Montgomery County Schools Earn Top Maryland Rankings

U.S. News & World Report's 2027 elementary and middle school rankings place dozens of Montgomery County Public Schools among Maryland's best.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Primary Education

Screen-print poster illustration of a low brick school building with tall windows, a flagpole, and an oak tree under a clear sky, in mustard, teal, and rust tones. — U.S. News & World Report's 2027 rankings placed twelve Montgomery County Public Schools elementary schools among Maryland's top 25, with Seven Locks Elementary ranked fifth statewide. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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U.S. News & World Report released its 2027 Best Elementary Schools and Best Middle Schools rankings, with twelve Montgomery County Public Schools elementary schools placing among Maryland's top 25. Seven Locks Elementary School ranked No. 5 in the state, and Thomas W. Pyle Middle School ranked No. 4.

Why it matters

The rankings place Maryland families and educators in Montgomery County among the state's highest-performing elementary and middle schools. The results follow a 2026 Maryland Report Card in which 67% of the district's schools earned four or five stars.

Of the district's schools, 134 earned four- or five-star ratings in the 2026 Maryland Report Card, representing 67% of Montgomery County Public Schools. The rankings do not indicate how individual schools performed on every measure, and the source does not detail the criteria behind each position.

The players

U.S. News & World Report

A national publication that ranks American schools and colleges annually using published methodologies and data.

Montgomery County Public Schools

The public school district serving Montgomery County, Maryland, which announced the rankings through its own news release.

The details

Montgomery County Public Schools shared the rankings through its own news release, citing placements for elementary and middle schools across Maryland. Fewer than half of the district's schools received one of the two highest state ratings three years ago, reflecting a shift in the district's standing.

Summer 2026: U.S. News released its 2026 Best High Schools rankings, with Poolesville High School ranking No. 2 in Maryland.
2026: Maryland Report Card results showed 67% of MCPS schools earned four or five stars.
November 7, 2026: U.S. News released its 2027 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings.

Season Trajectory

The district's standing has improved since fewer than half of its schools earned top state ratings three years ago, extending a multi-year climb under Maryland's star-rating system. The gains position Montgomery County among the state's leading districts for elementary and middle school performance.

Families weighing elementary or middle school options in Montgomery County can review the ranked schools and their state report card ratings. Parents comparing schools should check both the U.S. News placements and the individual Maryland Report Card results before making decisions.

The takeaway

Strong state report card ratings and national rankings can both help families compare schools, but each measures performance differently. Reviewing both sources gives a fuller picture of a school's standing.