Potomac High Schools Top Country in Math and Science

and have been ranked as among the nation’s best high schools in math and science by the U.S. News and World Report.

Six Montgomery County high schools made the list of 208 “Best High Schools for Math and Science” published by U.S. News and World Report on Sept. 27, according to a Montgomery County Public Schools release.

The Montgomery County high schools that were listed are: 

• Winston Churchill (65th)
• Thomas S. Wootton (tied for 68th)
• Richard Montgomery (tied for 71st)
• Walt Whitman (89th)
• Walter Johnson (tied for 133rd)
• Montgomery Blair (154th)

These six schools are the only Maryland schools to make the list.

To be considered for the ranking, schools first had to qualify for the Gold, Silver and Honorable Mention ranking of the U.S. News "Best High Schools" list published in December 2009. Nearly 600 high schools were eligible to be ranked using data from students who graduated in 2008.

The schools were then scored based on student participation and performance in math and science Advanced Placement exams. According to the report, Churchill has an 81 percent AP participation rate. Of those students who do participate in AP exams, 92 percent pass the exams.

Of Whitman students, 83 percent participate in AP exams, and 95% of those students pass.