The Top High Schools in DC, Maryland and Virginia According to US News

US News has released their 2018 rankings of all high schools in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Each school for every state and the district are ranked using a set of criteria based on College Readiness, AP® Tests/Passing, Math Proficiency, and Reading Proficiency, among others.

Topping the list for Virginia is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria. With a nearly perfect score by US News, the school is ranked #10 in the country as well. Seven total schools in the Fairfax County Public School system made the Top 10, with one each from Falls Church City Public Schools, Richmond City Public Schools and Arlington County Public Schools.


  1. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Fairfax County Public Schools)
  2. George Mason High School (Falls Church City Public Schools)
  3. Langley High (Fairfax County Public Schools)
  4. Open High (Richmond City Public Schools)
  5. McLean High (Fairfax County Public Schools)
  6. Oakton High (Fairfax County Public Schools)
  7. Woodson High (Fairfax County Public Schools)
  8. Marhsall High (Fairfax County Public Schools)
  9. West Springfield High (Fairfax County Public Schools)
  10. Washington-Lee High (Arlington County Public Schools)


Three Montgomery County public high schools topped the list for Maryland. Winston Churchill High in Potomac came in 1st place in Maryland, and is ranked the #113 high school in the country. Poolesville High and Thomas S. Wootton High were ranked #2 and #3, respectively. Four Montgomery County public high schools made the Top 10, with three from Howard County Public Schools, two from Baltimore County Public Schools and one from Frederick County Public Schools making up the top ten ranked high schools.


  1. Winston Churchill High (Montgomery County Public Schools)
  2. Poolesville High (Montgomery County Public Schools)
  3. Thomas S. Wootton High (Montgomery County Public Schools)
  4. River Hill High (Howard County Public Schools)
  5. Quince Orchard High (Montgomery County Public Schools)
  6. Marriotts Ridge High (Howard County Public Schools)
  7. Centennial High (Howard County Public Schools)
  8. Eastern Technical High School (Baltimore County Public Schools)
  9. Towson High Law and Public Policy (Baltimore County Public Schools)
  10. Urbana High (Frederick County Public Schools)


Whereas all top 10 schools in both Virginia and Maryland were awarded Gold Medal scores, only two in DC hold that distinction. Eight schools total were ranked.


  1. School Without Walls High School (District of Columbia Public Schools)
  2. Benjamin Banneker Academy High School (District of Columbia Public Schools)
  3. McKinley Technology High School (District of Columbia Public Schools)
  4. Ellington School of the Arts (District of Columbia Public Schools)
  5. KIPP DC College Preparatory (Kipp Academy Pcs)
  6. Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School (Thurgood Marshall Academy Pcs)
  7. Seed Public Charter School of Washington DC (Seed PCS of Washington DC District) 
  8. Washington Latin Public Charter School Upper School (Washington Latin Pcs)


See the full rankings and data of all high schools at US News.


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