Can I use Washington County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Washington County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Washington County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Washington County?

Start with the 44 listed public schools and 1 district entry, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Washington County Schools & Education

Name: Washington County, Maryland Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Washington County, Maryland

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

73/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

91.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 89.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,273

National avg $13,239

State avg $10,395

School Score

73/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 72/100

State Score Position

#13

of 24 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Washington County

Measured School Summary

Washington County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 73/100 and a graduation rate of 91.0%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Washington County spends $10,273 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 2% above the Maryland average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Washington County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

44 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

73/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #13 of 24 Maryland counties with school score data.

Completion

91.0%

1.6 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,273

$122 below the state average

School coverage

1 district represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Washington County has 44 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Washington County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Dominant-district county

Washington County Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 44 of 44 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#13

of 24 Maryland counties with school score data. The county score is 1 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Washington County Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

22,297 students

Elementary 25Middle 7High 10Other 2

44 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Washington County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 44 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Washington County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Data Story

Washington County Schools Reflect Broad Mix of Urban and Suburban Locales

Education data brief for Washington County, Maryland.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Lead metric:District structure

Washington County Public Schools features a diverse district structure, with schools distributed across city, suburban, and rural locales. The district operates 44 public schools, including 16 city schools and 17 suburban schools, serving 22,297 students. The graduation rate is 91.0%, which is higher than the national average of 87% and the state average of 89.4%. The county’s composite school score is 73.2, aligning closely with the Maryland average of 72.1 and exceeding the national median of 50.0. Per-pupil expenditure is $10,273, which is just below the state average of $10,395 and significantly lower than the national average of $13,000. South Hagerstown High is the largest school in the district, enrolling 1,487 students. The system includes two special education schools and one alternative school but no charter schools. Examine the NCES Common Core of Data for comprehensive district demographics and longitudinal records.

Sources

NCES Common Core of Data
U.S. Census Bureau ACS

School Overview

Total Schools

in Washington County

Reported Enrollment

22,297

44 schools reporting

School Districts

district

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary25

Middle7

High10

Other2

1 School District in Washington County

Washington County Public Schools

Guide

44 schools

22,297 students enrolled

Open district guide

44 Public Schools in Washington County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 3 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 44 matching schools

Public schools in Washington County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
South Hagerstown High	Profile	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21740City: Small	9–12	High	1,487
North Hagerstown High	Profile	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21742City: Small	9–12	High	1,438
Williamsport High	Profile	Washington County Public Schools	Williamsport, 21795Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	959
Western Heights Middle	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21740City: Small	6–8	Middle	903
Northern Middle	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21742City: Small	6–8	Middle	848
E. Russell Hicks Middle	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21740City: Small	6–8	Middle	824
Springfield Middle	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Williamsport, 21795Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	748
Boonsboro High	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Boonsboro, 21713Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	747
Smithsburg High	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Smithsburg, 21783Suburb: Midsize	9–12	High	717
Salem Avenue Elementary	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21740City: Small	PK–5	Primary	687
Maugansville Elementary	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Maugansville, 21767Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	676
Pangborn Elementary	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21740City: Small	PK–5	Primary	673
Rockland Woods Elementary	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21740Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	625
Boonsboro Middle	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Boonsboro, 21713Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	610
Ruth Ann Monroe Primary	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21742Suburb: Midsize	PK–2	Primary	567
Boyd J. Michael III Technical High School	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21740City: Small	11–12	Vocational	548
Smithsburg Middle	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Smithsburg, 21783Suburb: Midsize	6–8	Middle	534
Williamsport Elementary	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Williamsport, 21795Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	514
Boonsboro Elementary	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Boonsboro, 21713Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	509
Lincolnshire Elementary	Record	Washington County Public Schools	Hagerstown, 21740Suburb: Midsize	PK–5	Primary	496

South Hagerstown High

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21740 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,487 students

North Hagerstown High

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21742 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,438 students

Williamsport High

Washington County Public Schools

Williamsport, 21795 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High959 students

Western Heights Middle

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21740 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle903 students

Northern Middle

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21742 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle848 students

E. Russell Hicks Middle

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21740 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle824 students

Springfield Middle

Washington County Public Schools

Williamsport, 21795 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle748 students

Boonsboro High

Washington County Public Schools

Boonsboro, 21713 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High747 students

Smithsburg High

Washington County Public Schools

Smithsburg, 21783 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High717 students

Salem Avenue Elementary

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21740 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary687 students

Maugansville Elementary

Washington County Public Schools

Maugansville, 21767 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary676 students

Pangborn Elementary

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21740 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary673 students

Rockland Woods Elementary

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21740 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary625 students

Boonsboro Middle

Washington County Public Schools

Boonsboro, 21713 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle610 students

Ruth Ann Monroe Primary

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21742 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–2Primary567 students

Boyd J. Michael III Technical High School

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21740 / City: Small

Record11–12Vocational548 students

Smithsburg Middle

Washington County Public Schools

Smithsburg, 21783 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle534 students

Williamsport Elementary

Washington County Public Schools

Williamsport, 21795 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary514 students

Boonsboro Elementary

Washington County Public Schools

Boonsboro, 21713 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary509 students

Lincolnshire Elementary

Washington County Public Schools

Hagerstown, 21740 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordPK–5Primary496 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,273

State avg $10,395

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Washington County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Maryland counties have the highest graduation rates?

Calvert County (96.0%), Carroll County (96.0%), and Queen Anne's County (96.0%) currently lead Maryland among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Maryland?

Across Maryland counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $10,395. The highest current county values are Worcester County ($12,869), Somerset County ($11,870), and Baltimore city ($11,733). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Washington County?

Washington County has a school score of 73/100, which is a higher measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Washington County?

The high school graduation rate in Washington County is 91.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Washington County spend per student?

Washington County spends $10,273 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Counties with Similar School Profile

St. Mary's County

Maryland

-0 pts

73/100

School score

Garrett County

Maryland

+2 pts

75/100

School score

Frederick County

Maryland

+2 pts

75/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Jul 7, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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