10 Middle · 10 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Silver Spring?
Use this page to compare every school in Silver Spring by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Westover Elementary
Elementary · Montgomery County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary
Elementary · Montgomery County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Takoma Park Middle
Middle · Montgomery County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Silver Spring for 2026 are Westover Elementary (8.9/10), Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary (8.9/10), and Takoma Park Middle (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
81
53 public · 28 private
Avg Score
6.8
out of 10
Median Home
$568,400
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
81
53 public · 28 private
Avg Score
6.8
out of 10
Median Home
$568,400
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 51% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Silver Spring schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Silver Spring
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 81). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westover Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Takoma Park Middle | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Forest Knolls Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Flora M. Singer Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Barrie School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Eastern Middle | 8.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Oakland Terrace Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 9 | The Siena School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Highland View Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.8/10
- Median household income
- $105,911
- Median home value
- $568,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 51%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
43% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Silver Spring compares
Maryland rank
#54 of 141
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.5
above Maryland avg (6.3)
Median household income
$106k
96% of Maryland median
Schools in this city
69
Education Snapshot
Silver Spring, MarylandSilver Spring channels all 81 of its schools through a single district, enrolling roughly 45,847 students across 59 elementary, 10 middle, and 10 high schools. Of the 69 schools scored on MySchoolScout, the city averages 6.8/10 — 0.5 points above Maryland's 6.3/10 state average — and that edge doesn't trace to income: at $112,098, Silver Spring's median household income sits at virtual parity with Maryland's $111,838 state median, so no wealth premium inflates the numbers. The more likely driver is educational attainment: 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, a rate that correlates with higher school-level civic engagement. For parents comparing Maryland cities, the combination — above-average composite rating, a large 46,000-student enrollment base, and single-district governance — signals that Silver Spring produces stronger outcomes at scale rather than in a small, self-selecting pocket of high-performing schools.
About Schools in Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring, Maryland offers one of the more substantial public school landscapes in the region, with 53 ranked public schools spanning elementary through high school. The city's average school score of 6.7 out of 10 sits comfortably above the midpoint, and the distribution leans positive — 21 schools, or 40% of all ranked schools, score 7 or higher. That means parents have a real range of strong options to consider, not just one or two standouts carrying the city's numbers.
All five top-rated schools in Silver Spring are elementary schools, which reflects where the city's academic performance concentrates most visibly. Highland View Elementary leads the city with a 9.5 out of 10, placing it among the highest-performing schools in the area by a clear margin. Westover Elementary follows at 8.7, with Strathmore, Cloverly, and Forest Knolls Elementary all clustered at 8.5 to 8.6. The closeness of those scores means families zoned for any of those four schools are working with comparable academic environments.
Most of Silver Spring falls under Montgomery County Public Schools, one of Maryland's largest and most resourced districts. That district context matters — Montgomery County schools generally score well against statewide peers, and Silver Spring's 6.7 average reflects that baseline. Still, performance varies meaningfully across the city. With 40% of schools at 7 or above and others scoring lower, address-level research matters more than city-level averages alone.
For parents in the early stages of a search, the practical takeaway is straightforward. Elementary options in Silver Spring are particularly strong, and families who prioritize those early years have several high-scoring schools to evaluate. Parents of middle or high school students should look closely at individual school scores rather than assuming the city average applies uniformly. Checking which schools fall within a specific address's attendance zone — and comparing those schools' individual scores against the city's 6.7 average — will give the clearest picture of what's actually available.
Elementary Schools
59 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 299 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 466 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 |
| 3 | 492 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 |
| 4 | 618 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 5 | 501 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.4 |
| 6 | 380 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 7 | 471 students · 3rd–5th | 8.3 |
| 8 | 667 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.3 |
| 9 | 525 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 10 | 619 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
Show all 59 elementary schools in Silver Spring
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,124 students · 6th–8th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 910 students · 6th–8th | 8.5 |
| 3 | 702 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 4 | 1,062 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
| 5 | 981 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
| 6 | 868 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
| 7 | 805 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
| 8 | 919 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
| 9 | 991 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
| 10 | 771 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,809 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 1,874 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 3 | 2,747 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 4 | 3,261 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 5 | 1,745 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 6 | 1,854 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
| Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 154 students · 7th–12th | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | The Nora School
Private
65 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 3 | Pathways School--edgewood
Private
29 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 4 | 1 students · 10th–10th | — | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrie School
Private
231 students · Pre-K–12th | 8.6 |
| 2 | The Siena School
Private
149 students · 4th–12th | 8.4 |
Schools in Silver Spring
Silver Spring, Maryland · 81 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 8 ZIP codes
Median Income
$105,911
Median Home Value
$568,400
Median Rent
$1,875/mo
Population
333,300
College Educated
51%
Homeownership
57%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Community Profile
Silver Spring has a median household income of $105,911. It is a well-educated community where 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $568,400, with a median rent of $1,875/month. The local poverty rate of 9.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Maryland
- Elementary
- 59
- Middle
- 10
- High
- 10
- Other
- 2
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Maryland
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Silver Spring, Maryland
How many schools are in Silver Spring, Maryland?
Silver Spring has 81 schools, including 53 public and 28 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Silver Spring, Maryland?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Silver Spring is 6.8 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Silver Spring, Maryland?
The top-ranked school in Silver Spring on MySchoolScout is Westover Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Silver Spring, Maryland?
The top-ranked elementary school in Silver Spring on MySchoolScout is Westover Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Silver Spring, Maryland?
The top-ranked middle school in Silver Spring on MySchoolScout is Takoma Park Middle with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best high school in Silver Spring, Maryland?
The top-ranked high school in Silver Spring on MySchoolScout is James Hubert Blake High with a composite score of 7.8/10.
How many school districts serve Silver Spring, Maryland?
Silver Spring is served by 1 school district: Montgomery County Public Schools.
What is the education level in Silver Spring, Maryland?
According to Census data, 51% of adults in Silver Spring have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Silver Spring, Maryland?
The median household income in Silver Spring is approximately $105,911 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Silver Spring, Maryland?
Yes, Silver Spring has 28 private schools alongside 53 public schools. The top-rated private school is Barrie School with a score of 8.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Silver Spring, Maryland?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Silver Spring is 11.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Silver Spring, Maryland?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Maryland Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.