Total enrollment
159,181
-2,365 (-1%) vs SY 2017-18
Montgomery County
Maryland · Public K-12
Public education in Montgomery County reaches 159,181 students across 211 schools. Montgomery County Public Schools is the largest district at 159,181 students. By grade band, the county runs 139 elementary, 40 middle, and 29 high schools.
7-year change in Montgomery County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
208
+2 (+1%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
24%
was 28%
% Hispanic
36%
was 31%
% Black
22%
was 21%
% Asian
14%
was 14%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
1,065,949
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
211
1 districts
Enrollment
159,181
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$132,450
Above Maryland avg
Free/reduced lunch
40.3%
Below Maryland avg
Elementary
139
71,414 students
Middle
40
35,505 students
High
29
52,073 students
Combined / other
3
189 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Montgomery County Public Schools
159,181 students · 1 district in Montgomery County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Montgomery County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
60.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.9%
civilian labor
Median age
40
22.8% under 18
Test scores in Montgomery County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 196 schools ranked. Maryland state average: 51.9%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Travilah Elementary· 93.6%
- Bannockburn Elementary· 93.5%
- Poolesville High· 92.5%
- Wilson Wims Elementary School· 90.7%
- Carderock Springs Elementary· 90.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Rolling Terrace Elementary· 15.2%
- Gaithersburg Elementary· 23.9%
- Harmony Hills Elementary· 24.4%
- South Lake Elementary· 25.5%
- Watkins Mill Elementary· 25.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Chevy Chase Elementary | Chevy Chase | Elementary | 03-05 | 237 | · |
| Monocacy Elementary | Dickerson | Elementary | KG-05 | 164 | · |
| PEP - Itinerant | Rockville | Elementary | PK-PK | 90 | · |
| John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol | Rockville | Combined | 04-12 | 79 | · |
| Rock Terrace School | Rockville | High | 06-12 | 77 | · |
| Carl Sandburg Center | Rockville | Elementary | KG-05 | 65 | · |
| Longview School | Germantown | Combined | KG-12 | 59 | · |
| Stephen Knolls School | Kensington | Combined | PK-12 | 51 | · |
| Alternative Programs | Rockville | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| MCPS Transitions School | Silver Spring | High | 12-12 | 0 | · |
| Thomas Edison High School of Technology | Silver Spring | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Montgomery County
Silver Spring55 schoolsRockville35 schoolsGaithersburg29 schoolsGermantown20 schoolsBethesda16 schoolsClarksburg8 schoolsPotomac8 schoolsKensington7 schoolsDamascus5 schoolsOlney5 schoolsChevy Chase4 schoolsBurtonsville3 schoolsMontgomery Village3 schoolsPoolesville3 schoolsTakoma Park3 schoolsNorth Potomac2 schoolsSandy Spring2 schoolsBrookeville1 schoolDerwood1 schoolDickerson1 school
About Montgomery County
Montgomery County is a sprawling county of about 1,065,949 residents in Maryland. Its public-school system serves approximately 159,181 students across 211 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $132,450, roughly 61% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%. That income level is 37% above the Maryland median.
On the school-mix side, Montgomery County is built around 139 elementary schools (71,414 students), 40 middle schools (35,505), 29 high schools (52,073), and 3 combined or other schools.
Montgomery County Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 159,181 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Montgomery County has remained close to its prior level since SY 2017-18, moving from about 161,546 students to 159,181. Montgomery County now counts 208 public schools, up from 206 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment declined from 28% to 24%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Montgomery County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Montgomery County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data