- Enrollment
- 3,266
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Bethesda, MD
Walt Whitman High
Federal NCES profile for Walt Whitman High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 240048000941
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 49
📋 Attendance 79
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walt Whitman High earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Maryland schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Maryland.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Bethesda · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.7:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 5.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Walt Whitman High has class sizes larger than 87% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walt Whitman High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Bethesda, MD.
School address
District: Montgomery County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240048000941 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+24 students YoY
Walt Whitman High held near 2,042 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+24 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 116.8 → 117.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+24 students YoY 240048000941 · Bethesda, MD High · LARGE · TRAD
2,056 enr · 17.7:1 · 5.0% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: Montgomery Blair High (3,266 students)
Walt Whitman High held near 2,042 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+24 headcount). Teacher FTE added 116.8 → 117.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Walt Whitman 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
Walt Whitman High
2,056 students
What this shows Walt Whitman High reports 2,056 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walt Whitman High compares
Walt Whitman 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 | 17.7:1 | ▲ 22% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.0% | ▼ 90% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,056 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,056
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 90% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 87% in Maryland - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
8.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
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
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 257 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 56.8%
Asian 16.1%
Hispanic or Latino 12.5%
Two or More 8.5%
African American 5.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 56.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.5, Walt Whitman High is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 29
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 Walt Whitman High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Blair High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Walter Johnson High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wheaton High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gaithersburg High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Seneca Valley High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walt Whitman 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 Bethesda
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~2,056 students)
Frequently asked questions about Walt Whitman High
How many students attend Walt Whitman High?
Walt Whitman High has 2,056 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bethesda, MD. CCD year-over-year: 2,018 (2022-23) → 2,042 (2023-24), nearly flat (+24).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walt Whitman High?
The student-teacher ratio at Walt Whitman High is 17.7:1, which is 22% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Walt Whitman High?
5.0% of students at Walt Whitman High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walt Whitman High?
The largest demographic group at Walt Whitman High is White at 56.8% of enrollment, in Bethesda, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walt Whitman High?
Walt Whitman High has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher 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 Walt Whitman High rank among high schools in Bethesda?
By Resource Investment Index, Walt Whitman High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Bethesda, 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 Bethesda on the city page.
What other schools are in Montgomery County Public Schools?
Besides Walt Whitman 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.