Montgomery County currently has 25 public high schools, with two new additions, Crown High School in Gaithersburg and the reopened Woodward High School in North Bethesda, set to join the list in the coming years. While the county has experienced significant growth and modernization, several of its schools trace their roots back well over a century. Here’s a closer look at the three oldest high schools in Montgomery County Public Schools (that still exist in MCPS):
Richard Montgomery High School (1892): Richard Montgomery High School, originally established as Rockville High School in 1892, is the oldest public high school in the county. To avoid confusion: today’s Rockville High School wasn’t founded until 1968. The original Rockville High was renamed Richard Montgomery in 1935, honoring Revolutionary War hero General Richard Montgomery. The change was made to distinguish it from Rockville Colored High School, which had opened in 1927 to serve Black students during segregation. Richard Montgomery has undergone several rebuilds, most recently a major modernization completed in 2007, making it both the oldest and one of the most state-of-the-art high schools in MCPS today.
Gaithersburg High School (1904): Gaithersburg High School holds the title of the second oldest public high school in Montgomery County, opening its doors in 1904 as “Gaithersburg School.” At its founding, it was a K–12 institution located on the site where Gaithersburg Elementary School now stands. Remarkably, the building’s façade still carries the inscription “Gaithersburg School,” a lasting reminder of its origins. Gaithersburg High moved to its current location in 1951, with a full modernization completed in 2013. Over its long history, it has grown alongside the city itself, reflecting the area’s evolution from a small agricultural town to a bustling suburban hub.
Sherwood High School (1906): Rounding out the top three is Sherwood High School, established in 1906 in Sandy Spring. Its name comes from the farm on which it was built, which itself was named after Robin Hood’s legendary Sherwood Forest. The original building served the community until 1950, when it was replaced with a new facility. Later renovations between 1989 and 1991 modernized the school while preserving its historic role as a cornerstone of the northeast Montgomery County community. Today, Sherwood is recognized for its strong academics, vibrant arts programs, and competitive athletics, continuing a legacy that has made it one of the county’s most storied schools.
