by Diana McDermott ‘13

Five MCPS high schools have been ranked in the National High School Challenge Index Top 100 List. These schools are Bethesda-Chevy Chase (59), Richard Montgomery (65), Poolesville (69), Walter Johnson (82) and Winston Churchill (98). Sherwood ranked 346th in the nation and 46th out of Maryland schools.

The Challenge Index ranks high schools based upon the number of AP or IB tests given each year divided by the number of seniors who graduated.

Some MCPS schools saw dramatic improvement from previous rankings, including Northwood which moved up 326 spaces from 2010, Seneca Valley changed 232 places and Watkins Mill increased 117 places since the 2010 list.

If this wasn’t impressive enough, MCPS also has eight of the top 10 ranked schools in Maryland, and all 25 of MCPS high schools fall in the top 56 of Maryland schools. Bethesda-Chevy Chase is the number one ranked Maryland school on the Challenge Index.