[3][4] It was decided to build a new high school along 30 acres on Old Bladensburg Road (later known as University Boulevard) in Silver Spring with planned opening in fall 1956.

At its dedication Arthur S. Adams, president of the American Council on Education, described the school as a "Magnificent Building" to a crowd of 1000 visitors.

[6] At the start of school in September 1956, there was no working bell system, no mirrors in the bathrooms, no lockers, and no cafeteria.

A September 2001 vote by the Board of Education banned ethnic and race-based team mascots at county schools.

Sports include baseball, basketball, bocce, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, lacrosse, pom pom, racquetball, side cheer, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling.

Prior to closing in 1985, Northwood had a number of division, county, regional, and state championships in a variety of sports.

Don Greenberg was an all county member of the football and baseball teams during the 1973 and 1974 seasons which are often referred to as the "glory years" of Northwood athletics.

[citation needed] Northwood High School has a special program in collaboration with Montgomery College called MC^2.

Finally, in 12th grade, rather than taking courses at Northwood, students are at Montgomery College for the whole school day.

The school is located at the northeast corner of University Boulevard West and Arcola Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland.

[5] Northwood has a recently remodeled multipurpose stadium where their football, soccer, track and lacrosse teams play, named after former Northwood Technology Education, (mostly Electronics) teacher David Kaplan who became an activist lobbying to keep the school open in 1985.

To address crowding in the Downcounty Consortium, an addition and facility upgrades are planned for the high school.

This expansion includes additional classrooms, reconfiguration of existing spaces and upgrades to building systems.

The asbestos removal for Northwood High School started in June 2024 and was expected to be completed on August 16, 2024.