U.S. News & World Report has released its 2027 Best Elementary Schools and Best Middle Schools rankings, with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) earning strong representation among Maryland’s highest-ranked schools.
According to the news shared by MCPS, 12 MCPS elementary schools placed among the top 25 in Maryland, while 40 ranked among the top 100 statewide. Seven Locks Elementary School led the district’s elementary schools, ranking No. 5 in Maryland, followed by Bannockburn Elementary at No. 7 and Wayside Elementary at No. 11. The 12 MCPS elementary schools ranked among Maryland’s top 25 are:
- No. 5: Seven Locks Elementary School
- No. 7: Bannockburn Elementary School
- No. 11: Wayside Elementary School
- No. 13: Chevy Chase Elementary School
- No. 15: Bells Mill Elementary School
- No. 17: Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School
- No. 18: Cedar Grove Elementary School
- No. 19: Carderock Springs Elementary School
- No. 21: Westbrook Elementary School
- No. 22: Wyngate Elementary School
- No. 23: Cold Spring Elementary School
- No. 25: Ritchie Park Elementary School
MCPS also performed well in the middle school rankings, with five schools placing among Maryland’s top 25 and 15 earning spots in the top 100. Thomas W. Pyle Middle School was the district’s highest-ranked middle school, coming in at No. 4 statewide. Cabin John Middle School followed at No. 10, while Herbert Hoover Middle School ranked No. 14. The five MCPS middle schools ranked among Maryland’s top 25 are:
- No. 4: Thomas W. Pyle Middle School
- No. 10: Cabin John Middle School
- No. 14: Herbert Hoover Middle School
- No. 20: Takoma Park Middle School
- No. 25: Robert Frost Middle School
The latest rankings follow U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best High Schools rankings, released over the summer, which placed Poolesville High School at No. 2 in Maryland.
The recognition also comes shortly after MCPS announced significant improvements in its 2026 Maryland Report Card results. According to the district, 134 schools, representing 67% of MCPS schools, earned four- or five-star ratings. That marks a notable improvement from three years ago, when fewer than half of the district’s schools received one of the two highest ratings.
Altogether, 55 MCPS elementary and middle schools ranked among Maryland’s top 100 in their respective categories, including 17 that placed among the top 25. See the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Elementary School rankings and Best Middle School rankings.
