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Wheaton High

Summary:

Wheaton High is a public magnet high school located in Silver Spring, Maryland, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,599 students. As part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district, which is ranked 7th out of 25 districts in Maryland and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, Wheaton High stands out for its unique student demographics and academic performance.

Wheaton High has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (57.79%) compared to nearby schools, which range from 18.25% to 67.93% Hispanic, making it one of the most racially diverse schools in the area. However, this diversity does not seem to translate into strong academic performance, as Wheaton High's MCAP test scores are generally lower than those of nearby schools, with only 6.3% of students proficient or better in MCAP Mathematics, compared to 11.9% at Walter Johnson High and 6.4% at Richard Montgomery High. Additionally, Wheaton High has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 65.33%, which is significantly higher than the nearby schools, ranging from 18.39% to 76.79%.

Wheaton High's statewide ranking has declined over the years, from 63rd out of 225 Maryland high schools in 2021-2022 to 84th out of 146 in 2023-2024, suggesting that the school's performance may be declining relative to other schools in the state. This is particularly concerning when compared to other nearby magnet schools, such as Walter Johnson High and Richard Montgomery High, which have higher test scores and statewide rankings. The high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Wheaton High may be a contributing factor to the school's lower academic performance, as socioeconomic status is often correlated with educational outcomes.


Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

 12401 Dalewood Dr
       Silver Spring, MD  20906-4114

(301) 321-3400

District: Montgomery County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
84th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,637 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  16.5 Help
Number of students:  2,599

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
57.8%
African American:
19.1%
Asian:
11.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  65.3% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Wheaton High ranks worse than 57.5% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks 12th among 13 ranked high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 40.64. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Wheaton High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (57.8%), African American (19.1%), Asian (11.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 65.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Wheaton High is 16.5. 14 high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Wheaton High employs 157.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Wheaton High is $16,637. 21 high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Wheaton High was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Wheaton High 84th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See Wheaton High in the ranking list.)

Montgomery County Public Schools:

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

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Wheaton High

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Rank History for all students at Wheaton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 46.70 103rd 201 48.8%
2005 37.78 133rd 204 34.8%
2006 45.55 122nd 204 40.2%
2007 50.55 109th 209 47.8%
2008 46.66 143rd 214 33.2%
2009 48.20 142nd 213 33.3%
2010 59.22 123rd 220 44.1%
2011 37.99 129th 183 29.5%
2012 55.11 105th 187 43.9%
2013 36.98 129th 185 30.3%
2014 66.02 112th 231 51.5%
2015 48.18 130th 233 44.2%
2016 43.13 136th 233 41.6%
2018 33.18 109th 197 44.7%
2022 52.03 63rd 225 72.0%
2024 40.64 84th 146 42.5%
See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

Rank History for White students at Wheaton High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MD State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 78.80 12th 40 70.0%
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.

Wheaton High Test Scores
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Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

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0%

  

by a parent
Monday, November 18, 2019

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Enrollment information for Wheaton High

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 565 156 256 184 2 n/a n/a 0 1163
1990 628 205 306 227 3 n/a n/a -8 1361
1991 537 219 292 265 4 n/a n/a 0 1317
1992 498 231 235 259 4 n/a n/a 0 1227
1993 455 234 203 273 4 n/a n/a 0 1169
1994 402 244 183 295 3 n/a n/a 0 1127
1995 361 282 176 344 3 n/a n/a 0 1166
1996 361 282 176 344 3 n/a n/a 0 1166
1997 367 315 195 389 2 n/a n/a 0 1268
1998 388 328 197 439 3 n/a n/a 0 1355
1999 353 332 179 421 3 n/a n/a 0 1288
2000 338 323 196 460 4 n/a n/a 0 1321
2001 306 332 168 492 3 n/a n/a 0 1301
2002 278 339 197 626 5 n/a n/a 0 1445
2003 278 339 197 626 5 n/a n/a 0 1445
2004 271 405 151 701 4 n/a n/a 0 1532
2005 229 409 159 693 5 n/a n/a 0 1495
2006 182 378 147 728 3 n/a n/a 0 1438
2007 154 358 150 737 2 n/a n/a 0 1401
2008 141 307 154 709 1 n/a n/a 0 1312
2009 136 289 147 747 1 n/a n/a 0 1320
2010 128 265 129 695 0 n/a n/a 0 1217
2011 95 266 117 685 0 1 11 0 1175
2012 100 274 111 724 0 0 26 0 1235
2013 98 287 117 693 1 0 30 0 1226
2014 104 342 141 718 1 0 30 0 1336
2015 123 363 146 800 1 0 34 0 1467
2016 130 410 188 788 1 1 36 0 1554
2017 145 436 222 921 0 1 37 0 1762
2018 166 442 239 1071 0 1 39 0 1958
2019 193 463 251 1120 0 0 50 0 2077
2020 202 433 244 1248 0 1 51 0 2179
2021 215 461 268 1274 3 1 57 1 2280
2022 243 465 269 1334 2 1 59 2 2375
2023 253 497 290 1502 2 1 52 2 2599

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 Wheaton High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1163 71.0 16.3 n/a
1990 1361 82.4 16.5 9.6
1991 1317 80.4 16.3 13
1992 1227 75.3 16.2 15.4
1993 1169 73.9 15.8 16.2
1994 1127 73.9 15.3 21.1
1995 1166 70.2 16.6 25
1996 1166 70.2 16.6 25
1997 1268 69.3 18.3 26.6
1998 1355 74.1 18.3 29.7
1999 1288 74.1 17.4 37.9
2000 1321 78.5 16.8 33.6
2001 1301 80.8 16.1 36.5
2002 1445 85.4 16.9 37.7
2003 1445 85.4 16.9 37.7
2004 1532 94.3 16.2 38.4
2005 1495 96.0 15.6 34.8
2006 1438 96.0 15.0 37.1
2007 1401 98.0 14.3 41.1
2008 1312 91.9 14.3 47.7
2009 1320 88.1 15.0 53.3
2010 1217 84.5 14.4 57.4
2011 1175 81.5 14.4 61.9
2012 1235 84.4 14.6 61.7
2013 1226 87.2 14.0 57.9
2014 1336 88.4 15.1 58.9
2015 1467 89.0 16.4 54.3
2016 1554 96.0 16.1 47.6
2017 1762 108.8 16.1 50.1
2018 1958 119.6 16.3 49.9
2019 2077 128.6 16.1 46.4
2020 2179 135.4 16.0 46.9
2021 2280 145.4 15.6 54
2022 2375 148.1 16.0 57.6
2023 2599 157.5 16.5 65.3

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 Wheaton High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1163 71.0 16.3 n/a
1990 1361 82.4 16.5 9.6
1991 1317 80.4 16.3 13
1992 1227 75.3 16.2 15.4
1993 1169 73.9 15.8 16.2
1994 1127 73.9 15.3 21.1
1995 1166 70.2 16.6 25
1996 1166 70.2 16.6 25
1997 1268 69.3 18.3 26.6
1998 1355 74.1 18.3 29.7
1999 1288 74.1 17.4 37.9
2000 1321 78.5 16.8 33.6
2001 1301 80.8 16.1 36.5
2002 1445 85.4 16.9 37.7
2003 1445 85.4 16.9 37.7
2004 1532 94.3 16.2 38.4
2005 1495 96.0 15.6 34.8
2006 1438 96.0 15.0 37.1
2007 1401 98.0 14.3 41.1
2008 1312 91.9 14.3 47.7
2009 1320 88.1 15.0 53.3
2010 1217 84.5 14.4 57.4
2011 1175 81.5 14.4 61.9
2012 1235 84.4 14.6 61.7
2013 1226 87.2 14.0 57.9
2014 1336 88.4 15.1 58.9
2015 1467 89.0 16.4 54.3
2016 1554 96.0 16.1 47.6
2017 1762 108.8 16.1 50.1
2018 1958 119.6 16.3 49.9
2019 2077 128.6 16.1 46.4
2020 2179 135.4 16.0 46.9
2021 2280 145.4 15.6 54
2022 2375 148.1 16.0 57.6
2023 2599 157.5 16.5 65.3

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 Wheaton High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $623 (4.3%) $14,027 (95.7%) $14,650
2020 $514 (3.5%) $14,258 (96.5%) $14,772
2021 $750 (4.9%) $14,605 (95.1%) $15,355
2022 $1,470 (9.8%) $13,582 (90.2%) $15,053
2023 $1,267 (7.6%) $15,370 (92.4%) $16,637

Data source: Maryland Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Wheaton 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.

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students20772599
 25.1%
African American463497
 7.3%
American Indian02
Asian251290
 15.5%
Hispanic11201502
 34.1%
Pacific Islander01
White193253
 31.1%
Two or More Races5052
 4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients46.4%65.3%
 19%

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Frequently Asked Questions about Wheaton High

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,599 students attended Wheaton High.

Wheaton High ranks 84th of 146 Maryland high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Wheaton High are 58% Hispanic, 19% African American, 11% Asian, 10% White, 2% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Maryland State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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