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Very Good

#327 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 24% in state

Poolesville High

High School · Montgomery County Public Schools · Poolesville, MD

A Montgomery County Public Schools high school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.

17501 W Willard Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837

  • Math 21% vs MD 30% (2025)
  • Reading 93% vs MD 51% (2025)
  • 99%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.6Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.01 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.9Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency20.8% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency92.5% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg-9.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+41.4 pts
Overall Proficiency57% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)66% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-8.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile55th
College Readiness9.9Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate99%+
AP Participation73.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.6Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.6:1
District spending per student$19,456
Chronic Absenteeism19.7%

Students at Poolesville High score 57% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 MCAP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MD average.

Math Proficiency21%(2025 MCAP)
School
State
30%(2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency93%(2025 MCAP)
School
State
51%(2025 MCAP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 31 points since 2020, to 57% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
98%
ELA
97%
2010
Math
100%
ELA
95%
2011
Math
98%
ELA
96%
2012
Math
98%
ELA
96%
2013
Math
98%
ELA
96%
2014
Math
96%
ELA
93%
2015
Math
96%
ELA
96%
2016
Math
95%
ELA
72%
2018
Math
84%
ELA
86%
2019
Math
84%
ELA
86%
2020*
Math
86%
ELA
89%
2021*
Math
86%
ELA
89%
2022
Math
79%
ELA
85%
2025
Math
21%
ELA
93%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 87% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 91% (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 28 test records from MD state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

10.6%

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 Poolesville 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 30Car-Dependent
  • Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

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

Median income

$191,927

Median home value

$701,000

Median rent

$1,879/mo

College educated

61.1%

Homeownership

92.5%

Poverty rate

8.1%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20837; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
73.4% participation·State avg: 3.1 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics16sports offered
8 boys'·8 girls'·28 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 in Montgomery County Public Schools

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Bethesda-chevy Chase HighEnrollment path unverified7.89–12Not available2,369Compare →
Quince Orchard HighEnrollment path unverified7.99–12Not available2,150Compare →
Rockville HighEnrollment path unverified8.29–12Not available1,538Compare →
Walt Whitman HighEnrollment path unverified8.19–12Not available2,042Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Montgomery County Public Schools

Schools in district
211
Rank in district
#91 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

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

About Poolesville High

Poolesville High is a public high school in Poolesville, MD, part of Montgomery County Public Schools, serving approximately 1,332 students in grades 9th-12th with a 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10 and ranks #327 of 1,363 schools in MD. State assessment records show 87% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 91% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Poolesville High

What grades does Poolesville High serve?

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

How many students attend Poolesville High?

Poolesville High has an enrollment of approximately 1,332 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Poolesville High?

The student-teacher ratio at Poolesville High is 19.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Poolesville High rank in MD?

Poolesville High ranks #327 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Poolesville High's MySchoolScout rating?

Poolesville High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 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 Poolesville High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Poolesville High has 87% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 91% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Poolesville High a charter school?

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

Is Poolesville High a Title I school?

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

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

10.6% of students at Poolesville 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
1,332
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
68
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Town
County
Montgomery County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
19.7%
4-Year Graduation
99%+
Area population (ZIP 20837)
6,605
Area median age
46
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 · 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.
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 20837; 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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