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Very Good

#403 of 1,363 schools in MD

Top 30% in state

Walter Johnson High

High School · Montgomery County Public Schools

6400 Rock Spring Dr, Bethesda, MD 20814

Enrollment

2,984

Student-Teacher

18.8:1

Score

7.5

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Maryland schools

#403 of 1,363

In Bethesda

#17 of 17

public schools

In district

#108 of 206

Montgomery County Public Schools

Academic growth

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Walter Johnson High

7.5/10

High School in Bethesda · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Ashburton Elementary

8.2/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Fernwood Montessori School

Nearby

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Walter Johnson High

Walter Johnson High is a public high school in Bethesda, MD, part of Montgomery County Public Schools. Walter Johnson High serves approximately 2,984 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Walter Johnson High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #403 of 1,363 schools in MD.

Structured state assessment records for Walter Johnson High show 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

What's said publicly about Walter Johnson High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

Walter Johnson High School is a public high school located in Bethesda, Maryland 2 . The institution was founded in 1956 2 . It was named after Walter Johnson, an American baseball player who lived in Montgomery County, Maryland 2 . The school holds the distinction of being the first high school named after a Major League Baseball player 2 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 7.5 · Very Good
  • District avg 6.9
  • MD avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

Walter Johnson High is a large school: 2,984 students. Size usually brings more course choices and activities than a smaller school can staff, but kids can also blend into the crowd. Ask how the school keeps students known and supported.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.4Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.39 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.2Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency11.6% (2025 MCAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency84.4% (2025 MCAP)
Math vs. State Avg-18.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+33.3 pts
Overall Proficiency48% (2025 MCAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)61% (model expectation from 2025 MCAP)
vs. Expected-12.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile46th
College Readiness9.4Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate95%
AP Participation54.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.0Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,456
Chronic Absenteeism22.3%

Walter Johnson High — Students at Walter Johnson High score 48% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

18.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MD MCAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 82.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
30.2% (2025 MCAP)
ELA Proficiency 88.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
51.1% (2025 MCAP)

Based on 28 test records from MD state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
95%
ELA
94%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
94%
2011
Math
95%
ELA
94%
2012
Math
96%
ELA
96%
2013
Math
96%
ELA
97%
2014
Math
96%
ELA
93%
2015
Math
95%
ELA
93%
2016
Math
94%
ELA
66%
2018
Math
78%
ELA
87%
2019
Math
78%
ELA
87%
2020*
Math
82%
ELA
84%
2021*
Math
82%
ELA
84%
2022
Math
67%
ELA
80%
2025
Math
11.6%
ELA
84.4%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.4/10.

How Walter Johnson High Compares

See how Walter Johnson High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.5/10
71th percentile in MD
Academic
6.2/10
Average
Growth
9.4/10
Excellent
Environment
4.0/10
Below Average
AP Courses
4
State avg: 3.1
Sports
17
8 boys' · 9 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
18%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
159 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
22.3%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4 AP courses offered
54.3% participation·State avg: 3.1 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics17sports offered
8 boys'·9 girls'·30 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

6400 Rock Spring Dr, Bethesda, MD 20814

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Walter Johnson High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. GEORGETOWN PREPARATORY SCHOOL (rated 6.7/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby North Bethesda), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Rock Terrace School (rated 3.6/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Rockville), a more accessible option. For more schools in Bethesda, see our Bethesda schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Ashburton Elementary Bethesda 0.5 mi 8.2
FERNWOOD MONTESSORI SCHOOL Bethesda 0.5 mi
ALEF BET MONTESSORI SCHOOL INC. Rockville 0.7 mi 6.9
MANOR MONTESSORI SCHOOL-ROCKVILLE Rockville 1.0 mi
Tilden Middle Rockville 1.1 mi 8.0
Rock Terrace School Rockville 1.1 mi 3.6
Woodlin Elementary Bethesda 0.9 mi 8.1
Wyngate Elementary Bethesda 1.1 mi 8.9
Luxmanor Elementary Rockville 1.3 mi 8.7
ST JANE DE CHANTAL SCHOOL Bethesda 1.2 mi 6.8
THE WOODS ACADEMY Bethesda 1.3 mi 7.6
ROCHAMBEAU-THE FRENCH INTL SCHOOL Bethesda 1.2 mi 7.0
GEORGETOWN PREPARATORY SCHOOL North Bethesda 1.2 mi 6.7
BETHESDA COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Bethesda 1.3 mi 4.9
North Bethesda Middle Bethesda 1.5 mi 8.6
THE DIENER SCHOOL North Bethesda 1.6 mi 6.3
EXECUTIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER Rockville 1.6 mi
Farmland Elementary Rockville 1.7 mi 8.4
CHARLES E SMITH JEWISH DAY SCHOOL Rockville 1.9 mi 5.8
Bradley Hills Elementary Bethesda 1.9 mi 9.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 20814 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$150,401

Median Home Value

$976,500

Median Rent

$2,329/mo

Population

30,822

College Educated

84.3%

Homeownership

52.6%

Avg Commute

28.1 min

Poverty Rate

3.8%

Median Age

41.3

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Eleanor Roosevelt High Greenbelt, MD 7.6
Broadneck High Annapolis, MD 7.3
Northwest High Germantown, MD 7.3
Thomas S. Wootton High Rockville, MD 7.7
Albert Einstein High Kensington, MD 7.2
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High Bethesda, MD 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Walter Johnson High

What grades does Walter Johnson High serve?

Walter Johnson High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Walter Johnson High?

Walter Johnson High has an enrollment of approximately 2,984 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter Johnson High?

The student-teacher ratio at Walter Johnson High is 18.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Walter Johnson High rank in MD?

Walter Johnson High ranks #403 of 1,363 schools in MD.

What is Walter Johnson High's MySchoolScout rating?

Walter Johnson High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 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 Walter Johnson High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Walter Johnson High has 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Walter Johnson High a charter school?

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

Is Walter Johnson High a Title I school?

No, Walter Johnson High is not currently a Title I school.

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

18.2% of students at Walter Johnson 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
70 Very Walkable
Transit Score
49 Some Transit
Bike Score
56 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,984
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
159
Free/Reduced Lunch
18.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Montgomery County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
22.3%
4-Year Graduation
95.0%

District

Montgomery County Public Schools
District Enrollment
160,223
Schools in District
211
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,456
District Rank
#108 of 206

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