Best high schools for sports in Maryland

More than 7.6 million high school students played sports across the U.S. during the 2021-22 academic year, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations. Those athletes participated in a slew of sports: from football—the most popular sport for high school boys with 1 million players nationwide—to track and field, which is the most popular sport amongst high school girls in the U.S. with more than 488,000 athletes.

The dynamic landscape of high school sports has created competition not only between athletes but the institutions they represent. With more than 23,500 public and private secondary and high schools across the country, determining the best options for athletes is an arduous process.

High schools across the country are vying to be crowned the best institution for athletes in America and not only has the battle become personal but regional as well. States like California and Florida, which have high-profile high-school athletic programs, also want bragging rights.

Young athletes will continue to thrive as sports return to pre-pandemic participation levels and high schools put in the work to be considered one of the best institutions in America for sports.

Stacker compiled a list of the best high schools for sports in Maryland using data from Niche. These rankings factor in parent and student surveys on sports, total high school enrollment, K-12 sports championships, number of sports, and athletic participation rates.

#25. Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

- City: Baltimore
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#24. Calvert Hall College High School

- City: Baltimore
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A

#23. Fallston High School

- City: Fallston
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-

#22. Charles Herbert Flowers High School

- City: Springdale
- Type: Public, Magnet
- Overall Niche grade: C+

#21. Huntingtown High School

- City: Huntingtown
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#20. DeMatha Catholic High School

- City: Hyattsville
- Type: Private, Catholic, All-Boys
- Overall Niche grade: A

#19. Sherwood High School

- City: Sandy Spring
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#18. Reservoir High School

- City: Fulton
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#17. Baltimore City College

- City: Baltimore
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+

#16. Howard High School

- City: Ellicott City
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#15. Linganore High School

- City: Frederick
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-

#14. Glenelg High School

- City: Glenelg
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#13. Eleanor Roosevelt High School

- City: Greenbelt
- Type: Public, Magnet
- Overall Niche grade: A

#12. Northwest High School

- City: Germantown
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#11. Century High School

- City: Sykesville
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#10. Marriotts Ridge High School

- City: Marriottsville
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#9. Middletown High School

- City: Middletown
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-

#8. Quince Orchard High School

- City: Gaithersburg
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#7. Oakdale High School

- City: Ijamsville
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#6. Western High School

- City: Baltimore
- Type: Public, All-Girls
- Overall Niche grade: C+

#5. River Hill High School

- City: Clarksville
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+

#4. Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School

- City: Upper Marlboro
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: C-

#3. Damascus High School

- City: Damascus
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A

#2. Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

- City: Baltimore
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: C

#1. McDonogh School

- City: Owings Mills
- Type: Private, Boarding
- Overall Niche grade: A+