Northwest High

Summary:

Northwest High is a public high school located in Germantown, Maryland, serving 2,484 students in grades 9-12. It is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district, which is ranked 6th out of 24 districts in Maryland and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Northwest High has a relatively diverse student population, with a mix of White (23.23%), African American (26.69%), Hispanic (23.91%), and Asian (20.61%) students. However, the school's test scores, particularly in Mathematics, are lower than the district and state averages. For example, only 10.1% of students were proficient or better in MCAP/Mathematics, compared to 32.8% in the Montgomery County Public Schools district and 23.3% in Maryland. The school performs better in English Language Arts, with 58.7% of 10th-grade students proficient or better, higher than the district and state averages. Northwest High also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 39.13%, which is higher than nearby schools like Thomas S. Wootton High (12.77%) and Poolesville High (12.45%).

When compared to nearby schools, Northwest High generally performs better than schools with higher percentages of low-income and minority students, such as Gaithersburg High and Watkins Mill High, but lags behind higher-performing schools like Thomas S. Wootton High and Poolesville High. This suggests that the school's performance is influenced by the socioeconomic and demographic factors of its student population, and the school may need to focus on addressing the needs of different student subgroups to ensure equitable outcomes.

Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

13501 Richter Farm Rd
Germantown, MD 20874

(240) 740-7100

District: Montgomery County Public Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,522

Feeder schools for Northwest High:

Elementary:	Clopper Mill Elementary
	Darnestown Elementary
	Diamond Elementary
	Dr. Ronald E. McNair Elementary
	More...
	Germantown Elementary
	Great Seneca Creek Elementary
	Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary
Middle:	Kingsview Middle
	Lakelands Park Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 17.1

Number of students: 2,484

Racial breakdown:

African American:

26.7%

Hispanic:

23.9%

White:

23.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 39.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Northwest High is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 57.98. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Northwest 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 Northwest High is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (26.7%), Hispanic (23.9%), White (23.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 39.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northwest High is 17.1. 16 high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Northwest High employs 144.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northwest High is $16,522. 23 high schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Montgomery County Public Schools:

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

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Northwest High

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Rank History for all students at Northwest High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	48.52	86^th	201	57.2%
2005	65.36	44^th	204	78.4%
2006	58.00	83^rd	204	59.3%
2007	63.81	72^nd	209	65.6%
2008	66.54	97^th	214	54.7%
2009	65.04	106^th	213	50.2%
2010	62.08	111^th	220	49.5%
2011	68.31	69^th	183	62.3%
2012	68.63	70^th	187	62.6%
2013	70.53	65^th	185	64.9%
2014	74.03	72^nd	231	68.8%
2015	59.85	78^th	233	66.5%
2016	59.21	83^rd	233	64.4%
2017	57.70	58^th	180	67.8%
2018	68.02	35^th	197	82.2%
2019	57.01	52^nd	138	62.3%
2021	70.59	11^th	32	65.6%
2022	58.53	43^rd	225	80.9%
2023	57.98	33^rd	127	74.0%

See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

Rank History for Male students at Northwest High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	68.91	12^th	35	65.7%

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

Rank History for Asian students at Northwest High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	61.72	10^th	25	60.0%

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

Rank History for White students at Northwest High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	70.18	17^th	40	57.5%

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%

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Enrollment information for Northwest High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1999	476	237	80	73	4	n/a	n/a	0	870
2000	663	322	123	107	6	n/a	n/a	0	1221
2001	736	383	147	121	7	n/a	n/a	0	1394
2002	810	506	233	178	5	n/a	n/a	0	1732
2003	810	506	233	178	5	n/a	n/a	0	1732
2004	802	541	251	181	3	n/a	n/a	0	1778
2005	843	569	289	220	3	n/a	n/a	0	1924
2006	793	558	333	273	5	n/a	n/a	0	1962
2007	779	579	333	297	5	n/a	n/a	0	1993
2008	744	603	355	335	7	n/a	n/a	0	2044
2009	722	619	337	341	6	n/a	n/a	0	2025
2010	716	622	349	351	8	n/a	n/a	0	2046
2011	671	576	351	407	4	0	88	0	2097
2012	644	544	373	414	6	0	87	0	2068
2013	617	551	380	413	6	0	95	0	2062
2014	590	535	362	416	4	0	104	0	2011
2015	602	582	374	430	3	0	119	0	2110
2016	650	634	407	447	2	0	115	0	2255
2017	685	631	434	453	2	1	127	0	2333
2018	702	660	501	515	3	1	126	0	2508
2019	695	665	546	561	3	1	115	0	2586
2020	684	645	559	605	2	2	126	0	2623
2021	655	674	551	588	1	0	129	0	2598
2022	608	664	536	583	0	0	127	1	2519
2023	577	663	512	594	2	2	126	8	2484

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 Northwest High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1999	870	55.8	15.6	13
2000	1221	69.4	17.6	10.4
2001	1394	80.1	17.4	8.5
2002	1732	87.2	19.9	8
2003	1732	87.2	19.9	8
2004	1778	102.2	17.4	9.2
2005	1924	102.0	18.9	11.5
2006	1962	102.0	19.2	13.2
2007	1993	114.2	17.5	14.9
2008	2044	113.5	18.0	16.4
2009	2025	118.6	17.1	16.2
2010	2046	117.3	17.4	20.9
2011	2097	116.5	18.0	23.3
2012	2068	119.2	17.3	24.5
2013	2062	120.4	17.1	26.2
2014	2011	120.0	16.7	26.6
2015	2110	123.0	17.1	27.7
2016	2255	124.0	18.1	26
2017	2333	137.6	16.9	24.9
2018	2508	140.8	17.8	22.8
2019	2586	148.4	17.4	22.2
2020	2623	154.0	17.0	22.3
2021	2598	150.6	17.2	27
2022	2519	145.4	17.3	29.1
2023	2484	144.8	17.1	39.1

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 Northwest High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1999	870	55.8	15.6	13
2000	1221	69.4	17.6	10.4
2001	1394	80.1	17.4	8.5
2002	1732	87.2	19.9	8
2003	1732	87.2	19.9	8
2004	1778	102.2	17.4	9.2
2005	1924	102.0	18.9	11.5
2006	1962	102.0	19.2	13.2
2007	1993	114.2	17.5	14.9
2008	2044	113.5	18.0	16.4
2009	2025	118.6	17.1	16.2
2010	2046	117.3	17.4	20.9
2011	2097	116.5	18.0	23.3
2012	2068	119.2	17.3	24.5
2013	2062	120.4	17.1	26.2
2014	2011	120.0	16.7	26.6
2015	2110	123.0	17.1	27.7
2016	2255	124.0	18.1	26
2017	2333	137.6	16.9	24.9
2018	2508	140.8	17.8	22.8
2019	2586	148.4	17.4	22.2
2020	2623	154.0	17.0	22.3
2021	2598	150.6	17.2	27
2022	2519	145.4	17.3	29.1
2023	2484	144.8	17.1	39.1

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 Northwest High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$615 (4.6%)	$12,644 (95.4%)	$13,259
2020	$623 (4.5%)	$13,135 (95.5%)	$13,759
2021	$863 (6.0%)	$13,454 (94.0%)	$14,316
2022	$1,504 (10.4%)	$13,028 (89.7%)	$14,531
2023	$1,268 (7.7%)	$15,254 (92.3%)	$16,522

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Northwest 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 52^nd of 138 High schools	Ranks 33^rd of 127 High schools	11.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	2586	2484	3.9%
African American	665	663	0.3%
American Indian	3	2	33.3%
Asian	546	512	6.2%
Hispanic	561	594	5.9%
Pacific Islander	1	2	100%
White	695	577	17%
Two or More Races	115	126	9.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	22.2%	39.1%	16.9%

Schools Near Northwest 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 8th Grade	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
Northwest High	Public, Magnet	9-12	13501 Richter Farm Rd	Germantown	20874	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-7100	2,484	145	17.1	39.1%	577 (23.2%)	663 (26.7%)	594 (23.9%)	512 (20.6%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	126 (5.1%)								(n/a)			64.3	64.3		$16,522	$1,268	$15,254
Seneca Valley High	Public, Magnet	9-12	19401 Crystal Rock Dr	Germantown	20874	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-6400	2,239	155	14.4	57.3%	267 (11.9%)	853 (38.1%)	764 (34.1%)	239 (10.7%)	3 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	110 (4.9%)								(n/a)			50.0	50.0		$18,682	$997	$17,685
Quince Orchard High	Public	9-12	15800 Quince Orchard Rd	Gaithersburg	20878	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-3600	2,154	131	16.4	41.1%	737 (34.2%)	350 (16.2%)	721 (33.5%)	234 (10.9%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	102 (4.7%)								(n/a)			65.0	65.0		$17,071	$842	$16,229
Watkins Mill High	Public, Magnet	9-12	10301 Apple Ridge Rd	Gaithersburg	20879	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 284-4400	1,715	116	14.7	74.5%	94 (5.5%)	390 (22.7%)	1,043 (60.8%)	140 (8.2%)	4 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (2.3%)								(n/a)			33.4	33.4		$19,026	$1,526	$17,499
Gaithersburg High	Public, Magnet	9-12	101 Education Blvd	Gaithersburg	20877	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 284-4500	2,436	171	14.2	65.8%	232 (9.5%)	521 (21.4%)	1,452 (59.6%)	156 (6.4%)	4 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	65 (2.7%)								(n/a)			40.5	40.5		$18,719	$1,183	$17,536
Clarksburg High	Public, Magnet	9-12	22500 Wims Rd	Clarksburg	20871	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-6000	2,251	131	17.2	41.8%	309 (13.7%)	664 (29.5%)	606 (26.9%)	548 (24.3%)	6 (0.3%)	1 (0.0%)	110 (4.9%)	56.3	38^th of 146 public high schools	74.0%					(n/a)	19.4		65.4	65.4	19.4	$16,902	$1,107	$15,795
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol	Public	6-12	15000 Broschart Rd	Rockville	20850	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 251-6900	84	22	3.8	63.1%	23 (27.4%)	31 (36.9%)	17 (20.2%)	4 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (8.3%)								(n/a)		10.0	33.3	25.7		$72,851	$25,663	$47,188
Thomas S. Wootton High	Public	9-12	2100 Wootton Pkwy	Rockville	20850	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(240) 740-1500	1,911	105	18.2	12.8%	711 (37.2%)	224 (11.7%)	157 (8.2%)	732 (38.3%)	4 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	80 (4.2%)	85.5	2^nd of 146 public high schools	98.6%		80.7	5^th of 127 public high schools	96.1%	3	9.6		85.1	85.1	9.6	$16,616	$1,054	$15,562
Poolesville High	Public, Magnet	9-12	17501 W Willard Rd	Poolesville	20837	Montgomery County	Montgomery County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(240) 740-2400	1,309	71	18.4	12.5%	527 (40.3%)	93 (7.1%)	139 (10.6%)	476 (36.4%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (5.3%)	84.5	3^rd of 146 public high schools	97.9%		71.8	14^th of 127 public high schools	89.0%	11	8.9		90.4	90.4	8.9	$16,724	$957	$15,767
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest High

What schools feed into Northwest High?

Northwest High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Clopper Mill Elementary
Elementary : Darnestown Elementary
Elementary : Diamond Elementary
Elementary : Dr. Ronald E. McNair Elementary
Elementary : Germantown Elementary
Elementary : Great Seneca Creek Elementary
Elementary : Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary
Middle : Kingsview Middle
Middle : Lakelands Park Middle

What is the racial makeup of Northwest High?

Students at Northwest High are 27% African American, 24% Hispanic, 23% White, 21% Asian, 5% Two or more races.

How many students attend Northwest High?

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,484 students attended Northwest High.

What district is Northwest High in?

Montgomery County Public Schools

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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.