About Private School Guide
Find the best educational option—from pre-school through 12th grade—for your child.
This list is part of our larger Private School Guide.
Academy of the Holy Cross
4920 Strathmore Ave., Kensington, Maryland, 20895; 301-942-2100
Ages: 9th-12th grade.
Tuition: $34,040.
Total number of students: 390.
Mission statement: “The Academy of the Holy Cross, a Catholic college preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross since 1868, is dedicated to educating young women in a Christ-centered community which values diversity. The Academy is committed to developing women of courage, compassion and scholarship who responsibly embrace the social, spiritual and intellectual challenges of the world.”
Also of note: In 2025, Academy of the Holy Cross had three coaches who received WCAC Coaches of the Year awards.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 11 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
Chatham Hall
800 Chatham Hall Cir., Chatham, VA, 24531; 434-432-2941
Ages: 9th-12th grade.
Tuition: $29,100 (day students), $59,950 (five-day boarding), $69,500 (seven-day boarding), $71,500 (international student).
Total number of students: 120.
Mission statement: “Equipping curious thinkers to lead lives of impact.”
Also of note: Chatham Hall has an equestrian program.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 5 to 1.
Uniform? No.
Connelly School of the Holy Child
9029 Bradley Blvd., Potomac, MD, 20854; 301-365-0955
Ages: 6th-12th grade.
Tuition: $40,060 (6th-8th grade), $44,400 (9th-12th).
Total number of students: 355.
Mission statement: “Connelly School of the Holy Child is a Catholic, college preparatory school, committed to the intellectual, spiritual, artistic, physical and social development of young women in grades 6 through 12. The School emphasizes academic challenge, joy of learning and education of well-rounded women of faith and action. The Holy Child community welcomes students and families of different faiths and diverse backgrounds. In keeping with the philosophy of our founder Cornelia Connelly, Holy Child values the uniqueness of each individual and fosters a life of service to others.”
Student-to-teacher ratio: 7 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
Elizabeth Seton High School
5715 Emerson St., Bladensburg, MD, 20710; 301-864-4532
Ages: 9th-12th grade.
Tuition: $19,840.
Total number of students: 564.
Mission statement: “Rooted in Catholic values and the charism of the Daughters of Charity, Elizabeth Seton High School cultivates confidence in young women to excel in college, careers, and life through an innovative and rigorous academic experience. As a diverse and inclusive learning community, students think critically and creatively, work collaboratively, and serve others.”
Student-to-teacher ratio: 8 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
Foxcroft School
22407 Foxhound La., Middleburg, VA, 20117; 540-687-5555
Ages: 9th-12th grade.
Tuition: $53,550 (day), $75,200 (boarding), $80,200 (international student).
Total number of students: 168.
Mission statement: “Foxcroft’s mission is to help every girl explore her unique voice and to develop the skills, confidence, and courage to share it with the world.”
Also of note: Foxcroft’s 500-acre campus offers students space to hike, horseback ride, and sled.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 4 to 1.
Uniform? No.
Garrison Forest School
300 Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills, MD, 21117; 410-363-1500
Ages: K-12th grade.
Tuition: $20,175 (preschool), $31,650 (kindergarten), $37,100 (1st-5th grade), $39,015 (6th-8th grade, day), $41,150 (9th-12th, day student), $70,475 (8th-12th grade, boarding), $78,185 (8th-12th grade, international boarding).
Total number of students: 527.
Mission: “At Garrison Forest School, we prepare our students in and out of the classroom to thrive in a complex, changing world by: challenging them to strive for academic excellence and to grow into informed, independent and creative thinkers, cultivating an authentic and resilient sense of self, grounded in respect and integrity, creating a diverse and inclusive community built on a spirit of caring, [and] inspiring young women to lead and to serve with passion, purpose and joy.”
Also of note: As part of Garrison Forest’s Women in Science and Engineering program, students have spent over 20,000 hours researching in labs at John Hopkins. Additionally, Garrison Forest has an equestrian program and is one of two high schools in the US with a polo team.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 8 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
1524 35th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20007; 202-337-3350
Ages: 9th-12th grade.
Tuition: $39,100.
Total number of students: 504.
Mission statement: “Our mission is to empower our students to meet the demands and challenges of today’s rapidly changing and morally complex world. We guide our students to become self-reliant, intellectually mature, and morally responsible women of faith, vision, and purpose.”
Also of note: Georgetown Visitation’s campus consists of 23 acres in Georgetown. Additionally, Visitation’s selective singing group, the Madrigals, has won a number of awards.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 9 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
Holton-Arms School
7303 River Rd., Bethesda, MD, 20817; 301-365-5300
Ages: 3rd-12th grade.
Tuition: $57,875.
Total number of students: 665.
Mission statement: “Holton-Arms School cultivates the unique potential of young women through the ‘education not only of the mind, but of the soul and spirit.’ “
Also of note: The STEM Scholar and Humanities Scholar programs connect students passionate in their areas of study with six-to-eight-week internships to gain real-life work experience before their senior year. Additionally, at the end of senior year, students choose an area of interest to research for two weeks as their senior project. At the end of these projects, students present their findings to their peers.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 5 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
Madeira School
8328 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA, 22102; 703-556-8200
Ages: 9th-12th grade.
Tuition: $58,000 (day), $74,500 (boarding).
Total number of students: 338.
Mission statement: “Launching women who change the world.”
Also of note: As of 2025, Madeira has a new on-campus equestrian center that the varsity riding team utilizes.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 4 to 1.
Uniform? No.
National Cathedral School
3612 Woodley Rd., NW, Washington, DC, 20016; 202-537-6300
Ages: 4th-12th grade.
Tuition: $56,920.
Total number of students: 586.
Mission statement: “We believe in the power of young women and educate them to embrace our core values of excellence, service, courage, and conscience.”
Also of note: National Cathedral School shares a campus with DC’s National Cathedral. Students have opportunities to take classes inside the cathedral, and the school community attends around 24 services every year. Student-to-teacher ratio: 8 to 1.
Uniform? No.
Oakcrest School
1619 Crowell Rd., Vienna, VA, 22182; 703-790-5450
Ages: 6th-12th grade.
Tuition: $31,000 (6th-8th grades), $35,000 (9th-12th grades).
Total number of students: 320.
Mission statement: “Oakcrest School in partnership with parents challenges girls in grades 6-12 to develop their intellect, character, faith and leadership potential to thrive in college and throughout their lives.”
Also of note: Every year, Oakcrest hosts professionals in various humanities fields to speak at the O’Donovan Humanities Lecture. The lecture is intended to inspire students to further appreciate or pursue education in the humanities.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 7 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
Oldfields School
1500 Glencoe Rd., Sparks Glencoe, MD, 21152; 410-472-4800
Ages: 8th-12th grade.
Tuition: $31,000 (day students), $47,000 (five-day boarding), $59,000 (seven-day boarding).
Total number of students: 25.
Mission statement: “Oldfields School’s mission is to embrace each girl’s authentic self, educate through collaboration, empower the individual voice, and inspire confidence and continual growth, leading to a life of purpose.”
Also of note: Oldfields School offers an Equine Science class that prepares students to study equine or veterinary science in college. It also has a horseback-riding program.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 4 to 1.
Uniform? No.
St. Timothy’s School
8400 Greenspring Ave., Stevenson, MD, 21153; 410-486-7400
Ages: 9th-12th grade.
Tuition: $39,900 (day students), $69,900 (boarding students), $73,900 (English Second Language program students).
Total number of students: 175.
Mission statement: “Since our founding in 1882, St. Timothy’s School has prepared girls for lives of principled leadership by fostering courage, moral focus, intellectual honesty, and the confidence to act responsibly and ethically in all areas of their lives.”
Also of note: Upon enrolling at St. Timothy’s, each student is placed into the Brownie or Spider team. The Brownie-Spider basketball game is a tradition that takes place once every fall.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 6 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
9101 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20814; 301-657-4322
Ages: preschool-12th grade.
Tuition:$26,150 (preschool), $35,800 (pre-K, kindergarten), $37,100 (1st-4th grade), $42,700 (5th-8th), $49,250 (9th-12th).
Total number of students: 757.
Mission statement: “Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart inspires young women to lead and serve, through lives of purpose that integrate faith, intellect, community, social action, and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.”
Also of note: In 2025, Stone Ridge’s varsity lacrosse team was ranked 15th in the nation.
Student-to-teacher ratio: 7 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
Yeshiva of Greater Washington
2010 Linden La., Silver Spring, MD, 20910; 301-962-5111
Ages: 7th-12th grade.
Tuition: n/a.
Total number of students: 154.
Mission statement: “Our mission at the Yeshiva of Greater Washington–Tiferes Gedaliah is to root each student in Torah, plant a passion for learning, and prepare them for life.”
Student-to-teacher ratio: 6 to 1.
Uniform? Yes.
