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Average

#594 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 44% in state

Northwood High

High School · Montgomery County Public Schools · Silver Spring, MD

A Montgomery County Public Schools high school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.

919 University Blvd W, Silver Spring, MD 20901

  • Math 23% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 53% vs MD 51% (2025)
  • 84.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.1Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.78 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.3Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency23% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency52.9% (2025 MCAP)
Reading vs. State Avg+1.8 pts
Overall Proficiency38% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected+5.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile61th
College Readiness6.9Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate84%
AP Participation31.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.9Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.5:1
District spending per student$19,456
Chronic Absenteeism48.1%

Students at Northwood High score 38% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 MCAP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.

Math Proficiency23%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency53%(2025 MCAP)
School
State
51%(2025 MCAP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 53% in 2025.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
75%
ELA
81%
2010
Math
80%
ELA
76%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
80%
2012
Math
81%
ELA
80%
2013
Math
81%
ELA
76%
2014
Math
76%
ELA
72%
2015
Math
70%
ELA
64%
2016
Math
66%
ELA
29%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
49%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
49%
2020*
Math
22%
ELA
58%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
58%
2022
Math
23%
ELA
63%
2025
ELA
53%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 63% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 27 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

60.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Northwood High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Washington DC map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 33Car-Dependent
  • Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$127,133

Median home value

$571,300

Median rent

$1,785/mo

College educated

56.4%

Homeownership

69.1%

Poverty rate

9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20901; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
31.5% participation·State avg: 3.1 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics16sports offered
8 boys'·8 girls'·27 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Pathways HorizonsPrivate · tuitionNot rated6–120.2 mi27Compare →
Pathways School--edgewoodPrivate · tuitionNot rated9–120.3 mi29Compare →
Yeshiva of Greater Washington Boys DivisionPrivate · tuition6.77–120.6 mi152Compare →
The Siena SchoolPrivate · tuition8.44–121.3 mi149Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Montgomery County Public Schools

Schools in district
211
Rank in district
#136 of 206
District spending per student
$19,456NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
8.4%Census SAIPE · 2024

Northwood High is listed in Montgomery County Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Northwood High

Northwood High is a public high school in Silver Spring, MD, part of Montgomery County Public Schools, serving approximately 1,745 students in grades 9th-12th with a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #594 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Northwood High

What grades does Northwood High serve?

Northwood High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Northwood High?

Northwood High has an enrollment of approximately 1,745 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwood High?

The student-teacher ratio at Northwood High is 13.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northwood High rank in MD?

Northwood High ranks #594 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Northwood High's MySchoolScout rating?

Northwood High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Northwood High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Northwood High has 57% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Northwood High a charter school?

No, Northwood High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Northwood High a Title I school?

No, Northwood High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northwood High?

60.1% of students at Northwood High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,745
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
129
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Montgomery County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
48.1%
4-Year Graduation
84.0%
Area population (ZIP 20901)
37,338
Area average commute
33.4 min
Area median age
39.7
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 MCAP · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 20901; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022, multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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