Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School

Posted: January 7, 2026

BCC was overall a good academic experience, with supportive teachers who genuinely help students succeed and prepare for college. On-level and honors classes are manageable, while APs are challenging and stressful. The school offers many APs, honors, and electives. The building is large but not overcrowded, with decent facilities. Guidance counselors are kind but busy, so outside college guidance can be useful. The school is very diverse, with many clubs offered. However, some groups of students push religious beliefs and may pressure vulnerable students into Sunni Islam. Safety incidents like lockdowns, bomb threats, guns on campus, and a carjacking have occurred, but this is common at nearby schools as well. That said, if you choose your friends carefully, avoid negative influences, and stay aware, the environment can be safe and positive. I would say BCC is best for independent, confident, goal-oriented students who make smart choices.

Posted: January 7, 2026

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Posted: August 16, 2025

This school is the best high school.

Posted: August 16, 2025

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Posted: June 5, 2025

All of you guys saying that this school isn't good because you have been bullied is just a sob story, get over it. Still being stuck on the same topic because there is nothing else interesting going on with your lives isn't a reason to diminish a relatively okay school.

Posted: August 20, 2024

I am currently entering 10th grade this upcoming year, and this school isn't your average high school. There are so many clubs and activities here, the teachers are amazing, and the safety is well-maintained here. During lunch, you are able to do anything you want, like have lunch inside a classroom, in the hallway, or you can leave the building, as long as you return on time. The social-emotional support here is pretty good, and the special education team is amazing. There are also a lot of courses you can choose from. The subjects you learn here aren't bad.

Posted: August 20, 2024

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Posted: May 25, 2024

My three kids have attended this school. There are many clubs, sports and activities. BCC is a place where every kid can find their place and their people. The academics are challenging, most students and families care a lot about the school and the school community. The school prepares students very well for college. BCC has great outcomes for kids who are willing to put in the effort academically.

Posted: May 25, 2024

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Posted: January 15, 2023

Excellent school and administrators. They take discriminatory behavior very seriously and act upon it despite what one review stated. In fact, they take action on all reported misconduct. Unfortunately, if your child is accused of wrongdoing, they will look into it but that’s not such a bad thing.

Posted: January 15, 2023

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Posted: July 21, 2022

This is a wonderful school which prepares students to go onto highly selective colleges. The teachers care about students, and the engaged student will have many opportunities to have a high class quality experience. My son graduated from this school and is currently thriving at a selective university environment. He is responsible, open minded, and we owe much of that to the school systems that Bethesda had to offer.

Posted: July 21, 2022

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Posted: December 5, 2021

My family all went to school here. This is a school which at first glance seems like a decent one. It's won awards! Kids get into good colleges! Look how many clubs they have! If those sorts of empty accolades are what's important to you, then you might be very happy here. But if your child has any learning differences (ex: dyslexia) or isn't completely White looking, then prepare yourselves for the possibility of discrimination from school staff and faculty, and neglect in terms of teaching plans and parent engagement. My siblings and I are half-middle eastern/half-white. We dress and act like everyone else, but this didn't stop 1 of my siblings from being singled out by administration and accused by another (White) student of making threats at school when they absolutely did not. But apparently we "look like terrorists." My sibling was allowed back in school after it was revealed that no threats had been made, but was never apologized to by the administration or the other student. My sibling felt ashamed and singled out for the rest of their high school career. Not only did the school fail to recognize bullying by another student, when my parents pointed this out they were quite literally, laughed at. During one meeting my parents requested because they were upset by the situation, when the administration thought my parents couldn't hear my sibling was called names, demeaned, and my parent was also made fun of. I encouraged my parents who had this on tape to report it to the media and the school board. It was only concern for making things worse for my sibling that stopped them from doing this.

I am appalled at the discriminatory treatment my family received at the hands of this school. I am a physician now, and recently had the opportunity to move back to the area and choose a school system for my future children. I would NEVER choose BCC. Beyond the bullying against people of even a tiny bit of color, there is the fact that BCC is at best, a mediocre learning environment that leans heavily on the high median incomes of most parents who send their children to this school to generate their "student success". Most families in this area are wealthier, and will hire tutors, private coaches, etc to guarantee success for their children. Anyone will get into college after that money is spent, except for less-fortunate families. The moral environment of a school matters. BCC rewards the wealthy white. If you aren't both, go elsewhere.

Posted: December 5, 2021

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Posted: May 22, 2020

My second son is graduating now from BCC. I just want to say overall how pleased I have been with the school, especially academically and in the way it has prepared them for college. They both are going on to great colleges, and seem utterly comfortable, if not advanced, in their ability to tackle the work. Many of their teachers were outstanding, and engaged them intellectually and personally -- they will always remember those teachers and we are grateful to them. The social studies, history and math courses they have taken have been amazing. Both my kids did the IB program. They learned so much at BCC -- they know so much more than I did coming out college... and they are utterly engaged and knowledgable about current affairs and major topics of the day. Neither of my kids got hugely engaged in extracurriculars, aside from the wonderful debate team, but overall in terms of how it has prepared them intellectually and socially, it was excellent.

Posted: May 22, 2020

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Posted: October 2, 2018

Posted: October 2, 2018

The teachers truly care about their students

Posted: October 2, 2018

Flllowing the example of leadership the school is growing backstabbing and power struggles

Posted: October 2, 2018

Principal Donna Redmond Jones is a bully. Staff are leaving as quickly as they can. She does not support teachers and rules by grade and intimidation. She has teachers telling on each other. Everyone is scared. She is awful!

Posted: October 2, 2018

Posted: October 2, 2018

The leadership bullies it’s own teachers.

And The counselors are useless.

Posted: October 2, 2018

Poor. I could not wait to get out of there. The principal should be fired. Then all the teachers worth anything would stay .

Teacher retention at this school should be investigated. So to should be the number of complaints to the union. Principal is an evil person.

Posted: May 21, 2017

It has an amazing music program with amazing music teachers!

Posted: May 21, 2017

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Posted: June 16, 2015

Amazing well rounded student body! Helpful faculty that genuinely want kids to succeed! Go barons!

Posted: June 16, 2015

Best time of my life! Amazing inspiring teachers and supportive peers. Here I found my passion for psychology thanks to the AP courses. Proud alumni!

Posted: January 5, 2015

Of course parents think the school is great because they don't even know what goes on! There's so much pressure at the school, it results in most of them getting high or drunk every weekend. I lost a lot of friends due to that, but I didn't start out with a lot of friends either because you aren't really "socially accepted" unless you are rich or have connections. A lot of bullying goes on at the school and I don't think people really realize it that much. No one says anything because they are too afraid of what the other people might think. That's how bad it is. I'm so glad I don't go there anymore.

Posted: November 12, 2013

B-CC's student population increases every year, and it is quite over crowded (I believe approaching 2000 students soon). Students can fall through the cracks. The crowding also makes it very competitive to get on varsity sports teams, student leadership positions, drama and music opportunities, etc. There are some great teachers, and the diversity of the student body is nice. But teachers and counselors generally have too big a load to give personal attention to the students that are not aggressive. My son simply can't learn Spanish conversation in a class of 31 students, for example. I think the size does help reduce bullying -- it is certainly easy to get "lost in the crowd" and escape unwanted attention. Great school for self motivated go-getters with strong executive functioning skills. Other kids might be a bit lost.

Posted: July 26, 2011

I hate the school so much. i went there for 10th grade and knew most of the kids from elementary school and 7th grade, so i thought i could reconnect with them. when i got there no one talked to me and a week there i got mean comments. there was one kid who didnt like me from elementary school and that kid got the rest of the school to hate me too. no one thinks for their self. they just stalk your facebook and say the meanest comments. i only had some friends in 9th grade. my whole grade didnt like me. some kids i didnt even know would say bad things about me. they are the rudest meanest fakest most obnoxious kids. they even look mean. dont listen to any other good things about this school. nothing good about the kids at all. the only good thing about the school are the teachers. the teachers were actually pretty good. i went to wj in 9th grade and the kids had more of their own mind there. do not go to bcc...(Bullying Children Clusters)=BCC

Posted: April 14, 2011

I am a parent of a current Senior and Freshman. B-CC is a wonderful option -- I have found the great majority of teachers engaged and excellent. I have also found the administration to be concerned about the kids and very engaged with them. There are a wide variety of classes available. There are many extracurricular opportunities. I am a working mother and I am ever grateful for the cadre of dedicated parents who provide a high level of support to the music, academic, and sports programs. There is no perfect school and I am highly concerned about the effects of continuing budget cuts on class size, teacher quality and the extracurricular programs, but I value BCC for its academic standards, diversity, and size which give students the space to be themselves. And the kids have a great situation going to school in a recently renovated beautiful building right in downtown Bethesda. There is pressure to succeed and do well, but I'd rather have high expectations than low ones.

Posted: April 13, 2011

I have to counter the view that B-CC High School is full of obnoxious students and bullies. I admit that when we enrolled our daughter this year, after years of private schooling, I was a little trepidatious. I even went so far as to look at private high schools before the year started. But after seeing the commitment of the parents and the excellence of the teaching staff, her very committed guidance counselor, the involvement of the 9th grade principal and the options she has for extracurricular activities and school bonding, we elected to keep her at B-CC. I am so very glad we did - she is exceptionally happy and we couldn't be more pleased.

Posted: April 13, 2011

My sons have had a largely positive experience at B-CC. Nice, diverse population, great friends, and mostly excellent, caring teachers. We love the urban vibe and the fact that they can walk to downtown Bethesda for lunch. Overall, it was a good choice for us

Posted: April 13, 2011

We have had a fabulous experience at BCC. My son comes home excited by his classes and motivated to learn. I've found his teachers responsive and caring. He has an outstanding group of friends and I find most of the parents intelligent, down to earth and engaged in the school. I feel he is getting a first rate education in an exciting, diverse environment. Yes, there is pressure to succeed (hello, this is Bethesda), but I don't feel it overwhelms the school.

Posted: April 9, 2011

I completely agree and must add that I have never encountered more obnoxious stuedents and parents. I know that every school has their "issues" with bullying, but BCC seems to have much more, and when addressed to parents - - they turn the other cheek. It's no wonder their children are bullies. I am sure they are missing the attention from home as their parents are more concerned with their social status. As a parent, I need a complete balance; a school that cares for my son as an individual and dedicates themselves to helping him succeed in the future and not concerned only with their TEST SCORES, which seems to be the case in all of the Bethesda public schools. I rather move than keep our son there.