Work & Education > Schools & Kids > Guide to Private Schools
DISTRICT
St. Albans School, Mount St. Alban, Massachusetts and Wisconsin aves., NW 20016; 202-537-6435; boys 4th–12th grades; $31,428 (day), $44,457 (boarding, 9th–12th grades); 570 students; www.stalbansschool.org.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Columbia University, Harvard University, University of Virginia, and Yale University.
MARYLAND
Garrison Forest School, 300 Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills 21117; 410-363-1500; coed preschool and K, girls pre-1st–12th grades; $10,200-$21,900 (day), $20,900 (regional boarding), $38,500 (boarding); 701 students; www.gfs.org.
What’s new: A Chinese culture course in the upper school; a Center for Public Purpose Partnerships affiliated with the Bloomberg School of Public Health; a program called Women in Science and Engineering, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins University.
Recent accomplishments: The school received Silver Certification from LEED for its new middle school building. It also has two new turf fields. Last fall, the school’s field hockey team won the IAAM A-Conference championship and last spring, the school’s lacrosse team won the IAAM B-Conference championship. The school was the 2008 International Equitation Association (IEA) National Champion in riding.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: University of Virginia, Franklin and Marshall College, and Vanderbilt University.
Georgetown Preparatory School, 10900 Rockville Pike, N. Bethesda 20852; 301-493-5000; boys 9th–12th grades; $24,200 (day), $42,150 (boarding); 450 students; www.gprep.org.
What’s new: This year the school started a poetry class for seniors, and last year they added classes in stained-glass class and digital photography.
Recent accomplishments: A $31 million student learning center is currently under construction and will feature a new-media center, classrooms, offices, a recording studio, and student lounge space when it opens in January 2010. The school also opened a $24 million 150,000-square-foot athletic center in 2007.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Georgetown University, Boston College, and the University of Virginia.
McDonogh School, 8600 McDonogh Rd., Owings Mills 21117; 410-581-4719; K–12th grade; $19,480–$21,680 (day), $29,160 (optional five-day boarding, 9th–12th grades); 1,293 students; www.mcdonogh.com.
What’s new: The school welcomed a new Head of Upper School, Kirsten Prettyman Adams, who was the former upper school head at the Hockaday School in Dallas, TX.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Bucknell University, University of Maryland at College Park, University of Pennsylvania, and Virginia Tech.
Oldfields School, 1500 Glencoe Rd., Glencoe 21152; 410-472-4800; girls 8th grade–postgraduate; $25,075 (day), $35,800 (5-day boarding), $40,475 (7-day boarding); 110 students; www.oldfieldsschool.org.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Lynchburg College and Stevenson University.
Sandy Spring Friends School, 16923 Norwood Rd., Sandy Spring 20860; 301-774-7455; pre-K–12th grade; $18,600–$24,400 (day), $34,900 (five-day boarding), $42,900 (seven-day boarding); 561 students; www.ssfs.org.
Saint James School, 17641 College Rd., St. James 21781; 301-733-9330; 8th–12th grades; $21,800 (day), $33,200 (boarding); 225 students; www.stjames.edu.
What’s new: A year-round dance program.
Recent accomplishments: The school has completed the new Fulton Academic Building, and also has a new driving range, putting green, baseball field, and three additional athletic fields.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Emory University, James Madison University, and University of Maryland.
St. Timothy’s School, 8400 Greenspring Ave., Stevenson 21153; 410-486-7400; girls 9th–12th grade; $24,200 (day), $41,000 (boarding); 155 students; www.sttims-school.org.
Recent accomplishment: The class of 2008 was the first class to earn International Baccalaureate Diplomas; 88 percent of them did.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, and Duke University.
West Nottingham Academy, 1079 Firetower Rd., Colora 21917; 410-658-5556; 9th–12th grade, postgraduate; $18,800 (day), $36,300 (boarding); Chesapeake Learning Center for learning differences (an additional $7,900); 122 students; www.wna.org.
What’s new: A school-wide service-learning program and daily transportation for day students.
Recent accomplishments: The school finished renovation on two residence halls on campus.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Ithaca College and James Madison University.
Yeshiva of Greater Washington, 2010 Linden La., Silver Spring 20910; 301-962-5111; Orthodox; 7th–12th grade; $14,500 (7th and 8th grades), $16,670 (9th–12th), boarding is optional and costs an additional $4,250 for boarding girls and an additional $5,000 for boarding boys; www.yeshiva.edu.
VIRGINIA
Blue Ridge School, 273 Mayo Dr., St. George 22935; 434-985-2811; boarding only; boys 9th–12th grades; $32,000; 195 students; www.blueridgeschool.com.
Chatham Hall, 800 Chatham Hall Cir., Chatham 24531; 434-432-2941; girls 9th–12th grades; $14,500 (day), $37,000 (boarding); 133 students; www.chathamhall.com.
Christchurch School, 49 Seahorse La., Christchurch 23031; 804-758-2306; 8th–12th grade, postgraduate; coed day school, boys boarding school; $15,750 (day), $37,250 (boarding); 212 students; www.christchurchschool.org.
What’s new: A new class schedule allows time for students to meet with their advisors every day.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: University of Virginia, Hampden-Sydney College, James Madison University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Episcopal High School, 1200 N. Quaker La., Alexandria 22302; 703-933-3000; 9th–12th grade boarding; $40,875; 430 students; www.episcopalhighschool.org.
Fishburne Military School, 225 S. Wayne Ave., Waynesboro 22980; 800-946-7773; boys 8th–12th grades; $9,500 (day), $25,000 (boarding); 132 students; www.fishburne.org.
Recent accomplishments: The school has had 100% college acceptance for the past five years. Last year, the school had an undefeated swimming season and a state-champion rifle team.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Virginia Military Academy, Radford University, and the Citadel.
Fork Union Military Academy, 4744 James Madison Highway, Fork Union 23055; 800-462-3862; Christian; boys 6th–12th grade, postgraduate; $29,700 (including uniforms); 500 students; www.forkunion.com.
Recent accomplishments: Twenty-five percent of the seniors received full academic scholarships to college. The cadets received a total of $9.3 million in scholarship grants.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: James Madison University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech.
Foxcroft School, 22407 Foxhound La., Middleburg 20117; 540-687-5555; girls 9th–12th grade; $30,712 (day), $40,950 (boarding); 185 students; www.foxcroft.org.
What’s new: The Foxcroft Summer Science Research Institute, an intensive six-week program offering girls the opportunity to participate in ground-breaking research projects, will debut in summer 2009. New courses include Southern Gothic Literature, Art History, Environmental Science, Advanced Algebra, and Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology.
Recent accomplishment: Foxcroft recently broke ground on a $14 million expansion and renovation of the school’s athletic and student center. The project is part of Foxcroft’s campus master plan, which includes proposals for a new dormitory, an arts center, and new classrooms.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: College of Charleston, College of William & Mary, and James Madison University.
Hargrave Military Academy, 200 Military Dr., Chatham 24531; 434-432-2481; boys 7th–12th grade, postgraduate; $12,000 (day), $27,500 (boarding), $29,350 (non-U.S. boarding); 365 students; www.hargrave.edu.
What’s new: A Center for Integrated Studies for grades 7 through 9.
Recent accomplishment: Hargrave’s class of 2009 will be the school’s 100th graduating class.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Auburn University, U.S. Naval Academy, and Virginia Tech.
Madeira School, 8328 Georgetown Pike, McLean 22102; 703-556-8200; girls 9th–12th grade; $33,060 (day), $43,540 (boarding); 320 students; www.madeira.org.
What’s new: New courses include a Diversity Curriculum for 9th and 10th graders, Global Civilization, Genocide in the Modern Age, Biotechnology and Bioethics, Irish Literature, and a course called Getting Medieval.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: College of William & Mary, Boston College, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Massanutten Military Academy, 614 S. Main St., Woodstock 22664; 540-459-2167; 7th–12th grade, postgraduate; $24,664 (boarding); 166 students; www.militaryschool.com.
What’s new: The Rosetta Stone program has been added in several languages including Russian.
Recent accomplishment: The school has 28 competitive sports including scuba and Olympic air rifle.
Miller School of Albemarle, 1000 Samuel Miller Loop, Charlottesville 22903; 434-823-4805; 8th–12th grade, postgraduate; $29,7500 (5-day boarding), $33,000 (7-day boarding) $14,350 (day); 150 students; www.millerschool.org.
What’s new: An equestrian program and a Model UN club.
Recent accomplishments: The school has a newly renovated studio art space and has received statewide recognition for its community service.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: University of Virginia, University of Mary Washington, and Virginia Tech.
Randolph-Macon Academy, 200 Academy Dr., Front Royal 22630; 540-636-5200; 6th–12th grade, postgraduate; $11,959-$13,653 (day), $26,282–$27,900 (boarding), $33,000 (international); 10-percent discount for Methodists; 365 students; www.rma.edu.
What’s new: Courses in AP Art History, Rule Brittania, Honors World History II, and Conceptual Physics. The school is also looking forward to a new state-of-the-art academic building that will open in 2009.
Recent accomplishments: In the last year, students dedicated 8,802 hours to community service; two seniors earned their private pilot certification; the school’s capital campaign reached over $10 million in gifts and pledges; and the R-MA Jets (Physics) team claimed 2nd in JV and varsity competition.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Old Dominion University, West Virginia University, and Lynchburg College.
St. Anne’s–Belfield School, 2132 Ivy Rd., Charlottesville 22903; 434-296-5106; preschool–12th grade; $8,900 (preschool and half-day K), $13,100 (full-day K), $15,400–$18,950 (grades 1–12); $12,700 additional for five-day boarding, $21,750 additional for seven-day; 841 students; www.stab.org.
What’s new: The school offers Mandarin Chinese courses to satisfy a full college requirement for language (also offering in Kindergarten). The upper school is using a trimester schedule which allows for greater flexibility to include several new courses and electives. The school is currently designing a lower school learning village, with construction to begin as early as this year.
St. Margaret’s School, 444 Water La., Tappahannock 22560; 804-443-3357; girls 8th–12th grades; $16,000 (day), $40,000 (boarding); 151 students; www.sms.org.
Recent accomplishments: Last year, three out of 28 graduates were named AP Scholars and one student was a National Merit Scholar finalist. Also, last year marked the school’s first full year using its new 42-acre athletic complex.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: Sweet Briar College, Washington and Lee University, and Parsons: The New School for Design.
Virginia Episcopal School, 400 VES Rd., Lynchburg 24503; 434-385-3607; 9th–12th grades; $17,950 (day), $35,500 (boarding); 210 students; www.ves.org.
Recent accomplishment: The school completed a new freshman girls’ dorm.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: North Carolina State University, Hampden-Sydney College, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Virginia Tech.
Woodberry Forest School, 898 Woodberry Forest Rd., Woodberry Forest, 22989; 540-672-3900; boys 9th–12th grades; $38,900; 400 students; www.woodberry.org.
Recent accomplishment: New facilities include a transformed dormitory, a track-and-field complex, and two artificial turf playing fields.
Colleges where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: North Carolina State University, Wofford College, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington and Lee University.
PENNSYLVANIA
Mercersburg Academy, 300 E. Seminary St, Mercersburg, PA, 17236; 717-328-6173; coed 9th–12th grades, postgraduate; $31,700 (day), $41,350 (boarding); 430 students; www.mercersburg.edu.
Recent accomplishment: The school has its most diverse student body yet, with 31 states and 33 nations represented.
College where the greatest number of 2008 graduates enrolled: U.S. Naval Academy.
