Washington DC Private Schools

volver1633 · 02-17-2007, 08:19 PM

Hey everyone, I have a friend who is moving to the DC area and she has twins, a boy and a girl, who are in middle school. She was wondering about the best private schools in the area, cost is not an issue for her, and a little bit about each one, something that you wouldn't find on the website of the school. She is really interested in selectivity and college placement for her children. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

kirmum · 02-17-2007, 08:40 PM

The issue with Washington, unless one of the parents is a Senator, will not be which is the best school but where they can get in. It's one of those markets with 7 or 8 kids lined up for every place at a good private school. I was offered a great job there a few years ago and turned it down when even a powerful law firm couldn't help much with top schools for my kids.

D'yer Maker · 02-17-2007, 08:42 PM

Of course there are some great public schools, too. One would think that that would be something worth considering...and something that she would need to research herself as it would dictate exactly where to relocate -- an expensive proposition for someone for whom the cost of private school is no object, and not something you'd normally have a surrogate on a message board look into for you.

soccerprep92 · 02-17-2007, 09:05 PM

Hi Volver,
Since I went through the application process last year for a bunch of the D.C. top private schools, I think I can help a little.. Either my brother or I applied to many of these schools and visited, so I think most of this information is accurate. The schools I am listing are pretty much the more competitive and respected schools.

Single Sex Schools:
National Cathedral School for Girls: Probably the top girls school in the area, known for its academics and athletics. The teachers are really great and genuinely care for their students. Coming from a public school, I was surprised how normal it was to have private study sessions with teachers or to meet with them if desired. College matriculation to top schools is also outstanding with about 30 % going to ivy leagues and Stanford. The environment is competitive, but not in a way where everyone is trying to put down others to look good. The average SAT score last year was math- 658 and Verbal- 718

St. Albans- Brother school to National Cathedral. It's known as a more "jocky" school, yet still has great academics and impressive matriculation. There was a private school ranking by Wall Street Journal a few years ago based on college matriculation to ivies with NCS and St. Albans in the top 10 I believe. I can dig it up for you.

Holton-Arms- A good all girls school, more for the "country club" type. My friend goes there and seems to like the classes and the girls.

Georgetown Visitation- Catholic all girls school. I don't really know much since I never looked at it..

Stone Ridge- Very Catholic school, but still has reasonably good academics. No where nearly as prestigious as National Cathedral, Holton, or Visitation.

and then there are the holys. Holy Cross and Holy Child. From what I've been told and what I've seen, any local public high school like Walter Johnson, Churchill, or Whitman would be better and save money.

Co-ed:

Sidwell Friends- Is coed and quaker. It's first tier with National Cathedral and St Albans. Clinton's daughter went there. It's a great school but probably one of the most difficult to get into.

Maret- probably the happiest place on earth. It's well known, but it is more for the artsy child since athletics are pretty much dead. It's a really great school though with a lot of hands on and exciting learning..When I visited, all the classes were fascinating and the teachers enthusiastic.

Georgetown Day School-
Very laid back. teachers some times come to school in pajamas. But still a great school.

It's important to remember that these are are just my opinions and the opinons and feedback I have gained while searching for schools last year.

soccerprep92 · 02-17-2007, 10:01 PM

Here is the link from the Wall Street Journal.

Note- National Cathedral is tied for 5th with Dalton, Andover, and Deerfield. St Albans is 8th. Sidwell Friends is 12th ahead of Exeter. Georgetown Day School is 27th.

soccerprep92 · 02-17-2007, 10:02 PM

http://webreprints.djreprints.com/ws...ion_040104.pdf

volver1633 · 02-17-2007, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the info soccerprep, did you end up going to one of these schools? Also, the link for the article isn't working, but I'd really love to read it. Thanks a lot!

soccerprep92 · 02-17-2007, 10:32 PM

Oh sorry, let me try again... http://webreprints.djreprints.com/ws...ion_040104.pdf
if that doesn't work just search under prep school admissions for wall street journal and then click on the one with wall street journal rankings...

Yes, I ultimately chose National Cathedral.

volver1633 · 02-17-2007, 10:36 PM

Does your brother go to St. Albans?

Hart1689 · 02-18-2007, 01:35 AM

My family was potentially moving to DC a few years back and I would've been headed to National Cathedral...great school

soccerprep92 · 02-18-2007, 09:32 AM

Sorry it was late last night and when I said NCS had a average SAT score of 658 I actually ment 698. (found from Petersons.com) Yes, my brother is at St. Albans.

Jonathan1 · 02-18-2007, 11:43 AM

I wish I could attend a school in the DC Area. Are there any boarding schools there?

cameliasinensis · 02-18-2007, 01:30 PM

I'm a senior in the IB Diploma program at Washington International School, and my sister is a freshman at National Cathedral. Feel free to PM me (or post here) if you have any questions about either and I'll answer to the best of my ability.

soccerprep92 · 02-18-2007, 03:21 PM

Jonathan- not really. I mean there is St. Albans but that only has like 20 boarders in the entire school so I don't know how great that would be. And then there is Episcopal but thats a half hour outside of D.C. and isn't really a great school.

crh08 · 02-18-2007, 05:15 PM

Omg...pls whatever you do, do not EVER go to st. alban's...finally got out of there after 8th grade. I am not some random horror story or anything, I was your typical overachiever and am now at Choate in CT and love it! STA has horrible academics during high school (about 50 percent of the grade will get into Honors Chemistry after Bio in 9th grade, how is that competitive/selective at all?) There is about zero diversity, most kids are the same with a little alteration...but no exposure to other cultures...very very WASPy school in the bad sense. The kids may get into good schools, but STA is currently hemorraging students from the HS...a lot of my friends (I am now a junior) have left after I did. Also, the kids are so sheltered after STA that they cannot deal with college--a friend's brother had to be DRIVEN by his mom to college in PA every day because he couldn't handle being away from home!!

Feel free to PM me with questions, when I left STA I also was accepted into Sidwell and have a sister at GDS, so I know a lot about most schools.