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Thousands of Bethesda-area parents send their children
to private schools each year. And while there are dozens
of excellent private schools in the area, not every
school is right for every child. Each school has its
own strengths, characteristics and culture. Here’s a
look at some of the schools and what they’re known for.
By Carrie Dietz
Independent College Prep Schools
The Bullis School
Potomac
Head of School Tom Farquhar says the Bullis School’s serious grading standard
is well known among the country’s 100 most selective
colleges, and that the school’s emphasis on writing
is often noted by college admissions staff. “Our students
can write,” Farquhar says. In addition, athletics is
an integral part of life at the coeducational school
for 620 students in grades 3-12. Athletic Director Mike
DelGrande says the discipline required in the classroom
at Bullis is the same as what’s required on the athletic
field. www.bullis.org.
Georgetown Day
Washington, D.C.
A parent-owned, coeducational school of approximately 1,000 pre-K-12 students
on two campuses, Georgetown Day is well known for its
rigorous academics and outstanding arts programs. Both
campuses feature libraries, full-size gymnasiums and
athletic fields, black box theaters, fully equipped
science labs (four in the high school and six in the
lower and middle schools), art studios, technology/multimedia
labs, and student lounges and activity areas. Typically,
more than one-third of the graduating students are National
Merit Finalists, Semifinalists or Commended Scholars,
according to the school’s Web site. www.gds.org.
The Holton-Arms School
Bethesda
“Our students are well prepared and college admissions offices know that,”
says Tish Peterson, co-director of college counseling
at Holton-Arms. Founded in 1901, the college preparatory
school for about 650 girls in grades 3-12 offers challenging
and dynamic classes. One such class combines the teaching
of U.S. and European history to give students a coordinated
view of history—and double AP credit. The school’s chorus
traveled to New Zealand and Australia last summer to
perform at the Sidney Opera House. www.holton-arms.edu.
Landon School
Bethesda
With a curriculum comprised entirely of college preparatory courses, the
all-boys Landon School in Bethesda for grades 3-12 is
a good choice for students with their eyes on top schools.
The non-religious school founded in 1929 enrolls 675
students and embraces the model of the “teacher-coach-mentor,”
making it possible for teachers and students to interact
in and out of the classroom. “It is in knowing each
boy so well—how he learns and how he grows—that Landon
stands out among its peer schools,” says Headmaster
David Armstrong. According to the school’s philosophy,
upper school academics are the proving ground for the
transition to life after high school, and Landon’s challenging
curriculum supports just that. www.landon.net.
The Madeira School
McLean
More than 100 years old, the all-girls school for grades 9-12 offers both
day school and boarding options. “We have strong, independent
women at The Madeira School,” says Meredyth Cole, assistant
head of the 320-student school. She attributes some
of the school’s character to the diverse student body
(14 percent of its students are international). Students
participate in co-curriculum internships that send them
to places like Capitol Hill and corporate offices for
real-life experience. Cole says that in her 20 years
with the school 100 percent of graduates have gone on
to colleges or universities. www.madeira.org.
Maret School
Washington, D.C.
As the only K-12, coeducational college-preparatory school in the Washington
area on a single campus, Maret is able to foster strong
mentoring relationships between older and younger students,
says Brenda Profit, assistant head of school. For example,
upper and lower school students are paired as reading
buddies; they work together on service projects and
can act as student aides in classrooms. Advanced Placement
(AP) courses are not part of the general curriculum
but are available on a case-by-case basis, according
to Profit. The school refers to itself as “life preparatory”
and offers courses in life-learning skills that include
strategies for note- and test-taking and time management.
Enrollment is about 600 and the student teacher ratio
is 6-1, Profit says. www.maret.org.
McLean School of Maryland
Potomac
A coeducational college preparatory school of approximately 400 students
in grades K–12, the McLean School’s focus is on making
education accessible, stimulating and meaningful for
a broad range of learners, according to Darlene Pierro,
head of school. By adding Latin and American Sign Language
to the school’s foreign language curriculum during the
past few years, the school expanded its rigorous curriculum
to address different types of learners, Pierro says.
Latin, she explains, appeals to students who might not
want to learn Spanish; one language is auditory, the
other is visual. The school began adding high school
grades in 2000 and in 2007 graduated its fifth senior
class. www.mcleanschool.org.
The Newport School
Silver Spring
Known as Town and Country Day School when it opened in 1930, the small Newport
School for infants–grade 12 offers a diverse, rigorous
education in a comfortable, family-like setting, says
Letty Rosen, director of admissions and assistant head
of school. “One nice thing about being small is that
middle school students, who are at a vulnerable age,
may have some of the same teachers for several years
in a row,” she says. Enrollment is currently 125, but
the school has plans to grow to 250. Newport moved into
a new building in 2006. The school’s focus on technology
includes issuing fifth-grade students laptop computers
for classroom lectures and homework. www.newportschool.org.
The Potomac School
McLean
The coeducational school’s belief is that students learn best when they learn
together—hiking as a group through the school’s 90-acre
campus, gathering to listen to guest speakers or debating
social behavior in an upper school ethics class. College
preparatory classes are enhanced by a full-time writing
center. And middle school students have daily meetings
with their advisers to ensure they get as much help
as they need to develop academically and socially. The
school of approximately 900 students runs from K–grade
12. www.potomacschool.org.
College
Prep Schools with a Religious
Affiliation
The Academy of the Holy Cross
Kensington
Courses such as Middle Eastern Studies and Democratic Thought, which explores
the governing choices of individual societies, enhance
the rigorous college preparatory curriculum at the all-girls
Catholic school for grades 9–12. Honors and AP courses
are offered in most disciplines. Established in 1968
by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the school emphasizes
the importance of religion in the school community.
The school’s Madeleva Scholars Program is an optional
certificate program that recognizes outstanding women
in Catholic literacy and academics. The program encourages
the school’s 600 students to achieve the qualities of
Holy Cross’ philosophy in academics, service, leadership,
activities and athletics and enrichment. All students
are required to complete the school’s Christian Service
Commitment, which takes the girls to places such as
nursing homes and area elementary schools. www.academyoftheholycross.org.
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (JDS)
Rockville
JDS is an independent, coeducational school committed to “educational excellence,
a values-based environment, Jewish learning, pluralism
and mutual respect,” according to its Web site. The
school offers a challenging, dual curriculum of General
Studies, as well as a Judaic and Hebrew curriculum for
all students that teaches “an appreciation for the spiritual
and ethical guidance offered by Judaism.” Community
service is an integral part of the school’s mission.
Two campuses with a total enrollment of 1,515 students
for K– grade 12. www.cesjds.org.
Connelly School of the Holy Child
Potomac
An independent Catholic school for over 440 girls in grades 6-12, the school
strives to “work for Christian principles of justice,
peace and compassion in every facet of life.” Founded
in 1846 as part of the international Holy Child Network
of Schools, the school offers classes off campus for
a broader curriculum and in-depth study in a few subjects,
such as economics, media analysis and segregation and
civil rights. Students work at Martha’s Table, a local
charity, and organize the Help the Homeless Walkathon.
www.holychild.org.
Georgetown Preparatory School
Bethesda
The nation’s oldest Jesuit college preparatory school, Georgetown Prep was
founded in 1789 by America’s first Catholic bishop.
Only about one in four applicants make the cut to attend
this rigorous college preparatory school for boys in
grades 9-12, according to Admissions Director Michael
Horsey. “Our average graduate has taken four-and-a-half
AP classes and 80 percent of the students earn college
credit while at the school,” Horsey says of the 435
Prep students. www.gprep.org.
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
Washington, D.C.
Georgetown Visitation is a Catholic preparatory all-girls high school for
grades 9–12 located on over 20 wooded acres in Georgetown.
Founded in 1799 by the Sisters of the Visitation, the
school offers a rigorous academic curriculum that includes
a variety of honors and AP courses. Eligible students
can take courses at nearby Georgetown University for
college credit. The school’s mission is “to empower
our students to meet the demands and challenges of a
rapidly changing and morally complex world,” according
to its Web site. Enrollment is 450 students. www.visi.org.
Gonzaga College High School
Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1821, the all-boys Catholic school for grades 9-12 is known for
its rigorous academic curriculum and strong athletics.
The school offers its 930 students numerous AP classes
such as chemistry, physics and literature, as well as
electives including TV communication and forensics.
Students can also arrange to take college courses for
credit. Area champions in soccer, golf, hockey and rugby
in 2006-07, Gonzaga has a long history of powerhouse
teams. Many student athletes go on to play for prestigious
college programs such as Notre Dame, the U.S. Naval
Academy, Penn State and Georgetown University. www.gonzaga.org.
The Heights School
Potomac
A private, independent, boys Catholic preparatory school for grades 3-12,
The Heights places an emphasis on personal mentoring
of students by their teachers. “This enables our students
to develop the necessary work and study habits for college
and for life,” says Colin Gleason, director of admissions
for the 460-student school. The Heights offers 23 AP
courses along with college classes in Greek, Latin and
calculus. Log cabins are used for lower school classrooms,
and an outdoor amphitheater provides a natural environment
for lectures or performances, Gleason adds. A new 40,000-square-foot
upper school building with a state-of-the-art science
lab and fine arts classrooms opens in the fall. www.heights.edu.
Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy
Rockville
Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy says it is the only pre-K–12 Orthodox Jewish
day school in the area that combines a strong college
preparatory curriculum with an intense Judaica program.
“We are known for our strong connection to Israel and
to the Jewish community in Israel,” says Headmaster
Joshua Levisohn, who notes the high school students’
recent trip to Israel. Students are encouraged to take
the most rigorous path through school, including AP
and honors courses. Extracurricular activities vary
from Beit Midrash, a concentrated study of the Torah,
to sports, music and drama. www.mjbha.org.
National Cathedral School
Washington, D.C.
The mission of the National Cathedral School is to shape the approach of
moral, spiritual and ethical education, says Elinor
Scully, assistant head and director of the upper school.
The approximately 560 girls at this Episcopal school
for grades 4-12 have the opportunity to take some coed
classes with St. Albans students, including many electives.
The students also pair up for most of the school’s performing
arts classes and productions. New for the 2007-08 school
year are Chinese classes, which also are available to
St. Albans students. www.ncs.cathedral.org.
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
Olney
As the only Catholic coeducational high school (grades 9-12) in the region
to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program,
Good Counsel offers a challenging curriculum that also
includes many AP and honors courses. In addition, the
school’s Ryken program caters to students with mild
learning disabilities by offering structured small-group
courses. Good Counsel’s new, 50-acre campus in Olney
has wireless Internet access, 10 science and technology
labs and a 150-seat chapel. The school has also produced
several college athletes and the girls’ swim team has
been the Washington Metropolitan Prep School Swimming
and Diving League champion for the past nine years.
www.olgchs.org.
St. Albans School
Washington, D.C.
Nearly 100 years old, the all boys, Episcopal school of approximately 570
students in grades 4–12 in Northwest Washington is no
stranger to the nation’s elite universities. In fact,
since 2002, 18 students have gone on to Yale University,
17 to Harvard and 15 each to Georgetown University and
Princeton University, according to school admissions
staff. The school’s rigorous curriculum includes 13
AP classes and focuses on strong analysis and expression
skills and core knowledge in the arts, sciences and
humanities. www.stalbansschool.org.
St. Anselm’s Abbey School
Washington, D.C.
This traditional, private Catholic boys school has its students in daily
contact with the Abbey’s resident Benedictine monks
in order to put students in touch with the school’s
tradition of dedication, service, prayer and scholarship.
The school for grades 6–12 has a “strict” code of behavior
and was founded in 1942 by the monks of St. Anselm’s
Abbey. Enrollment is around 275 students, and classes
in Latin and theology are required. Most upper school
courses are specifically aimed at qualifying students
for AP exams, according to Headmaster Emeritus Father
Michael Hall. Since 1946, 100 percent of St. Anselm’s
students have been accepted to a college or university,
according to the school’s Web site. www.saintanselms.org.
St. John’s College High School
Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1851, the Catholic, coeducational school for grades 9–12 has earned
a reputation for academic excellence, leadership development
and athletic championships. Honors and AP courses are
offered in every subject area and graduates receive
more than $1 million a year in academic scholarships.
“St. John’s enjoys a 100 percent college-acceptance
rate to the nation’s finest colleges and universities,”
says Chris Themistos, director of admissions. The school
has the country’s oldest Junior ROTC program. About
30 percent of its students participate in the program
and are required to wear school-issued military uniforms.
www.stjohns-chs.org.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
Potomac
With a comprehensive, coeducational college preparatory program for about
450 students in grades 6–12, the school offers its students
a balanced program to nurture their academic, artistic,
athletic and spiritual growth. Katherine Stevens, director
of communications for the school, says St. Andrews recently
added service learning as part of religion classes for
ninth-graders. “The service activities are through Samaritan
Ministry of Greater Washington and there is follow-up
discussion time, augmented by guest speakers,” she says.
Students are required to take two trimesters of art
each year and AP classes are available in all subjects.
Also, the school is part of a consortium of six area
independent schools that offers off-campus seminars
for a broader academic focus. www.saes.org.
Sidwell Friends School
Bethesda and Washington, D.C.
Serving students from pre-K–grade 12, Sidwell Friends’ philosophy is to seek
academically talented students and give them a rich
and rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum that stimulates
creative inquiry, intellectual achievement and independent
thinking. Students are required to take Spanish in the
lower grades and, beginning in seventh grade, have the
option of Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese or Latin.
Challenging upper level classes range from the history
of the modern Middle East and conceptual physics to
genetics and world literature. Between the Bethesda
and Washington campuses, the school currently enrolls
1,100 students. As a Quaker school affiliated with the
Religious Society of Friends, the school promotes the
basic testimonies of Friends, (simplicity, peace, integrity,
community, equality and stewardship). Students meet
weekly for a Friends meeting. www.sidwell.edu.
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
Bethesda
Academically strong with a rigorous curriculum that includes hands-on education
and AP courses, the all-girls Catholic school of under
800 students in grades K– 12 (coed for pre K–K) incorporates
internships with school alumni and exchange programs
worldwide. Stone Ridge also encourages students to take
their own path, says Richard Barbieri, head of school.
“Stone Ridge students are highly qualified academically,
remarkably mature for their age and committed to the
well-being of others rather than narrowly focused on
themselves,” he says. “We develop athletes as well as
artists, engineers as well as English majors.” Top schools
are eager to enroll students who come with a well-developed
balance of intellect and character, he adds. www.stoneridge.org.
Washington Episcopal School
Bethesda
The coeducational school of 310 students from early childhood to grade eight
has a curriculum that focuses on the three R’s, supplemented
by strong foreign language, science and social studies
programs. Facilities recently have been renovated and
include a large library, two science rooms, two art
studios, two computer rooms and three gyms, as well
as upgrades to the athletic facilities. The school’s
extensive study abroad program offers trips to Utah
(grade 6), Italy (grade 7) and France or Spain (grade
8), which are covered by tuition, according to the school’s
Web site. www.w-e-s.org.
“Progressive” Schools for Independent
Thinkers
The Avalon School
Bethesda
A relative newcomer founded in 2003, the school brings a spirit of adventure
to boys in grades 3-12. Activities such as camping trips
encourage healthy risk-taking and friendships, discipline
and self-assurance, says Ellen Clifford, assistant head
of school. Students have a break every two periods to
blow off steam, which is just one way the school caters
to the well-being of boys, she notes. Although the school
is currently located in Bethesda, a 10-acre campus is
being built in Clarksburg, Md., and the school is scheduled
to relocate in September 2008. www.avalonschools.org.
The Barrie School
Silver Spring
Beginning with a Montessori program that’s woven through the school’s lower
grades and continues into the upper school’s more traditional
structure, the Barrie School belief is that the classroom
isn’t limited to just four walls. Middle and upper school
students are just as likely to be using principles of
geometry to measure distance outside on school grounds
as they are to be sitting at desks in a classroom, says
Andrea Williams, director of admissions and financial
aid for the school. The school, for students from age
2–grade 12, is also home to one of two Montessori institutes
in the U.S. that prepare educators to teach based on
Montessori philosophy. www.barrie.org.
Edmund Burke School
Washington, D.C.
Edmund Burke School is an independent, coeducational college preparatory
school of 300 students in grades 6–12. The school has
an artistic bent and presents all-school, all-student
theater productions each trimester. Student directors
often present one-act plays in the winter as an elective.
Performing and visual arts are offered in a series of
elective courses that vary from playwriting and digital
media to creating historical reconstructions of famous
works of art. Students in the Shakespeare class prepare
a presentation for the spring Folger Theatre Competition.
“We have a combined theater tech/drama program that
allows students to understand and implement the powerful
collaborations between actor and technician to envision
a play’s perspective, tone, characters and physical
space, and bring those components to life as a whole,
not separate or competing parts,” says Kai-Anasa George,
director of admissions. A new theater and art studio
opened in 2006. www.eburke.org.
Emerson Preparatory School
Washington, D.C.
Washington’s oldest coeducational college preparatory
school for grades 9–12, Emerson operates on the block
system curriculum with students taking four 90-minute
classes a day. Enrollment is less than 100 students
and the average class size is 10 students. The school
does not include extracurricular activities other than
field trips. The curriculum, which includes options
such as anthropology and international relations, allows
students to complete the requirements for high school
graduation in less than four years. “It is possible
for a rising ninth-grader to complete 24 classes over
three academic years,” says Margot Walsh, director of
the school. www.emersonprep.net.
The Field School
Washington, D.C.
While not an “art school,” Field’s studio arts program
is an integral part of the coeducational school for
grades 7–12, according to Will Layman, chairman of the
math department. Students focus on self-expression through
art, such as ceramics, sculpture, photography and computer
graphics, which is a priority for a school that prides
itself on its use of technology in the classroom. “Taking
85 minutes a day to touch clay or sing is just good
for the brain and the heart,” Layman says. The students’
work is shared both in and outside of the school through
performances, exhibitions and publications. The college
preparatory school enrolls about 315 students. www.fieldschool.org.
Green Acres School
Rockville
Green Acres’ philosophy is to foster the natural curiosity of children through
a challenging curriculum without the competition of
letter grades. “What does ‘A’ mean? Not all that much.
We want students to learn not just for the sake of a
letter grade but to learn because the subjects and projects
are interesting,” says Susan Friend, co-director of
admissions. Detailed progress reports and constant feedback
help keep students motivated. The coeducational school
enrolls approximately 320 students in pre-K– 8. Drama
and fine arts are priorities at the school, and geography
units on Japan, Mexico, Egypt and Greece use drama to
invite children to enter another time, place and frame
of reference. In addition, the school’s no-cut athletic
policy allows every middle school student to play on
school sports teams. www.greenacres.org.
The Nora School
Silver Spring
Nora is a small (60 students), progressive, independent, college preparatory
day school for students in grades 9–12, who are bright
but have found themselves frustrated in larger or more
rigid institutions, says David Mullen, head of school.
The curriculum includes Shakespeare Studies, Peace Studies
and a poetry series that features readings by area poets.
Mullen says the school is college preparatory but focuses
on art, particularly visual art. “The annual photography
festival is judged by a panel of professional photographers,
and last year we had more than 225 entries,” he says.
www.nora-school.org.
Parkmont School
Washington, D.C.
With a 6-1 teacher/student ratio, students have the
opportunity to develop close relationships with their
teachers at Parkmont. The 65 students in the coeducational
school for grades 6–12 take only three academic classes
at a time, making the demands easier to organize and
manage, as well as allowing for more in-depth exploration
of the subject material, including frequent field trips.
Students also log more than 700 hours doing internships
before they graduate. In addition, seniors must also
complete a yearlong “petition,” an extensive paper describing
the student’s educational and personal history and how
these experiences relate to his or her future plans.
www.parkmont.org.
Sandy Spring Friends School
Sandy Spring
The coeducational, college preparatory Quaker school of about 500 students
in pre-K–12 has a well-balanced, rigorous curriculum
that includes AP courses in all subjects and a strong
arts program. “The arts and athletics are important
parts of our curriculum,” says Admissions Director Mecha
Inman. Art, music and foreign languages are offered
two or three days a week in the lower school. Upper
school students are required to complete three years
of art courses in at least two disciplines, which include
music, history and drama, as well as desktop publishing,
weaving and modern dance. www.ssfs.org.
Thornton Friends School
Silver Spring
The 90-student, coeducational Quaker school for grades 9–12 emphasizes flexibility
in its curriculum. For example, if a topic comes up
in a science class that students find fascinating, teachers
can focus on that instead of teaching specific points
that day, says Barbara Wille, director of advancement
for the school. Students frequently leave campus for
field trips and to participate in community service
activities during the school year. In addition, the
school’s two-week “Inter-session” between semesters
has students traveling to places like an Indian sweat
lodge or roughing it in a Florida state park. www.thorntonfriends.org.
Washington Waldorf School
Bethesda
Washington Waldorf School is college preparatory, but its emphasis on music,
arts and hand-on learning carries through all grade levels. Half of the day
is structured into block classes, where students spend the morning discussing
a subject in great detail. Topics range from art history to biochemistry.
The other half of the day focuses on traditional academics and eurythmy, a
dance-life art form in which words or music are expressed through movement.
All students participate in the school chorus. Although
evaluation of students occurs regularly through written and oral feedback,
standardized testing is not a part of the curriculum.
The school enrolls about 270 children from pre-K–grade
12. www.washingtonwaldorf.org.
Independent Lower/Middle Schools
Evergreen School
Wheaton
An independent coeducational school for early childhood–grade
6, Evergreen focuses on the Montessori principles, which
recognize a child’s need to learn basic academic skills,
observe the environment, perform independent work and
cooperate in a community, says Admissions Director Lorie
Allion. She says the school celebrates its diversity.
“We have monthly cultural assemblies led by parents
and celebrate International Children’s Day with a potluck
and all school performances,” Allion says. www.evergreenschool.com.
Harbor School
Bethesda
This small (115 students) coeducational school for students in pre-K–2 cultivates
a positive attitude and focuses on teaching kids to
become motivated learners and critical thinkers, says
Katie Brebbia, director of admissions. “This is by emphasizing
high expectations—not competition,” she says. The
Harbor School is one of the few accredited independent
schools in the Washington area that concentrates on
preschool through second grade, she says. www.theharborschool.org.
Lowell School
Washington, D.C.
Lowell promotes self-esteem as the basis of all learning, which means teachers
have a high level of respect for children and what they
have to say. Students are expected to be a part of the
solution when they are involved in conflicts and are
taught to express themselves in constructive and empathetic
ways to become better world citizens, according to the
coeducational school’s philosophy. Lowell’s eight-acre
campus bordering Rock Creek Park makes use of the natural
surroundings for its environmental science classes.
The school features a dance studio, three art workshops,
wood shop and a pool. Enrollment is about 315 students
from age 3–grade 6. www.lowellschool.org.
Norwood School
Bethesda
All 530 students in this coeducational school for grades K–8 start the day
with a nonsectarian chapel service that reflects the
school’s commitment to values common to many religious
and philosophical traditions, such as faith in God and
belief in family and service. The intention is to bring
students to a level of understanding that enables them
to learn from the moral messages provided in the chapel
services. “Norwood has taken the unusual path of seeking
to teach children about religion and the importance
of spirituality without teaching a particular religion,”
says Susan Rosenbaum, middle school principal. In addition,
regular advisory meetings for 7-8 graders provide a
forum for talk about moral and ethical issues. Art and
music are considered as important as the “three Rs,”
says Rosenbaum. The school’s Murray Arts Building includes
art rooms, a music room and stage and piano practice
rooms. www.norwoodschool.org.
Primary Day School
Bethesda
An independent, coeducational school for pre-K– 2, Primary Day is the founding
school for the Phonovisual Method of teaching, which
supplements the traditional sight method of learning
to read by having students first learn consonant and
vowel sounds through stories, poems, games and songs.
“The program is most successful when students begin
in pre-K,” says Louise Plumb, director of the school.
Students are better off starting in pre-K because the
Phonovisual Method is truly a four-year program, she
adds. Students meet in small groups for math labs in
addition to regular classroom settings. Enrollment is
about 160 students. www.theprimarydayschool.org.
Sheridan School
Washington, D.C.
Students at Sheridan School study math, English, science and even French.
The school, which enrolls students in grades K–8, also
emphasizes a rotating concept, such as conflict and
power, in every class, according to Margie Gottfried,
director of financial aid and assistant director of
admissions. She explains that kindergarten students
may look at power from the perspective of what happens
on the playground, but the same concept discussed in
fourth grade might be through the lens of ancient China.
“We ask who gains power and why? Why do people abuse
power? We first want them to be aware of what the concept
is through their own experiences and then look outside
their own life,” Gottfried says. Enrollment at the coeducational
school is about 225 and each class has two full-time
teachers. www.sheridanschool.org.
Lower/Middle Schools with a Religious
Affiliation
Christ Episcopal School (CES)
Rockville
Christ Episcopal School is a coeducational school of approximately 250 students
in pre-K–8. CES believes in nurturing the mind and body.
In the lower grades, students have Spanish, science,
computers, art and music on a weekly basis, and P.E.
five days per week. The school’s mission is to prepare
talented boys and girls for the rigors of secondary
education. Graduates go on to attend the best private
schools and public school programs in the area. www.ces-rockville.org.
The Fourth Presbyterian School
Potomac
At the heart of the school’s curriculum is “Core Knowledge,”
a curriculum that adds to a particular concept such
as farming or art as a student progresses through grades,
says Ani Law, admissions coordinator. “We work in sort
of a chronological order for things, like history, and
each year students layer more information on every subject,
such as world history,” she says. Students may be introduced
to American Indians in pre-K and continue to learn more
about the topic as they grow, rather than study an entire
unit on a specific subject. In addition, all students
are required to study Spanish and Latin is added to
their curriculum in fourth grade. The pre-K–grade 5
school enrolls about 100 students, but plans to add
a sixth grade by fall 2008 and a middle school by fall
2009. www.fourthschool.org.
Grace Episcopal
Kensington and Silver Spring
Known for its diverse student body, this independent
coeducational school of approximately 247 students from
age 3–grade 6 encourages students to take on leadership
roles and offers a challenging curriculum in a tight-knit
school community, says Chris Heim, director of academic
programs. The sixth-grade class earned first place honors
as “The Most Outstanding Delegation for Small Schools”
at the Model United Nations Conference in November 2006
and participated in the inaugural middle-school level
conference of the Model U.N. held at the U.S. State
Department, Heim says. Grace has campuses in both Kensington
and Silver Spring. The school will add a seventh grade
in fall 2008 and an eighth grade in fall 2009. www.geds.
Mater Dei School
Bethesda
The all-boys Catholic school for grades 1–8 has a curriculum
focused on nurturing “good young men,” says science
teacher and athletic director Joe David. Emphasizing
the importance of character, students vote for character
honor roll recipients each marking period. In addition,
the school’s strong athletic program requires students
in grades 5–8 to participate in team sports such as
basketball, soccer, football and tennis. Although some
classes in the lower grades are taught by women, students
in grades 5–8 have only male teachers. The school of
about 210 students is a common starting place for those
going on to area Catholic high schools, including Georgetown
Prep and Gonzaga, David says. www.materdeischool.net.
Montrose Christian School
Rockville
Montrose Christian’s focus is to give students a Bible-based liberal arts
education, along with academics, athletics, technology
and fine arts, according to Thomas F. Marshall, interim
headmaster. “Every child is regarded as an individual
who is created to fulfill a special purpose in this
world,” he says. Total enrollment in the coeducational
school for grades K–12 is approximately 375 students.
www.montrosechristian.org.
National Presbyterian School
Washington, D.C.
What makes National Presbyterian School unique, according to head of school
Jim Neill, is that it is a true elementary school. “That’s
deliberate. It allows us to focus our expertise on the
decade of childhood,” he says of the coeducational,
250 student, Christian-based school for ages 3–grade
6. “These are the formative years and they should be
celebrated,” Neill says. www.nps-dc.org.
St. Francis Episcopal Day School
Potomac
Adding French language classes and revamping its existing Spanish curriculum
are just some of the ways Pat Talbert Smith, the school’s
head, is adapting the coeducational school to meet the
changing needs of its students. “I often hear from upper
schools that what’s missing in elementary foreign language
programs is the ability for students to read and write
the language—we want to be the school that can offer
that,” says Talbert Smith, who is entering her third
year. In addition, the school will go back to its lower
elementary roots by eliminating fourth and fifth grades
in fall 2007. Talbert Smith said the school added those
grades when the demographics of the area needed it;
now the need isn’t there. “We can go back to our focus
of being a pre-K through grade 3 school,” she says.
www.sfeds.org.
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School
Washington, D.C.
Striving for exceptional literacy across all grade levels and disciplines
is the central organizing idea for the school, says
head of school Peter Barrett. “Literacy promotes human
understanding and character development,” he says. The
coeducational school for ages 3–grade 8 offers in-depth
art and music classes for all grades. Grades 7–8, which
were added five years ago, are located at a separate
campus a half-mile from the main campus. Barrett says
school-owned land near the existing campuses is earmarked
for a high school at some point in the future. Enrollment
is just under 500. www.stpatsdc.org.
The Woods Academy
Bethesda
The independent, coeducational Catholic school for
ages 3–grade 8 offers daily Spanish and French classes
for elementary school students in its curriculum, which
also includes core subjects, arts, athletics and religion,
says Barbara Snyder, director of admission. The pre-K
and kindergarten program is based on the Montessori
tradition; students focus on practical life activities,
field trips and collaboration with other students. Enrollment
in the school is 300. In addition to traditional tests
and quizzes, the school uses reflection and “metacognition,”
a process that allows students to have input into their
progress reports and prepares them for a rigorous upper
school curriculum. www.woodsacademy.org.
Schools for Kids with Special Needs
The Chelsea School
Silver Spring
The Chelsea School’s mission is to take bright boys and girls who have repeatedly
failed in their efforts to learn to read and write and
teach them tools and strategies to ensure their success.
The school focuses on reading and language arts. A phonics-based
reading program uses students’ senses, such as touch
and smell, and voice-activated computer software and
large print books to teach students with dyslexia. Chelsea
is a Level V special education school that has helped
more than 90 percent of its graduates get accepted to
colleges and universities around the country, according
to school officials. Enrollment is about 100 students
in grades 5–12. www.chelseaschool.edu.
The Diener School
Potomac
Conceived and created by the mother of a special needs child, The Diener
School opens its doors in September. The school “provides
our students with a holistic approach that promotes
academics, cognitive functions, constructive social,
language and sensory experiences and real-life organizational
skills,” says founder and headmaster Jillian Copeland,
who started the school after her son, Nicol, attended
several schools that didn’t offer “the optimal learning
environment.” In its first semester, the K-2 school
will enroll 12 students. www.thedienerschool.org
The Ivymount School
Rockville
Ivymount, a coeducational special education school,
combines educational programs and therapeutic services
for its 225 students, ages 4-21, who have serious developmental
delays, learning disabilities, communication disorders,
autism or multiple handicaps. Students in the upper
school (ages 14-18) get on-the-job experience by working
in an office, reshelving books in a library or working
with a landscaping company. The school also offers a
post-high school vocational program for students 18-21.
www.ivymount.org.
Katherine Thomas School
Rockville
An independent school for students with moderate to
severe language disabilities and high functioning autism,
the school is part of the Treatment and Learning Centers,
which provide services to children and adults with disabilities.
Katherine Thomas School enrolls about 170 students from
pre-K-12. Although the school was founded in 1995, it
just added 12th grade for the 2007-08 school year and
will graduate its first class in the spring. Students
work with teachers and occupational therapists (OT)
simultaneously throughout the day and the school has
three OT gyms and a fine/visual motor skills room. Marketing
Manager Kristi Fletcher says that in addition to meeting
the criteria for a high school diploma, high school
students also can take career training electives such
as restaurant management, office technology and child
care. For younger students, the student to teacher or
staff ratio is as low as 2:1; the average class has
eight students. Students create an annual puppet show
and perform it for patients at the Shady Grove Hospital
Pediatric Unit. www.ttlc.org
Kingsbury Day School
Washington, D.C.
An independent, coeducational, full-time special education school for 310
students ages 5-16. Kingsbury serves the needs of children
with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia
and dysgraphia, a writing-based disability in which
students have difficulty forming letters. The school
is multi-sensory, individualized and hands-on with a
3-1 teacher/student ratio. Curriculum focuses on core
academic subjects and organizational skills completed
at a student’s own pace. www.kingsbury.org.
The Lab School of Washington
Washington, D.C.
Known for its innovative programs for children and adults with learning disabilities,
this coeducational school offers individualized instruction
to about 300 students in grades K–12. Instructional
approaches emphasize hands-on learning and the use of
the arts to teach academic skills, including storytelling,
writing and art in the elementary school. www.labschool.org.
International Schools
The British School of Washington
Washington, D.C.
Started in an effort to meet the needs of British citizens living in the
Washington area, the school has grown to about 300 students
and graduated its third International Baccalaureate
diploma class in 2007. The National Curriculum is organized
into four Key Stages, which are based on age as opposed
to grade. For example, Key Stage 3 is for students aged
11-14. The school also incorporates the International
Primary Curriculum, an enrichment program that may have
lower school students spending two weeks focusing on
history or art followed by two weeks of geography or
technology in addition to core courses. Key Stage 3
and 4 students must earn a General Certificate of Secondary
Education, which includes core courses, foreign language
and electives, before qualifying for the IB diploma
program. The school is moving to a new campus in Georgetown
in early 2008. www.britishschool.org.
French International School (Lycee Rochambeau)
Bethesda and Chevy Chase
The French-speaking coeducational school for pre-K–12 teaches a French-based
curriculum, according to Registrar Dalila Bessaha. Math
applications such as geometry and algebra are taught
together and the same process is used for physics and
chemistry, she says. Students earn a French Baccalaureate
diploma and the only course taught in English is English.
As the school’s 1,100 students progress through the
grade levels, they move to one of three Bethesda-area
campuses. www.rochambeau.org.
German School Washington
Potomac
Core subjects are taught in German, offering a bilingual education for coeducational
students in pre-K–grade 13 at the German School. “We’re
a foreign language school, not necessarily an immersion
school,” says Sonja Riess, admissions coordinator. The
school’s approximately 600 students follow the German
curriculum, in which some classes meet only two or three
times a week. A weekly lecture series includes visits
by high-ranking diplomats and politicians. Off-campus
day trips are common. Students earn a Matura diploma,
equivalent to an American high school diploma. www.dswashington.org.
Washington International School
Washington, D.C.
“Our focus is on internationalism and to teach students to be global citizens,”
says Patricia Danver, the school’s communications and
public relations director. The coeducational school
of over 800 students in K–12 is the only school in
the area authorized to offer all levels of the International
Baccalaureate diploma program, from the primary years
forward, Danver says. In addition, she says almost all
students graduate proficient in two languages. A dual-language
track is available in French, Spanish and Chinese, which
was added for the 2006-07 school year. www.wis.edu.
Writer Carrie Dietz lives in Gaithersburg.
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