Best Private Schools in DC 鈥 2025
February 25, 2025
Washington, DC, and the surrounding areas in Maryland and Northern Virginia contain some of the finest private day and boarding schools in the entire United States. Of course, while having loads of quality choices is a 鈥済ood problem to have鈥, it doesn鈥檛 make your decision of which private schools in DC will be the best choice for your family any easier. As parents, there are a multitude of considerations guiding your selection of which institition will be best for your child. Ultimately, your decision will need to balance your teen鈥檚 academic, emotional, and social needs with financial and logistical considerations. However, 国产第一福利影院草草鈥 list of the Best Private Schools in DC will focus primarily on our area of expertise鈥college admissions. As such, we will highlight the job that each of the schools does at sending their graduates on to the region/nation鈥檚 premier 4-year schools.
Best Private Schools in DC
Here鈥檚 a quick preview of the high schools that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.
1) St. Albans School 鈥 DC
2) Basis Independent McClean
3) Georgetown Day School
4) Holton-Arms School
5) National Cathedral School
6) Sidwell Friends School
7) The Madeira School
8) The Potomac School
9) Landon School
10) Episcopal High School
Please note that inclusion on our list is a selective and criteria-based process. However, the order in which the schools appear is not representative of any further ranking; the numbering is solely intended to enhance the ease of navigating this resource. All of the schools profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the top colleges in the country. For each of the best private high schools in DC, 国产第一福利影院草草 will provide you with鈥攚hen available鈥攅ach school鈥檚:
- Location
- Tuition (9-12)
- Enrollment (9-12)
- Average Score
- Average Score
- Senior Class Size
- College Admissions Highlights
- Academic Highlights
Without further ado, let鈥檚 look at the profiled high schools.
St. Albans School – DC
- 3001 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
College Admissions Highlights: Over the past five years, the following highly-selective colleges have enrolled St. Albans grads: Amherst, Bates, BC, Bucknell, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Harvard, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Kenyon, Miami, Michigan, NYU, Northeastern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn, Pomona, Princeton, Stanford, Tufts, US Military Acad, Vanderbilt, UVA, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wesleyan, William & Mary, Williams, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Albans is an all-boys school. 8% of students are boarding. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7:1 with an average class size of 13. 43% students of color. 80% of faculty have advanced degrees. 13 AP and 8 honors courses. The performing arts program is coordinated with the National Cathedral School (also on our list). 22 athletic teams and a Voyageur outdoor program.
Basis Independent McLean – DC
- 8000 Jones Branch Dr, McLean, VA 22102
College Admissions Highlights: A recent sample over a 3 year period, students have gained acceptance to Amherst, BC, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, John Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pomona, Princeton, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UMich, Penn, Vanderbilt, WashU, Williams, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: 77% of teachers have advance degrees. 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students begin AP coursework in 9th. 98% AP exam pass rate. 19 recognized National Merit scholars & 1 winner. 50+ sports, clubs and activities offered. Nearly 80% of the student body participated in a club, activity or sport; 50% participated in at least two.
Georgetown Day School – DC
- 4200 Davenport St NW, Washington, DC 20016
College Admissions Highlights: Colleges that welcomed graduates from the last four years include: American, BC, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Hofstra, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pomona, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UMiami, UMichigan, Penn, USC, UVA, Wake Forest, Washington U, William & Mary, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: At Georgetown Day, 79% of teachers possess advanced degrees. 48% students identify as non-white. The average class size kept small with a 1:8 faculty-student ratio. Overall, 123 courses are offered at the high school which caters to 500 students. 43 courses designated upper level. The school boasts a 60% team sport participation percentage each season.
Holton-Arms School – DC
- 7303 River Rd, Bethesda, MD 20817
College Admissions Highlights: Over the last four years, students from Holton-Arms have matriculated into the following schools: BC, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Rice, Stanford, Trinity, UCLA, UChicago, U Michigan, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Washington U, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Holton-Arms is an all-girls institution. 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The average class size is 15. 83% of teachers earned advanced degrees. 47% students of color. 85% of upper school students enrolled in at least one Fine & Performing Arts class. More than 80% participate in the more than 20 athletic teams.
National Cathedral School – DC
- 3612 Woodley Rd NW, Washington, DC 20016
College Admissions Highlights: Two or more students over the last four years have entered the following colleges: BC, Brown, Bucknell, Colby, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Denison, Drexel, Georgetown, Harvard, Kenyon, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Princeton, Stanford, Syracuse, Tufts, US Military Acad, UCLA, U Chicago, U Michigan, Penn, University of St Andrews, UVA, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Wellesley, Wesleyan, William & Mary, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: NCS is an all girls school. 81% of faculty hold advanced degrees. Student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1 with an average class size is 12 students. 48% are students of color. Over 15 AP and advanced courses are available. Performing arts and some academic offerings are coordinated with St Albans School (also on our list). 14 seasonal sports with a 50-foot climbing tower.
Sidwell Friends School – DC
- 3825 Wisconsin Ave, Washington, DC 20016
College Admissions Highlights: The last four years saw Sidewell graduates enroll at the following: American, Amherst, Bates, BC, BU, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Davidson, Drexel, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Pitzer, Princeton, Rice, SMU, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, U Chicago, U Mass, Michigan, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wesleyan, William & Mary, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: 37% students of color. 85% of faculty members possess advanced degrees. Curricular offerings include Chinese and a full Computer Science and Engineering program including AI & Game Design and Web Design. 90+ student clubs and 23 varsity athletic teams. 30+ arts performances in the upper school.
The Madeira School – DC
- 8328 VA-193, McLean, VA 22102
College Admissions Highlights: Over the last five years, Madeira girls have matriculated to: BC, Brandeis, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Cal Poly, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Cornell, Davidson, Duke, Elon, Georgetown, Harvard, Hofstra, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Princeton, Rice, Spelman, Stanford, Tufts, UCLA, U Chicago, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Washington U, William & Mary, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Madeira is an all-girls school. 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 91% of faculty hold advanced degrees. Students come from 43 countries and 22 states. 49% are students of color & 13% are international. 100+ sports, activities, & clubs.
The Potomac School – DC
- 1301 Potomac School Rd, McLean, VA 22101
College Admissions Highlights: Graduates from Potomac over the last four years have matriculated to the following schools: BC, BU, Brown, Case Western, William & Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Penn State, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, UCLA, U Chicago, Miami, Michigan, Penn, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, VaTech, Wake Forest, Washington U, William & Mary, WPI, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: 72% of faculty have advanced degrees. The average class size is 15. 45% students of color. 42 advanced level courses. 95% of AP test-takers earned a 3 or higher. 74 teams for 24 sports (7-12). Special concentration programs include: Global Perspectives & Citizenship, Science & Engineering Research, Visual & Performing arts, and Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship & Business.
Landon School – DC
- 6101 Wilson Ln, Bethesda, MD 20817
College Admissions Highlights: Over the last four years, graduates have matriculated into these fine institutions: Amherst, BC, Bucknell, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Colgate, Columbia, Davidson, Dartmouth, Emory, Georgetown, Hamilton, Harvard, johns Hopkins, Kenyon, MIT, NYU, Northwestern, Pepperdine, Princeton, Swarthmore, Ohio State, Tufts, UC Berkeley, U Chicago, U Michigan, Penn, Notre Dame, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, Wesleyan, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: The average class size at this all-boys school is 14. 41% identify as students of color. 100% of seniors complete a service or ethics capstone project.. Landon offers 40 clubs and 60 elective courses. 100% of students participate in arts for at least 2 years. 21 athletic options with strength & conditioning all 3 seasons.
Episcopal High School – DC
- 1200 N Quaker Ln, Alexandria, VA 22302
College Admissions Highlights: Classes over the last 5 years from Episcopal have matriculated to: BC, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Howard, John Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Pepperdine, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Texas A&M, Tufts, US Military Academy, UC Berkeley, UChicago, UNC Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington & Lee, and Yale.
Academic Highlights: Episcopal is 100% residential 鈥 all students are boarded. 90% of faculty live on campus. Offer more than 40 Honors or Advanced classes. 82% of students taking AP exams achieved a score of 3 or better. 48 interscholastic teams including 29 varsity in 17 sports. 80% of student participate in athletics.
Best Private Schools in Washington, DC – Additional Resources
We hope you found our blog on private schools in DC to be helpful. All high school students and families may wish to explore further information regarding the college search and admissions process at our Dataverse, Blog, and .
