Northwestern High

Summary:

Northwestern High is a public magnet high school located in Hyattsville, Maryland, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,346 students. The school is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district, which is ranked 22 out of 25 in Maryland and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Northwestern High consistently ranks in the bottom half of Maryland high schools, with a ranking between 137 and 185 out of 146-225 schools in recent years. The school's performance on MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) tests is significantly lower than the state and district averages, with only 5.1% of students proficient or better in MCAP Mathematics and 33.6% proficient in MCAP English Language Arts, compared to higher rates in the district and statewide. However, Northwestern High has a relatively high per-student spending, ranging from $14,637 to $16,368 over the past three school years, and a lower student-teacher ratio than nearby schools, ranging from 15 to 16.5 students per teacher.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Duval High, High Point High, and Eleanor Roosevelt High, Northwestern High generally performs worse academically, with lower MCAP proficiency rates and lower statewide rankings. Schools like College Park Academy in the Prince George's County Public Schools district have significantly higher academic performance compared to Northwestern High. The high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients at Northwestern High, ranging from 66.52% to 79.54%, suggests a student population with lower socioeconomic status, which may be a contributing factor to the school's academic challenges.

Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

7000 Adelphi Rd
Hyattsville, MD 20782-1497

(301) 985-1820

District: Prince George's County Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
137^th of 146 Maryland High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,316

Feeder schools for Northwestern High:

Elementary:	Chillum Elementary
	Edward M. Felegy Elementary School
	Hyattsville Elementary
	Lewisdale Elementary
	More...
	Mt Rainier Elementary
	Rosa L. Parks Elementary
	Thomas S. Stone Elementary
	University Park Elementary
Middle:	Hyattsville Middle
	Nicholas Orem Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 16.6

Number of students: 2,381

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

72.5%

African American:

22.2%

White:

3.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 79.3%

See top rated Maryland high schools

Compare Northwestern High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Northwestern High ranks worse than 93.8% of high schools in Maryland. It also ranks last among 10 ranked high schools in the Prince George's County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.17. (See more...)

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

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

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 Racial makeup is: Hispanic (72.5%), African American (22.2%), White (3.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 79.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northwestern High is 16.6, which is the 10^th best among 10 high schools in the Prince George's County Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Northwestern High employs 143 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northwestern High is $18,316, which is the 12^th highest among 10 high schools in the Prince George's County Public Schools District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Northwestern High 137^th of 146 Maryland public high schools. (See Northwestern High in the ranking list.)

Prince George's County Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Prince George's County Public Schools 22^nd of 25 Maryland school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Northwestern High.

What do you think?

Your rating for Northwestern High?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Northwestern High

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MD State Percentile
2004	32.65	158^th	201	21.4%
2005	20.06	161^st	204	21.1%
2006	30.48	149^th	204	27.0%
2007	33.16	144^th	209	31.1%
2008	44.41	145^th	214	32.2%
2009	40.42	150^th	213	29.6%
2010	41.57	159^th	220	27.7%
2011	8.28	170^th	183	7.1%
2012	13.43	170^th	187	9.1%
2013	14.25	167^th	185	9.7%
2014	31.22	176^th	231	23.8%
2015	21.67	185^th	233	20.6%
2016	30.40	171^st	233	26.6%
2017	13.13	159^th	180	11.7%
2018	16.50	166^th	197	15.7%
2022	18.66	185^th	225	17.8%
2024	18.17	137^th	146	6.2%

See the entire list of Maryland High School Rankings!

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

Data source: Maryland State Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a student
Saturday, February 12, 2011

the classes are to crowded and it makes it hard to consitrate and or to ask teachers for help because of the number of students in a class Close Quote

Enrollment information for Northwestern High

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	411	1211	103	148	3	n/a	n/a	-1	1875
1990	349	1239	92	185	7	n/a	n/a	0	1872
1991	269	1231	84	237	4	n/a	n/a	0	1825
1992	253	1265	86	269	2	n/a	n/a	0	1875
1993	217	1321	83	318	3	n/a	n/a	0	1942
1994	200	1353	89	342	2	n/a	n/a	0	1986
1995	163	1486	78	397	4	n/a	n/a	0	2128
1996	163	1486	78	397	4	n/a	n/a	0	2128
1997	159	1531	81	390	5	n/a	n/a	0	2166
1998	126	1585	78	403	3	n/a	n/a	0	2195
1999	138	1480	67	414	1	n/a	n/a	0	2100
2000	139	1462	81	434	2	n/a	n/a	0	2118
2001	149	1505	72	492	4	n/a	n/a	0	2222
2002	166	1535	73	731	8	n/a	n/a	0	2513
2003	166	1535	73	731	8	n/a	n/a	0	2513
2004	161	1589	73	849	12	n/a	n/a	0	2684
2005	139	1532	66	927	7	n/a	n/a	0	2671
2006	109	1378	61	974	7	n/a	n/a	0	2529
2007	86	1347	64	1011	5	n/a	n/a	0	2513
2008	74	1223	62	1005	3	n/a	n/a	0	2367
2009	74	1205	64	1138	4	n/a	n/a	0	2485
2010	70	1183	67	1199	8	n/a	n/a	0	2527
2011	74	1084	69	1210	10	2	8	0	2457
2012	76	951	54	1156	15	8	14	0	2274
2013	68	894	49	1140	11	9	24	0	2195
2014	67	834	42	1237	3	7	27	0	2217
2015	61	791	40	1333	6	2	29	0	2262
2016	52	748	38	1361	4	0	25	0	2228
2017	64	670	40	1511	8	0	23	0	2316
2018	62	660	40	1661	6	1	24	0	2454
2019	53	621	32	1580	5	3	21	0	2315
2020	57	625	26	1604	5	3	15	0	2335
2021	49	610	18	1613	6	3	14	0	2313
2022	61	566	11	1561	4	4	12	0	2219
2023	71	545	17	1687	5	6	15	0	2346
2024	86	528	18	1726	3	4	16	0	2381

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 Northwestern High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1875	95.2	19.6	n/a
1990	1872	96.5	19.3	5.5
1991	1825	100.0	18.2	12.3
1992	1875	102.2	18.3	16.7
1993	1942	106.8	18.2	16.2
1994	1986	110.6	18.0	39.7
1995	2128	115.2	18.5	43.5
1996	2128	115.2	18.5	43.5
1997	2166	117.0	18.5	42.7
1998	2195	117.9	18.6	38
1999	2100	118.0	17.8	25.8
2000	2118	109.8	19.3	33.5
2001	2222	115.0	19.3	46.6
2002	2513	126.5	19.9	62.8
2003	2513	126.5	19.9	62.8
2004	2684	129.5	20.7	59.2
2005	2671	153.0	17.5	54.9
2006	2529	147.0	17.2	44.2
2007	2513	147.0	17.1	48.4
2008	2367	157.0	15.1	53.5
2009	2485	155.0	16.0	58.8
2010	2527	131.0	19.2	60.4
2011	2457	131.0	18.7	60.3
2012	2274	124.0	18.3	65.5
2013	2195	124.0	17.7	65.4
2014	2217	143.5	15.4	67.5
2015	2262	150.0	15.0	69.9
2016	2228	150.0	14.8	67.5
2017	2316	147.0	15.7	77.6
2018	2454	145.0	16.9	77.5
2019	2315	151.0	15.3	74.3
2020	2335	151.0	15.4	73.2
2021	2313	151.0	15.3	77.1
2022	2219	147.0	15.0	66.5
2023	2346	142.0	16.5	79.5
2024	2381	143.0	16.6	79.3

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 Northwestern High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	1875	95.2	19.6	n/a
1990	1872	96.5	19.3	5.5
1991	1825	100.0	18.2	12.3
1992	1875	102.2	18.3	16.7
1993	1942	106.8	18.2	16.2
1994	1986	110.6	18.0	39.7
1995	2128	115.2	18.5	43.5
1996	2128	115.2	18.5	43.5
1997	2166	117.0	18.5	42.7
1998	2195	117.9	18.6	38
1999	2100	118.0	17.8	25.8
2000	2118	109.8	19.3	33.5
2001	2222	115.0	19.3	46.6
2002	2513	126.5	19.9	62.8
2003	2513	126.5	19.9	62.8
2004	2684	129.5	20.7	59.2
2005	2671	153.0	17.5	54.9
2006	2529	147.0	17.2	44.2
2007	2513	147.0	17.1	48.4
2008	2367	157.0	15.1	53.5
2009	2485	155.0	16.0	58.8
2010	2527	131.0	19.2	60.4
2011	2457	131.0	18.7	60.3
2012	2274	124.0	18.3	65.5
2013	2195	124.0	17.7	65.4
2014	2217	143.5	15.4	67.5
2015	2262	150.0	15.0	69.9
2016	2228	150.0	14.8	67.5
2017	2316	147.0	15.7	77.6
2018	2454	145.0	16.9	77.5
2019	2315	151.0	15.3	74.3
2020	2335	151.0	15.4	73.2
2021	2313	151.0	15.3	77.1
2022	2219	147.0	15.0	66.5
2023	2346	142.0	16.5	79.5
2024	2381	143.0	16.6	79.3

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 Northwestern High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$476 (3.3%)	$14,161 (96.7%)	$14,637
2020	$724 (4.7%)	$14,780 (95.3%)	$15,504
2021	$1,215 (7.4%)	$15,152 (92.6%)	$16,368
2022	$2,121 (11.4%)	$16,521 (88.6%)	$18,643
2023	$1,931 (10.5%)	$16,386 (89.5%)	$18,316

Data source: Maryland Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Northwestern 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 Students	2315	2346	1.3%
African American	621	545	12.2%
American Indian	5	5
Asian	32	17	46.9%
Hispanic	1580	1687	6.8%
Pacific Islander	3	6	100%
White	53	71	34%
Two or More Races	21	15	28.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	74.3%	79.5%	5.3%

Schools Near Northwestern 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)	MCAP Algebra II (2024)	MCAP Geometry (2024)	MCAP Science (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 6th Grade	MCAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MCAP Mathematics All Grades	MCAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	MCAP English Language Arts All Grades	MCAP Algebra I End of Course	MCAP Algebra II End of Course	MCAP Geometry End of Course	MCAP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northwestern High	Public, Magnet	9-12	7000 Adelphi Rd	Hyattsville	20782	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 985-1820	2,381	143	16.6	79.3%	86 (3.6%)	528 (22.2%)	1,726 (72.5%)	18 (0.8%)	3 (0.1%)	4 (0.2%)	16 (0.7%)	18.2	137^th of 146 public high schools	6.2%					(n/a)			5.1				33.6	33.6			15.4		$18,316	$1,931	$16,386
College Park Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	5751 Rivertech Ct	Riverdale	20737	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	Yes	No	No	No	(240) 696-3206	681	38	17.9	51.1%	92 (13.5%)	291 (42.7%)	234 (34.4%)	28 (4.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.8%)	36.7	97^th of 146 public high schools	33.6%		40	83^rd of 127 public high schools	34.6%	14	19.8	26.5	17.8	68.1	66.7	56.0	60.4	62.9	15.0		14.3	37.1	$22,117	$2,976	$19,141
International High School @ Langley Park	Public	9-12	5150 Annapolis Rd	Bladensburg	20710	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 702-3910	347	29	11.9	94.5%	2 (0.6%)	9 (2.6%)	310 (89.3%)	26 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							8.2	8.2					$24,830	$1,511	$23,319
Parkdale High	Public, Magnet	9-12	6001 Good Luck Rd	Riverdale	20737	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 513-5700	2,571	151	17.0	80.9%	77 (3.0%)	591 (23.0%)	1,804 (70.2%)	79 (3.1%)	3 (0.1%)	5 (0.2%)	12 (0.5%)								(n/a)							31.6	31.6					$17,035	$1,649	$15,387
Bladensburg High	Public, Magnet	9-12	4200 57th Ave	Bladensburg	20710	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(301) 887-6700	2,095	126	16.6	83.8%	35 (1.7%)	396 (18.9%)	1,597 (76.2%)	56 (2.7%)	4 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	5 (0.2%)	24.4	127^th of 146 public high schools	13.0%		31.5	104^th of 127 public high schools	18.1%	23							41.1	41.1		5.1			$17,137	$1,930	$15,207
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	3,261	195	16.7	42.7%	710 (21.8%)	800 (24.5%)	1,241 (38.1%)	337 (10.3%)	4 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	143 (4.4%)	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
High Point High	Public	9-12	3601 Powder Mill Rd	Beltsville	20705	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(301) 572-6400	2,960	161	18.3	84.1%	42 (1.4%)	416 (14.1%)	2,398 (81.0%)	82 (2.8%)	9 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (0.4%)								(n/a)							34.1	34.1					$17,056	$2,364	$14,693
Eleanor Roosevelt High	Public, Magnet	9-12	7601 Hanover Pkwy	Greenbelt	20770	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(301) 513-5400	2,557	123	20.7	59.8%	240 (9.4%)	1,396 (54.6%)	648 (25.3%)	206 (8.1%)	6 (0.2%)	9 (0.4%)	52 (2.0%)	45.3	72^nd of 146 public high schools	50.7%		54.1	46^th of 127 public high schools	63.8%	26			24.2				63.6	63.6	11.9	36.2	24.9		$14,993	$1,468	$13,525
Fairmont Heights High	Public	9-12	6501 Columbia Park Rd	Landover	20785	Prince George's County	Prince George's County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(301) 925-1360	1,054	72	14.7	81.9%	12 (1.1%)	601 (57.0%)	422 (40.0%)	7 (0.7%)	3 (0.3%)	8 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)								(n/a)							30.7	30.7					$20,320	$1,958	$18,361
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	1,745	129	13.5	60.1%	179 (10.3%)	409 (23.4%)	1,032 (59.1%)	68 (3.9%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (2.7%)								(n/a)							47.5	47.5					$18,339	$1,371	$16,968

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern High

Is Northwestern High a good school?

Northwestern High ranks in the bottom 6.2% of Maryland high schools.

What district is Northwestern High in?

Prince George's County Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Northwestern High?

Students at Northwestern High are 72% Hispanic, 22% African American, 4% White.

How many students attend Northwestern High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 2,381 students attended Northwestern High.

What schools feed into Northwestern High?

Northwestern High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Chillum Elementary
Elementary : Edward M. Felegy Elementary School
Elementary : Hyattsville Elementary
Elementary : Lewisdale Elementary
Elementary : Mt Rainier Elementary
Elementary : Rosa L. Parks Elementary
Elementary : Thomas S. Stone Elementary
Elementary : University Park Elementary
Middle : Hyattsville Middle
Middle : Nicholas Orem Middle

Rate Northwestern High!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MDMaryland High School Rankings

MDMaryland District Rankings

Schools in Hyattsville, MD

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Northwestern High!

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.