- Enrollment
- 3,266
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Silver Spring, MD
Northwood High
Federal NCES profile for Northwood High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240048001366
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 59
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northwood High earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Maryland median. It is also one of the largest schools in Maryland.
- #3 of 6
- high schools in Silver Spring · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.1:1
- students per teacher
- 58.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Northwood High has class sizes near the Maryland median. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northwood High ranks #3 of 6 high schools in Silver Spring, MD.
School address
District: Montgomery County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240048001366 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-50 students YoY
Northwood High held near 1,745 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-50 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 126.6 → 129.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-50 students YoY 240048001366 · Silver Spring, MD High · MID · TRAD
1,654 enr · 13.1:1 · 58.3% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students)
Northwood High held near 1,745 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-50 headcount). Teacher FTE added 126.6 → 129.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Northwood High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Montgomery Bla
Montgomery Blair High
3,266 students
- Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson High
3,016 students
- Wheaton High
Wheaton High
2,794 students
- Gaithersburg H
Gaithersburg High
2,441 students
- Seneca Valley
Seneca Valley High
2,409 students
- This school
Northwood High
1,654 students
What this shows Northwood High reports 1,654 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northwood High compares
Northwood High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.1:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.3% | ▲ 19% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,654 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
1,654
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 31% in Maryland - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
46.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$19,456
per pupil, district-wide
- above Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors8.1 FTE
Per 204 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 59.8%
African American 23.3%
White 10.5%
Asian 3.8%
Two or More 2.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 59.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.5, Northwood High is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 19
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Montgomery County Public Schools reports $19,456 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northwood High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Blair High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walter Johnson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wheaton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gaithersburg High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Seneca Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northwood High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,016
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 2,794
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,441
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 2,409
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar high schools in Silver Spring
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Montgomery Blair High
Standard public school
3,266 students 17:1 students per teacher
Wheaton High
Standard public school
2,794 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
James Hubert Blake High
Standard public school
1,960 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
John F. Kennedy High
Standard public school
1,880 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Springbrook High
Standard public school
1,838 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,654 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northwood High
How many students attend Northwood High?
Northwood High has 1,654 students enrolled. It is a high school in Silver Spring, MD. CCD year-over-year: 1,795 (2022-23) → 1,745 (2023-24), nearly flat (-50).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwood High?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwood High is 13.1:1, which is 10% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northwood High?
58.3% of students at Northwood High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northwood High?
The largest demographic group at Northwood High is Hispanic or Latino at 59.8% of enrollment, in Silver Spring, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northwood High?
Northwood High has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Northwood High rank among high schools in Silver Spring?
By Resource Investment Index, Northwood High ranks #3 of 6 high schools in Silver Spring, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Silver Spring on the city page.
What other schools are in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Besides Northwood High, Montgomery County Public Schools also operates Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students), Walter Johnson High (3,016 students), and Wheaton High (2,794 students). See the Montgomery County Public Schools district page for the complete list.