Private Schools in the Washington, DC Area

There has been a continuing role for both public and private schools in the U.S., and Foreign Service families use both. Families who choose non-public schools do so for a variety of reasons: sometimes the parents attended private schools, sometimes they want a religious atmosphere and training, sometimes they want smaller or specialized classes. The move from a small overseas school to an independent school in the United States may be easier for some students than entering a large public school.

Resources for Identifying Private Schools

• The Independent Schools Guide for Washington Area is available in bookstores or may be ordered by contacting: Independent School Guide, 7315 Brookville Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Telephone: 301-986-5370. A copy is available for use at the Department of State's Family Liaison Office and in Community Liaison Offices overseas.  Also available from online bookstores.
• Washingtonian Magazine: Annual Guide to Private Schools offers a comprehensive list of Washington area private schools, featuring day schools and those offering boarding options
• DC Pages.com offers a listing of private schools in the District of Colombia
• The Association of Boarding Schools offers a search mechanism for identifying private boarding schools in any state in the country.

High School Students

If you have a student looking to enter a private school for the high school years, many of the private secondary schools require a Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) result for admission, at a cost of $110 (U.S.) or $160 (international). For information on the test, international test locations, registration, and study guides, contact:

CN 5339
Princeton, NJ 08543
Tel: 609-683-4440 / Fax: 800-442-SSAT
http://www.ssat.org/ssat

If it is necessary to arrange for an individual test overseas, a family may request a school or Embassy official to proctor the SSAT. Provide the following information to the SSATB, (Fax: 609-683-1702):

• Name and affiliation of person who will administer test;
• Complete address of school or Embassy where the materials will be sent;
• Telephone number;
• Fax number;
• Name of student to be tested and current grade; and
• Statement by administrator agreeing to follow SSATB procedures

Private School Websites

Catholic Schools

• http://www.archbalt.org - Catholic Schools in Anne Arundel, Howard counties, suburban Baltimore
• http://www.catholicherald.com/schools/bschools.htm - Catholic schools in Northern Virginia.
• http://www.adw.org - Catholic Schools in Washington, suburban Maryland and Virginia
• http://www.rc.net/arlington - Catholic Schools in Arlington, VA

Lutheran Schools

• http://www.lcms.org/sitelist/schools - Lutheran Schools in the D.C. metro area

Montessori Schools

• http://www.northernva.com/c21/schools-private.html - Northern Virginia private schools, including a list of Montessori schools in the D.C. area
• http://www.amshq.org/schools.htm - AMS (American Montessori Society)
• http://www.montessori-namta.org/NAMTA/NAMServs/dirgateway.html - NAMTA (North American Montessori Teachers Association) School Directory

French Immersion Schools

• The Cultural Services office of the French Embassy in Washington DC provides a list of French or international schools in the area

The French Maternal School
3115 P St., NW,
Washington, DC 2007
(202) 333-2255

The French Institute
4000 Albemarle St., NW,
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 362-8667

The French International School
3200 Woodbine St.,
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(301) 907-3265

FLO Weblinks for Education Options for Foreign Service Children (K-12)

• Assignment Overseas: Overseas Schools
• Assignment Washington: U.S. Public and Private Schools
  • U.S. Public Schools in the Washington, DC Area
  • Private Schools in the Washington, DC Area
  • Choices for High School: IB and AP
  • Education Checklist for Returning to the Washington, DC Area 
• Boarding School Options
• Homeschooling and Online Education
• Summer Camp Resources
• Education Allowances
• Homework Helpers

Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
Contact the Family Liaison Office