As we approach the end of 2025, we’re excited to highlight some of our most popular articles from the year. Originally published on August 30, this piece quickly became one of the most-read articles of 2025.
Seneca Valley High School, situated at 19401 Crystal Rock Dr. in Germantown, MD, holds the title of the largest public high school in Maryland by square footage. Established in 1974, the school was built on land that once belonged to the legendary baseball player Walter Johnson, who acquired it in 1935 and lived there until his death in 1946. Before the opening of Northwest High School in 1998, Seneca Valley served as the sole high school in Germantown. By 2025, it was ranked 16th among the largest high schools in Maryland based on enrollment.
During its first year of operation in 1974-1975, under the leadership of Principal Nathan Pearson, the school catered to students in grades seven through ten. The following year, it adjusted to serve grades nine through eleven, as eighth graders transitioned to the newly opened Ridgeview Junior High School in Gaithersburg, MD. By the 1976-1977 school year, Seneca Valley evolved into a senior high school, offering education for grades ten through twelve, and celebrated its inaugural graduation in June 1977. In 1988, the school adopted its current model as a comprehensive high school for grades nine through twelve. The original building was demolished in 2020, paving the way for a new facility that opened in 2021.
The newly constructed Seneca Valley High School spans between 440,000 and 452,000 square feet, making it the largest high school in the state. The design features two main sections: a four-story academic wing and a two-story public wing. Classrooms in the academic wing are arranged around two large courtyards, allowing for ample natural light and smooth navigation throughout the school. The public wing includes a 900-seat auditorium, athletic facilities, and a dining hall.
Additionally, the school boasts a Career and Technical Education wing that offers programs in automotive technology, construction trades, architectural design, and technical drawing. The building incorporates sustainable features, such as a green roof system. The campus is equipped with a multi-use turf field stadium, seven tennis courts, four basketball courts, and grass fields designated for baseball and softball.
In acknowledgment of its impressive design and construction, Seneca Valley High School received an Honorable Mention for the 2022 Excellence in Construction award from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Metro Washington and Virginia, as well as the Architectural and Interior Design Awards of Excellence for Outstanding Project from Learning by Design in 2022.
Information/photos courtesy of Seneca Valley High School and Dustin Construction. Video below courtesy of MCPS.
