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

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

#24. Freedom High School
- Location: Loudoun County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 1,998 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

#23. Lake Braddock Secondary School
- Location: Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 4,377 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
#22. McLean High School
- Location: Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 2,441 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
#21. Meridian High School
- Location: Falls Church City Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 865 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

#20. District of Columbia International School
- Location: Washington, DC
- Enrollment: 1,590 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

#19. BASIS Washington, D.C. Public Charter School
- Location: Washington, DC
- Enrollment: 663 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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

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

#16. John Champe High School
- Location: Loudoun County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 1,744 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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

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

#13. Rock Ridge High School
- Location: Loudoun County Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 1,451 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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

#11. Washington Liberty High School
- Location: Arlington Public Schools, VA
- Enrollment: 2,715 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
#10. Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,335 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

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

#8. Richard Montgomery High School
- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,390 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
#7. Walter Johnson High School
- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,942 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

#6. Thomas S. Wootton High School
- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 1,911 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

#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+

#4. Winston Churchill High School
- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,234 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

#3. Walt Whitman High School
- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 2,018 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

#2. Poolesville High School
- Location: Montgomery County Public Schools, MD
- Enrollment: 1,309 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+

#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.