The ranking below is based on the percentage of schools within a county which have placed in the top 10% of all schools statewide.
A school's overall rank is based on its combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Schools are ranked and compared within their own state only.
Statewide Range: 20%
28%
Avg. Statewide: 22%
Top-Ranked Counties With Best Public Schools in Maryland (2026)
County
% of Schools in
Top 10% Statewide
Top 10% Statewide
Top-Ranked Schools
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
Rank: #11.
28%
(21 out of 75)
(21 out of 75)
Rank: #2-32 - 3.
21%
(44 out of 211)
(44 out of 211)
- Walt Whitman High School
Rank: #1 of 1,338 (Top 1%)
(Math: 85% | Reading: 90%) - Thomas S. Wootton High School
Rank: #3 of 1,338 (Top 1%)
(Math: 83% | Reading: 89%) - Winston Churchill High School
Rank: #4 of 1,338 (Top 1%)
(Math: 84% | Reading: 87%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Montgomery County, MD Schools
Rank: #2-32 - 3.
21%
(3 out of 14)
(3 out of 14)
- Ocean City Elementary School
Rank: #2 of 1,338 (Top 1%)
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 90-94%) - Pocomoke Elementary School
Rank: #43 of 1,338 (Top 5%)
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%) - Snow Hill Elementary School
Rank: #87 of 1,338 (Top 10%)
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Worcester County, MD Schools
Rank: #44.
20%
(9 out of 44)
(9 out of 44)
- Marriotts Ridge High School
Rank: #30 of 1,338 (Top 5%)
(Math: 73% | Reading: 80%) - Freedom District Elementary School
Rank: #33 of 1,338 (Top 5%)
(Math: 72% | Reading: 80%) - Mount View Middle School
Rank: #62 of 1,338 (Top 5%)
(Math: 66% | Reading: 77%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Carroll County, MD Schools
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.