For more information on private schools, see our 2010 Private Schools guide. 

Washington has hundreds of good private schools—so many that it can sometimes seem hard to tell them apart. But not every school is right for every kid.

Here are six that offer something different—whether a unique philosophy, an innovative curriculum, or an unusual school culture. At one, yoga is an integral part of the curriculum; at another, every classroom has a speech-and-language pathologist.

Open houses can give parents and kids a sense of whether a school is a good fit. “If you walk into a progressive environment—something that’s a little different from the mainstream—some people are going to immediately say, ‘Aha—this is what I’ve been looking for,’ ” says educational consultant Peter Sturtevant, director of the DC-based School Counseling Group. “Or they’re going to say, ‘My goodness, this is not for me.’ ”

The goal of these primary and secondary schools is to prepare students for the next step in their education. Like other private schools, they offer a first-rate education in a nurturing environment, but what makes them stand out is their focus or mission.