Best public high schools in the Washington, D.C. metro area

Written by:
May 14, 2025
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Best public high schools in the Washington, D.C. metro area

Stacker compiled a list of the best public high schools in the Washington, D.C. metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students.

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#25. Langley High School

- Location: Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 2,123 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#24. Freedom High School

- Location: Loudoun County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 1,998 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#23. Lake Braddock Secondary School

- Location: Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 4,377 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#22. McLean High School

- Location: Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 2,441 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#21. Meridian High School

- Location: Falls Church City Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 865 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#20. District of Columbia International School

- Location: Washington, DC
- Enrollment: 1,590 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#19. BASIS Washington, D.C. Public Charter School

- Location: Washington, DC
- Enrollment: 663 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#18. Oakton High School

- Location: Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 2,701 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#17. Yorktown High School

- Location: Arlington Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 2,577 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#16. John Champe High School

- Location: Loudoun County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 1,744 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#15. Montgomery Blair High School

- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 3,204 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#14. Riverside High School

- Location: Loudoun County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 1,801 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#13. Rock Ridge High School

- Location: Loudoun County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 1,451 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#12. Northwest High School

- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,484 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#11. Washington Liberty High School

- Location: Arlington Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 2,715 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#10. Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School

- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,335 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#9. Independence High School

- Location: Loudoun County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 2,013 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#8. Richard Montgomery High School

- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,390 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#7. Walter Johnson High School

- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,942 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#6. Thomas S. Wootton High School

- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 1,911 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#5. The School Without Walls High School

- Location: District Of Columbia Public Schools, DC
- Enrollment: 602 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#4. Winston Churchill High School

- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,234 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#3. Walt Whitman High School

- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,018 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#2. Poolesville High School

- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 1,309 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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#1. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology

- Location: Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 1,967 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

This story features data reporting by Rob Powell and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 97 metros.

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