Is Walt Whitman High a good school?

Yes! Walt Whitman High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 7 th of 146 Maryland high schools.

How many students attend Walt Whitman High?

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,018 students attended Walt Whitman High.

What is the racial makeup of Walt Whitman High?

Students at Walt Whitman High are 60% White, 15% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 4% African American.

What schools feed into Walt Whitman High?

Walt Whitman High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Bannockburn Elementary Elementary : Bradley Hills Elementary Elementary : Burning Tree Elementary Elementary : Carderock Springs Elementary Elementary : Wood Acres Elementary Middle : Thomas W. Pyle Middle

Walt Whitman High

Summary:

Walt Whitman High is a public high school serving 2,018 students in grades 9-12 in Bethesda, Maryland, part of the highly-ranked Montgomery County Public Schools district. This exceptional school consistently ranks among the top high schools in Maryland, with strong academic performance, a diverse student population, and a well-resourced educational environment.

Walt Whitman High's academic achievements are truly impressive. The school ranks 2nd out of 225 Maryland high schools, with 86% of 10th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts, significantly higher than the county and state averages. In mathematics, the school's performance is also strong, with 27.5% of students proficient or better, outpacing the county and state. The school's success extends to diverse student subgroups, with Walt Whitman High ranking 1st or 2nd in the state for the performance of female, male, Asian, African American, and Hispanic students, as well as English Language Learners.

While Walt Whitman High outperforms many nearby schools, such as Montgomery Blair High and Northwood High, in academic metrics, some neighboring schools, like Thomas S. Wootton High and Winston Churchill High, also demonstrate exceptional performance, ranking among the top high schools in the state. The higher per-student spending at Walt Whitman High, compared to the state average, suggests that the school is well-resourced and able to provide a robust educational experience for its diverse student population.

Detail:

Public 9-12

7100 Whittier Blvd
Bethesda, MD 20817-6199

(240) 740-4800

District: Montgomery County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
7^th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,890

Feeder schools for Walt Whitman High:

Elementary:	Bannockburn Elementary
	Bradley Hills Elementary
	Burning Tree Elementary
	Carderock Springs Elementary
	More...
	Wood Acres Elementary
Middle:	Thomas W. Pyle Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 17.2

Number of students: 2,018

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.2%

Asian:

15.2%

Hispanic:

12.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 5.5%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare Walt Whitman High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Walt Whitman High ranks better than 95.2% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks 4^th among 13 ranked high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 81.03. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Walt Whitman High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Walt Whitman High is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (60.2%), Asian (15.2%), Hispanic (12%). (See more...)

Compare Details 5.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Montgomery County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Walt Whitman High is 17.2. 17 high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Walt Whitman High employs 116.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Walt Whitman High is $16,890. 17 high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Walt Whitman High was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Walt Whitman High 7^th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See Walt Whitman High in the ranking list.)

Montgomery County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Montgomery County Public Schools 7^th of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Walt Whitman High.

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Rank History for Walt Whitman High

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Rank History for all students at Walt Whitman High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	63.60	5^th	201	97.5%
2005	86.96	3^rd	204	98.5%
2006	83.58	7^th	204	96.6%
2007	84.73	4^th	209	98.1%
2008	83.28	13^th	214	93.9%
2009	83.95	8^th	213	96.2%
2010	84.29	14^th	220	93.6%
2011	85.16	15^th	183	91.8%
2012	81.68	19^th	187	89.8%
2013	82.37	24^th	185	87.0%
2014	80.51	26^th	231	88.7%
2015	70.36	38^th	233	83.7%
2016	60.66	80^th	233	65.7%
2019	89.09	2^nd	138	98.6%
2021	92.94	2^nd	32	93.8%
2022	90.06	2^nd	225	99.1%
2023	82.54	3^rd	127	97.6%
2024	81.03	7^th	146	95.2%

See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Walt Whitman High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	96.68	1^st	3	66.7%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Female students at Walt Whitman High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	92.78	2^nd	31	93.5%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Walt Whitman High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	94.08	2^nd	35	94.3%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Walt Whitman High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	91.84	2^nd	25	92.0%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Walt Whitman High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	96.59	1^st	14	92.9%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Walt Whitman High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	98.61	1^st	9	88.9%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Walt Whitman High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	87.57	5^th	40	87.5%

See the entire list of Best Maryland High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Maryland State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Superb education for my two sons. Well known by colleges. Good peer groups Close Quote

Enrollment information for Walt Whitman High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	1129	62	246	101	2	n/a	n/a	0	1540
1990	1015	66	230	97	2	n/a	n/a	-4	1406
1991	973	57	232	94	1	n/a	n/a	0	1357
1992	946	62	245	106	1	n/a	n/a	0	1360
1993	949	59	262	104	0	n/a	n/a	0	1374
1994	973	57	277	103	4	n/a	n/a	0	1414
1995	1149	59	264	117	3	n/a	n/a	0	1592
1996	1149	59	264	117	3	n/a	n/a	0	1592
1997	1153	58	290	113	3	n/a	n/a	0	1617
1998	1170	58	312	120	4	n/a	n/a	0	1664
1999	1200	62	306	103	4	n/a	n/a	0	1675
2000	1278	55	300	95	3	n/a	n/a	0	1731
2001	1335	62	281	87	3	n/a	n/a	0	1768
2002	1480	64	247	100	3	n/a	n/a	0	1894
2003	1480	64	247	100	3	n/a	n/a	0	1894
2004	1462	75	233	104	2	n/a	n/a	0	1876
2005	1491	67	235	103	1	n/a	n/a	0	1897
2006	1443	70	240	115	1	n/a	n/a	0	1869
2007	1424	68	256	137	1	n/a	n/a	0	1886
2008	1438	72	228	126	2	n/a	n/a	0	1866
2009	1394	82	241	125	2	n/a	n/a	0	1844
2010	1465	93	241	141	1	n/a	n/a	0	1941
2011	1403	79	230	164	2	1	72	0	1951
2012	1357	75	236	175	1	1	83	0	1928
2013	1338	68	235	168	0	2	98	0	1909
2014	1347	63	236	172	2	0	101	0	1921
2015	1322	68	232	171	3	0	106	0	1902
2016	1365	62	260	184	6	1	99	0	1977
2017	1387	73	293	198	6	2	96	0	2055
2018	1392	86	316	182	3	2	104	0	2085
2019	1438	75	295	169	2	1	118	0	2098
2020	1366	80	284	179	3	1	126	0	2039
2021	1284	81	278	205	3	1	138	1	1991
2022	1277	75	290	227	3	3	153	1	2029
2023	1214	83	306	242	2	5	161	5	2018

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Walt Whitman High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1540	86.5	17.8	n/a
1990	1406	83.0	16.9	0.4
1991	1357	77.8	17.4	0.3
1992	1360	76.4	17.8	1
1993	1374	74.0	18.6	1
1994	1414	77.4	18.3	1.6
1995	1592	88.4	18.0	1.9
1996	1592	88.4	18.0	1.9
1997	1617	88.5	18.3	1.8
1998	1664	88.8	18.7	1.9
1999	1675	88.8	18.9	2.1
2000	1731	99.7	17.4	1.7
2001	1768	101.6	17.4	1.8
2002	1894	107.6	17.6	1.7
2003	1894	107.6	17.6	1.7
2004	1876	106.3	17.6	1.9
2005	1897	105.0	18.1	1.5
2006	1869	106.0	17.6	1.6
2007	1886	111.7	16.9	1.5
2008	1866	110.4	16.9	1.9
2009	1844	109.5	16.8	2.1
2010	1941	108.2	17.9	2.7
2011	1951	113.8	17.1	1.9
2012	1928	114.2	16.8	2.5
2013	1909	115.4	16.5	2.9
2014	1921	112.3	17.1	2.4
2015	1902	113.0	16.8	2.5
2016	1977	112.0	17.6	2.2
2017	2055	118.8	17.2	1.9
2018	2085	120.0	17.3	2.4
2019	2098	123.6	16.9	1.9
2020	2039	114.4	17.8	2.3
2021	1991	112.7	17.6	2.5
2022	2029	111.6	18.1	2.9
2023	2018	116.8	17.2	5.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Walt Whitman High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1540	86.5	17.8	n/a
1990	1406	83.0	16.9	0.4
1991	1357	77.8	17.4	0.3
1992	1360	76.4	17.8	1
1993	1374	74.0	18.6	1
1994	1414	77.4	18.3	1.6
1995	1592	88.4	18.0	1.9
1996	1592	88.4	18.0	1.9
1997	1617	88.5	18.3	1.8
1998	1664	88.8	18.7	1.9
1999	1675	88.8	18.9	2.1
2000	1731	99.7	17.4	1.7
2001	1768	101.6	17.4	1.8
2002	1894	107.6	17.6	1.7
2003	1894	107.6	17.6	1.7
2004	1876	106.3	17.6	1.9
2005	1897	105.0	18.1	1.5
2006	1869	106.0	17.6	1.6
2007	1886	111.7	16.9	1.5
2008	1866	110.4	16.9	1.9
2009	1844	109.5	16.8	2.1
2010	1941	108.2	17.9	2.7
2011	1951	113.8	17.1	1.9
2012	1928	114.2	16.8	2.5
2013	1909	115.4	16.5	2.9
2014	1921	112.3	17.1	2.4
2015	1902	113.0	16.8	2.5
2016	1977	112.0	17.6	2.2
2017	2055	118.8	17.2	1.9
2018	2085	120.0	17.3	2.4
2019	2098	123.6	16.9	1.9
2020	2039	114.4	17.8	2.3
2021	1991	112.7	17.6	2.5
2022	2029	111.6	18.1	2.9
2023	2018	116.8	17.2	5.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Walt Whitman High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$538 (3.8%)	$13,515 (96.2%)	$14,053
2020	$523 (3.7%)	$13,606 (96.3%)	$14,129
2021	$809 (5.4%)	$14,268 (94.6%)	$15,077
2022	$1,144 (7.8%)	$13,463 (92.2%)	$14,607
2023	$838 (5.0%)	$16,052 (95.0%)	$16,890

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Walt Whitman High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 2^nd of 138 High schools	Ranks 3^rd of 127 High schools	0.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	2098	2018	3.8%
African American	75	83	10.7%
American Indian	2	2
Asian	295	306	3.7%
Hispanic	169	242	43.2%
Pacific Islander	1	5	400%
White	1438	1214	15.6%
Two or More Races	118	161	36.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	1.9%	5.5%	3.6%

Schools Near Walt Whitman High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCAP Mathematics (2024)	MCAP English Language Arts (2024)		MCAP Algebra I (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Walt Whitman High	Public	9-12	7100 Whittier Blvd	Bethesda	20817	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-4800	2,018	117	17.2	5.5%	1,214 (60.2%)	83 (4.1%)	242 (12.0%)	306 (15.2%)	2 (0.1%)	5 (0.2%)	161 (8.0%)	81	7^th of 146 public high schools	95.2%		82.5	3^rd of 127 public high schools	97.6%	4	27.5	86.0	86.0	27.5	$16,890	$838	$16,052
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High	Public	9-12	4301 East-West Hwy	Bethesda	20814	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-0400	2,335	130	17.9	25.5%	1,127 (48.3%)	398 (17.0%)	493 (21.1%)	159 (6.8%)	4 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	142 (6.1%)	62.2	26^th of 146 public high schools	82.2%		57.8	34^th of 127 public high schools	73.2%	8	7.3	67.7	67.7	7.3	$15,482	$814	$14,668
Walter Johnson High	Public	9-12	6400 Rock Spring Dr	Bethesda	20814	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-6900	2,942	158	18.5	18.4%	1,459 (49.6%)	378 (12.8%)	537 (18.3%)	359 (12.2%)	7 (0.2%)	5 (0.2%)	186 (6.3%)	69.5	15^th of 146 public high schools	89.7%		67.5	18^th of 127 public high schools	85.8%	3	11.9	75.4	75.4	11.9	$15,547	$857	$14,689
Rock Terrace School	Public	6-12	11400 Marcliff Rd	Rockville	20852	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-4650	73	21	3.4	54.8%	20 (27.4%)	25 (34.2%)	17 (23.3%)	9 (12.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.7%)								(n/a)					$94,122	$31,130	$62,992
Winston Churchill High	Public	9-12	11300 Gainsborough Rd	Potomac	20854	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-5400	2,234	121	18.4	10.4%	958 (42.9%)	224 (10.0%)	200 (9.0%)	709 (31.7%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	132 (5.9%)	85.6	1^st of 146 public high schools	99.3%		68.2	17^th of 127 public high schools	86.6%	16	19.0	83.1	83.1	19.0	$16,771	$1,192	$15,579
Albert Einstein High	Public, Magnet	9-12	11135 Newport Mill Rd	Kensington	20895	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-2700	2,012	131	15.3	53.7%	446 (22.2%)	304 (15.1%)	1,011 (50.2%)	133 (6.6%)	9 (0.4%)	1 (0.0%)	97 (4.8%)								(n/a)		54.3	54.3		$17,177	$1,080	$16,097
Wheaton High	Public, Magnet	9-12	12401 Dalewood Dr	Silver Spring	20906	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 321-3400	2,599	158	16.5	65.3%	253 (9.7%)	497 (19.1%)	1,502 (57.8%)	290 (11.2%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	52 (2.0%)	40.6	84^th of 146 public high schools	42.5%					(n/a)	6.3	51.4	51.4	6.3	$16,637	$1,267	$15,370
Northwood High	Public, Magnet	9-12	919 University Blvd W	Silver Spring	20901	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-6950	1,795	127	14.1	67.7%	193 (10.8%)	425 (23.7%)	1,035 (57.7%)	78 (4.3%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (3.0%)								(n/a)		47.5	47.5		$18,339	$1,371	$16,968
Montgomery Blair High	Public, Magnet	9-12	51 University Blvd E	Silver Spring	20901	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-7200	3,204	193	16.6	48.6%	707 (22.1%)	780 (24.3%)	1,180 (36.8%)	379 (11.8%)	7 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	136 (4.2%)	40.9	82^nd of 146 public high schools	43.8%		35.9	97^th of 127 public high schools	23.6%	15	5.3	56.0	56.0	5.3	$16,917	$1,018	$15,898
Richard Montgomery High	Public, Magnet	9-12	250 Richard Montgomery Dr	Rockville	20852	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-6100	2,390	134	17.7	33.3%	667 (27.9%)	351 (14.7%)	649 (27.2%)	566 (23.7%)	9 (0.4%)	1 (0.0%)	138 (5.8%)	55.8	41^st of 146 public high schools	71.9%		57.8	35^th of 127 public high schools	72.4%	6	6.4	67.1	67.1	6.4	$16,178	$1,040	$15,138

Walt Whitman High

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Rank History for Walt Whitman High

Rank History for all students at Walt Whitman High

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Walt Whitman High

Rank History for Female students at Walt Whitman High

Rank History for Male students at Walt Whitman High

Rank History for Asian students at Walt Whitman High

Rank History for African American students at Walt Whitman High

Rank History for Hispanic students at Walt Whitman High

Rank History for White students at Walt Whitman High

Review counts

Enrollment information for Walt Whitman High

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Walt Whitman High

Student/Teacher Ratio Walt Whitman High

Per Pupil Expenditures for Walt Whitman High

Impact of COVID-19 on Walt Whitman High

Rankings

Student Body

Schools Near Walt Whitman High

Frequently Asked Questions about Walt Whitman High

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