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Riley-Bolten HouseRiley-Bolten House · Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in North Bethesda · Montgomery County Public Schools

North Bethesda’s public schools outscore 72% of Maryland districts

On the state math tests, 34% of North Bethesda’s students scored proficient, above the Maryland average (25%). The grade covers the public school district serving North Bethesda, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Maryland, not nationally.

#47of 261 Maryland townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Maryland state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
54%
▲ 9 pts vs MD 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
34%
▲ 9 pts vs MD 25%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90%
▲ 4 pts vs MD 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$20.1K
▼ 1% vs MD $20.3K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.1
MD 14.5
Schools in town
20
8,908 students on the public path
In brief

North Bethesda’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 191 Maryland towns with household incomes within a quarter of North Bethesda’s, its schools beat 64%, lower than their 72% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 54% and math 34% in spring 2022, against 45% and 25% statewide; 90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $20,107 per student, against $20,258 across Maryland (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Four elementary schools, then one middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Charles E Smith Jewish Day School (private), Georgetown Preparatory School (private), Academy of the Holy Cross (private), Holy Cross Elementary School (private), Green Acres School (private), Whole Kids Academy (private), White Flint Children's House (private), The Diener School (private), Fernwood Montessori School (private), Alef Bet Montessori School Inc. (private), Executive Child Development Center (private) and Manor Montessori School-Rockville (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind North Bethesda’s grade

A− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B+: better than 72% of Maryland school districts, #47 of 261 Maryland towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Maryland average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Maryland school districts we grade (25)Better than 72%
Lower resultsHigher results
Maryland towns with similar household incomes (191)Better than 64%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 80,358 test results and a graduating class of 12,954 could put North Bethesda anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of North Bethesda’s students in the tested grades sat them (80,290 in math, 80,426 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve North Bethesda, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–54 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A
6–8Tilden MiddleMontgomery County Public SchoolsA−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A+

North Bethesda’s public schools are run by Montgomery County Public Schools. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Montgomery County Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 208 schools · 159,181 students · 14.1 per teacher (MD 14.5)
$20,107MD $20,258 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading54%
State average 45.1% · 80426 students tested
Math34%
State average 24.6% · 80290 students tested

North Bethesda vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Maryland towns that share North Bethesda’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
North BethesdaB+Montgomery County
RockvilleB+Montgomery County
Garrett Park—Montgomery County

All 2 neighbors share Montgomery County with North Bethesda, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in North Bethesda

20 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Maryland’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in North Bethesdaby address
Luxmanor Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Rockville
A−
684 students14:1Rate it →
Ashburton Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Bethesda
A−
871 students18:1Rate it →
Farmland Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Rockville
A
847 students16:1Rate it →
Garrett Park Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Kensington
A−
724 students17:1Rate it →
Tilden Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Rockville
A−
1,112 students16:1Rate it →
Walter Johnson High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bethesda
A+
3,016 students18:1Rate it →
Northwood High
High · Grades 9–12 · Rockville
A−
1,654 students14:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Rock Terrace School
High · Grades 6–12 · Rockville
B+
Special Education
77 students4:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Charles E Smith Jewish Day School
Grades PK–12 · Rockville
Private · Religious
860 students6:1Rate it →
Georgetown Preparatory School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic · All-boys
500 students8:1Rate it →
Academy of the Holy Cross
High · Grades 9–12 · Kensington
Private · Catholic · All-girls
371 students9:1Rate it →
Holy Cross Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Garrett Park
Private · Catholic
273 students18:1Rate it →
Green Acres School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Rockville
Private · Nonsectarian
161 students5:1Rate it →
Whole Kids Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Bethesda
Private · Nonsectarian
131 studentsRate it →
White Flint Children's House
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Rockville
Private · Nonsectarian
78 students17:1Rate it →
The Diener School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Special education
75 students3:1Rate it →
Fernwood Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Bethesda
Private · Nonsectarian
70 students18:1Rate it →
Alef Bet Montessori School Inc.
Elementary · Grades PK–3 · Bethesda
Private · Religious
65 students6:1Rate it →
Executive Child Development Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Rockville
Private · Nonsectarian
40 students20:1Rate it →
Manor Montessori School-Rockville
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Rockville
Private · Nonsectarian
21 students5:1Rate it →

Questions about North Bethesda’s schools

Are North Bethesda’s schools good?

By Maryland’s own tests, yes: the public schools North Bethesda children attend outscore 72% of Maryland’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #47 of 261 Maryland towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 64%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is North Bethesda in?

Montgomery County Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 159,181 students in 208 schools (2024–25).

Where do North Bethesda kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Walter Johnson High and Northwood High.

What is North Bethesda’s graduation rate?

90% of the class of 2023 in Montgomery County Public Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across Maryland.

How much does North Bethesda spend per student?

$20,107 in Montgomery County Public Schools (FY2024), against $20,258 across Maryland. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in North Bethesda?

Yes: Charles E Smith Jewish Day School (religious, grades PK–12, 860 students), Georgetown Preparatory School (catholic · all-boys, grades 9–12, 500 students), Academy of the Holy Cross (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 371 students), Holy Cross Elementary School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 273 students), Green Acres School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 161 students), Whole Kids Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 131 students), White Flint Children's House (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 78 students), The Diener School (special education, grades K–8, 75 students), Fernwood Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 70 students), Alef Bet Montessori School Inc. (religious, grades PK–3, 65 students), Executive Child Development Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 40 students) and Manor Montessori School-Rockville (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 21 students).

Parents talk

What North Bethesda families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near North Bethesda → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Maryland. Stars are from neighbors.