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Northwest High

Northwest cluster · 13501 Richter Farm Rd, 20874

School website ↗ · Northwest HS PTSA ↗

71.6%MCAP ELA
7.8%MCAP Math
—Graduation
2,294Students

Academics

MCAP proficiency over time. Privacy-suppressed years break the line.

% proficient by subject
Data table
% proficient by subject
Series201920212022202320242025
ELA56.4%67%57.6%58.7%64.3%71.6%
Math13.1%7%—10.1%—7.8%
Science62.8%58.6%————

2020 paused; general Science is 2019 & 2021 only. HS Math (Algebra 1) is taken early — read the ELA 10 figure as the headline.

Class size

Average class size by grade band over recent years, with the latest year measured against MCPS's published guideline.

Average class size by school year
10 14 18 22 26 different basis 2022-20232023-20242024-2025 18.1 24.8 26.3 19.1 23.8 22.5
EnglishOther 2022-2023 · not comparable
Data table
Average class size by school year — average class size by school year (* = not comparable)
Series2022-20232023-20242024-2025
English18.1 *24.826.3
Other19.1 *23.822.5
  • English 26.3 target 30 · within guideline
  • Other 22.5 target 33 · within guideline

Source: MCPS School Profiles class-size extract vs. MCPS published class-size guidelines · Updated: 2024-2025

Proficiency by student group

This school's MCAP ELA proficiency by group (latest year). The spread is the opportunity gap.

Two or more 86.1%
White 82.3%
Asian 81.2%
Non-econ. disadvantaged 78.9%
ADA / 504 76.5%
Female 75.5%
Students w/o disabilities 75.1%
Male 67.5%
Black 61.5%
Hispanic 61.0%
Econ. disadvantaged 56.3%
FARMS 54.5%
Students w/ disabilities 35.6%
Multilingual (EL) 17.5%

4 groups not shown — too few students to report (withheld for privacy, not zero).

Special education

A priority lens: how students with disabilities are served, and the gap to close.

ELA 71.6% all · 35.6% SWD · 36 pt gap
Math 7.8% all · 14.3% SWD · -6.5 pt gap
Science 62.1% all · 12.7% SWD · 49.4 pt gap
In general classrooms
87.1%
80%+ of the day · 2025
Students served
223
9.7% of enrollment
Caseload
13.8
students per special-ed teacher
Special-ed staff (FTE)
16.2
teachers · 14.688 paraeducators · 2025
Inclusion (LRE) over time
Data table
Inclusion (LRE) over time
Series202320242025
Inclusion %87.7%88.7%87.1%

Inclusion (Least Restrictive Environment) is the latest year; staffing is from 2025. Higher inclusion and a lower caseload generally point to more individualized support.

Source: MCPS School Profiles / unified facts (LRE, staffing, SWD enrollment) · Updated: inclusion 2025, staffing 2025

Staffing

Staff relative to enrollment. The chip compares this school to the typical high school at this level.

Teachers
6.1
0.2 vs. typical
per 100 students
Support services
1
0.3 vs. typical
per 100 students
Counselors
4.4
0.1 vs. typical
per 1,000 students

Special education & multilingual support

Special-ed teachers
7.3
0.6 vs. typical
per 100 students with disabilities
Special-ed paraeducators
6.7
1.2 vs. typical
per 100 students with disabilities
ELD teachers
3.1
0.2 vs. typical
per 100 multilingual learners

Source: MCPS unified facts — staff FTE per student (support services = instructional support staff)

Programs & services

Special, choice, and support programs offered at this school — from magnet and application programs to career pathways and special-education services.

Local - Application

  • Ulysses Signature Program

Academics

  • Academy of Fine Arts
  • Dual Enrollment - Early College
  • Dual Enrollment - Montgomery College Middle College (MC2)
  • Dual Enrollment - Virtual Middle College
  • Dual Enrollment (Jump Start)

CTE

  • Academy of Finance POS
  • Accounting and Finance POS
  • Apprenticeship Maryland POS
  • Biotechnology POS
  • Child Development Associate (CDA) POS
  • College/Career Research & Development (CCRD) POS
  • Computer Science/Code.org POS
  • Early Child Development (ECD) POS
  • Fire Science and Rescue POS

Student Support

  • Bridge To Wellness
  • George B Thomas Center

Special Education

  • Learning and Academic Disabilities (LAD)/Resource
  • Social Emotional Special Education Services (SESES)
  • Speech/Language Resource K-12
  • Transition Resource Services

Source: MCPS Office of Student Affairs program catalog (2025). Find schools by program →

Students

Total enrollment over time
Data table
Total enrollment over time
Series20212022202320242025
Enrollment2,5982,5192,4842,3862,300

By race / ethnicity (2025).

Black 26.2%
Hispanic 26.2%
White 21.3%
Asian 20.6%
Two or more 5.7%

Climate

Attendance and chronic absenteeism (absent 10%+ of days).

Attendance & chronic absenteeism
Data table
Attendance & chronic absenteeism
Series201920212022202320242025
Attendance92.1%—92.9%91.6%91%90.9%
Chronic absenteeism24.8%13.2%27.5%30.1%27.6%29.7%

Data: MSDE State Report Card (2019–2025), MCPS School Profiles & unified facts, U.S. Census ACS 2024, MD SDAT. “≥95” / “≤5” and dropped groups are privacy-suppressed for small counts — withheld, not zero. Independent project, not affiliated with MCPS or MSDE.