Blog Post

A great school district presents a significant influence on parents who are looking for a new home. In Maryland, the choice is easy: Poolesville, hands down. Poolesville High School again outclassed the others, according to U.S. News & World Report’s report of Best High Schools in the country, released in April 2020. Poolesville High School earned the top spot, #1 in Maryland. PHS also ranked #90 among 24,000 high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia, putting it in the top 1% of high schools nationwide! The publication gave Poolesville High School an overall score of 99.49 out of a possible 100.

U.S. News & World Report also ranked the school as: 

• #1 in Montgomery County Public High Schools
• #3 in Washington, DC Metro Area High Schools
• #31 in Magnet High Schools in the U.S.
• #39 in STEM High Schools in the U.S.

The report cards are in

Poolesville High School has also earned high marks from other websites that analyze schools. Niche.com gave it an “A+” and GreatSchools marked PHSt as a perfect “10” for college and career readiness. SchoolDigger also praises Poolesville High School, giving it a 5-star rating. The Washington Post included Poolesville among its list of the “Most Challenging High Schools in the U.S.”

What’s so outstanding about this school? The academic program is stellar. The curriculum is designed to challenge students, while the low student: teacher ratio of 18:1 provides hands-on support. In the state-administered reading proficiency tests, a staggering 81% of PHS students met or exceeded expectations and another 30% met those standards, a reflection of the success achieved here.

Students continue to shine on academic challenges. Nearly every senior (92%) took an Advanced Placement exam; 88% passed, and 93% scored a 3 or better, meaning they qualified to receive college credit for their high school academics.

U.S. News uses a variety of sources to evaluate the schools. The U.S. Department of Education’s Common Core of Data provides fundamental data on enrollment and demographics. Statewide math and reading level assessment tests, Advanced Placement test data, and graduation percentage give a clearer picture of a school’s success. The analysts look at college readiness, a reflection of how many students took at least one Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test in the past school year, and how many seniors passed at least one AP or IB exam in high school.

Brightwell Crossing—another Poolesville top pick

So, if you’re a parent of a school-aged child, do the math. It all adds up to the fact that Poolesville is the smart choice for your next home. And you can experience the quality lifestyle in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods here, The Reserve at Brightwell Crossing. Kettler Forlines Homes still has homesites in this master-planned community. We’re building distinctive homes that surpass indoor air quality and energy efficiency standards. 

Our floor plans offer so many options, including a first-floor owner’s suite and flex rooms that can be converted into a home office, homework zone, hobby area, fitness studio, rec room, or whatever your family needs. You can even add a guest suite to the first floor to give more independence to adult family members in a multi-generational household.

Browse our homes, sized from 2,493 to more than 7,000 square feet. Get creative with the interactive floor plans that make it easy to change the design to your liking. Reach out to Kettler Forlines Homes to set up a virtual or private appointment to explore The Reserve at  Brightwell Crossing, where the future is as bright as our students!