Public schools in Bethesda, MD
17 open public schools with an address in Bethesda, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
17
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
16,142
16 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.8:1
Maryland median 14.2:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Bethesda public schools
The federal directory lists 17 public schools in Bethesda, MD: 10 elementary, 4 middle, 3 high. The 16 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 16,142 students, an average of 1,009 per school. The largest campus is Walter Johnson High (3,016 students), and the largest elementary school is Ashburton Elementary (871).
Every listed school belongs to Montgomery County Public Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16.8:1, higher than the statewide school median of 14.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 14% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Bethesda
Elementary schools in Bethesda
10| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashburton Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | KG–05 | 871 | 17.7:1 | |
| Bannockburn Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | KG–05 | 446 | 17.3:1 | |
| Bethesda Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | KG–05 | 645 | 16.2:1 | |
| Bradley Hills Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | KG–05 | 474 | 16.9:1 | |
| Burning Tree Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | KG–05 | 479 | 13.9:1 | |
| Carderock Springs Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | KG–05 | 363 | 13.4:1 | |
| Seven Locks Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | KG–05 | 376 | 14.9:1 | |
| Westbrook Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | KG–05 | 468 | 15.4:1 | |
| Wood Acres Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | PK–05 | 609 | 16.5:1 | |
| Wyngate Elementary Montgomery County Public Schools | KG–05 | 640 | 17.2:1 |
Middle schools in Bethesda
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.E.C.C.A Business Learning Institute Montgomery County Public Schools · Charter | 06–07 | — | — | |
| North Bethesda Middle Montgomery County Public Schools | 06–08 | 1,224 | 17.1:1 | |
| Thomas W. Pyle Middle Montgomery County Public Schools | 06–08 | 1,259 | 16.8:1 | |
| Westland Middle Montgomery County Public Schools | 06–08 | 839 | 15.8:1 |
High schools in Bethesda
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda-Chevy Chase High Montgomery County Public Schools | 09–12 | 2,377 | 16.7:1 | |
| Walt Whitman High Montgomery County Public Schools | 09–12 | 2,056 | 17.8:1 | |
| Walter Johnson High Montgomery County Public Schools | 09–12 | 3,016 | 18.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White50%
- Hispanic16.4%
- Black11.6%
- Asian13.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial7.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 16 Bethesda schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (16,142 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Bethesda
How many public schools are in Bethesda, MD?
The current NCES directory lists 17 open public schools with a location address in Bethesda: 10 elementary, 4 middle, 3 high. Together they reported 16,142 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Bethesda?
All listed public schools with an address in Bethesda belong to Montgomery County Public Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Bethesda?
Walter Johnson High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Bethesda, with 3,016 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Bethesda?
Yes. 1 of the 17 public schools in Bethesda are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including M.E.C.C.A Business Learning Institute. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Bethesda schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Bethesda public schools is 16.8:1, higher than the Maryland school median of 14.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Bethesda guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Maryland cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Maryland cities