sentences:  The Independent Studies Program is specifically for Poolesville resident students only and cannot be applied for by out-of-district students.Poolesville was ranked "Washington Post"s #1 Most Challenging High School in Maryland in 2016, U.S. News' #1 Best High School in Maryland, and "Newsweek"s #1 Top High School in Maryland in 2015.The school's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program was ranked #121 in "Newsweek"s 2019 nationwide survey of US high schools.