Washingtonian Guide to Private Schools: Boys Schools

Mission
A Catholic college preparatory school for boys operated by the Society of Jesus and its colleagues under the governance of an independent board of trustees. Drawing its inspiration from the spiritual vision of St. Ignatius Loyola and the apostolic and educational tradition of the Jesuits, it offers a values-oriented and academically challenging curriculum to young men of diverse backgrounds from all over the Washington Metropolitan area. Gonzaga views its urban setting in the heart of the nation’s capital as a significant advantage to fulfilling its goals, allowing its students to interact with the larger Washington community and to learn leadership skills and civic responsibility as part of their overall development. Moreover, Gonzaga strives to create a dynamic and caring learning environment which it unites with its academic, extra-curricular and athletic programs to help form Men with and for Others, that is, graduates who are: open to growth; intellectually competent; religious; loving, and committed to doing justice.

What’s New?
In the process of building new parking facility, scheduled for completion in summer 2015.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
Xavier University, University of Virginia, Georgetown University, Fordham University, University of Maryland, Penn State University, and University of South Carolina

Hide this content.

Mission
From the top of Mount St. Alban, St. Albans School looks up to the Washington National Cathedral and out to the United States Capitol. Our location serves as an embodiment and constant reminder of the school’s motto: Pro Ecclesia et Pro Patria, for Church and Country. Since the school was established in 1909 by the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, our mission has been to prepare boys to develop and use their spiritual, intellectual, artistic, and physical gifts not for themselves alone, but in service of the greater community. As an Episcopal School, we welcome and embrace boys of all faiths and backgrounds to this caring community that learns, prays, plays, sings, and eats together. We are committed to diversity among students, faculty, and staff that shapes and enriches our shared experiences. We know and value each boy and over the past century have helped boys to grow into public servants, leaders in all fields, and citizens who live the community ideal long after they have left the school.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
Harvard College, Yale, College of William and Mary

Hide this content.

Mission
St. Anselm’s Abbey School seeks to promote the spiritual, personal, and intellectual development of young men with demonstrated academic achievement. Our school, serving grades 6 through 12, with its roots in the values of the Christian Gospels and Catholic tradition, strives to create a community built on respect for truth, love of learning, regard for human dignity, and tolerance. We pursue this goal by leading our students through a challenging and balanced program of study in the arts, sciences, and theology that gives them a solid preparation for the demands of college. By living and promoting the Benedictine spirit, we strive within our school to create an atmosphere of peace, a sense of service to community and a willingness within our students to work towards a balance in mind, body, and spirit.

What’s New?
Continuing to develop a four-year Arabic curriculum. Continuation of two-year robotics program. For three years has been considered the Washington Post’s most challenging independent high school in the DC area.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, University of Maryland College Park, Brown

Hide this content.

Mission
At Avalon we seek ways to support parents in their important work as the primary educators of their children.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
University of Maryland College Park, Montgomery College

Hide this content.

Mission
DeMatha Catholic High School is a college preparatory institution dedicated to educating young men in the Trinitarian tradition. DeMatha’s historic and ongoing mission is to serve students of differing abilities, interests, and backgrounds from the culturally rich and diverse greater Washington Metropolitan area. Faculty and staff work to help young men develop a way of life characterized by attention to scholarship, dedication to moral principles, devotion to hard work, and the awareness of the need to serve others. Through a broad-based and rigorous curriculum, numerous opportunities for spiritual growth, a wide range of co-curricular opportunities, and a comprehensive service program, DeMatha cultivates a respect for other people that finds its most complete expression in students who become gentlemen and scholars.

What’s New?
Learning Engineering and Design program coming fall 2015, three-year program of foundations in engineering, robotics and computer programming.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
University of Maryland College Park, University of Northern British Columbia, Catholic University, Mount St. Mary’s

Hide this content.

Mission
In the Jesuit tradition, the school focuses on “education of the whole person: mind, spirit, and body. This is accomplished through cura personalis (Latin for personalized care and concern for the individual) and through a holistic curriculum.”

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
University of Notre Dame, Princeton, Stanford

Hide this content.

Mission
The Heights School is a private, independent, preparatory school for boys, grades three to twelve. Our mission is to assist parents in the intellectual, moral, physical, and spiritual education of their sons, with dedicated teachers training boys rigorously in the liberal arts. This formation in virtue fosters respect for every person, a desire to serve God and others, and an optimistic attitude towards life’s challenges.

What’s New?
Upgraded baseball facilities, including field improvements, dugouts for home and visiting teams, and a new scoreboard.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
University of Maryland College Park, University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, University of Notre Dame, Catholic University of America

Hide this content.

Mission
Landon School prepares talented boys for productive lives as accomplished, responsible and caring men whose actions are guided by the principles of perseverance, teamwork, honor and fair play.

Hide this content.

Mission
Mater Dei School intends to provide an accelerated yet basic Catholic education in which character development is emphasized and appreciated as much as academic accomplishments. In a traditionally structured yet relaxed atmosphere, the students are encouraged to both work and play hard; accordingly, a strong athletic program complements the scholastic curriculum.

By providing effective role models as teachers, Mater Dei tries to impress upon its boys that academic success depends upon consistent and responsible effort in class and on assignments; that by being good persons they can best fulfill their roles as students and their obligations as Catholics; that they must and should be held accountable for their actions and inactions; and that by not taking themselves too seriously they can gain a valuable perspective on the ups and downs of school life.

For all of us, this effectively means, ‘Work hard, play hard, pray hard, but most of all, be a good guy.”

Hide this content.

What’s New?
The school recently appointed a new principal, Etan Savir.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2010 Graduates Enrolled
Yeshiva University and University of Maryland.

Hide this content.

Mission
We specifically focus on helping boys reach their potential through personalized, structured, innovative learning practices in a college preparatory, all-boarding community.

What’s New
100% college acceptance in 2010 – upgrade your son’s options; not only get him into better school, but prepare him for success while there: study skills, self-discipline, independence, self-esteem and confidence.

Recent Accomplishments
Blue Ridge reached the State Finals in football and basketball, the State Semi-Finals in lacrosse and baseball, and had six conference titles in 2009-2010.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2010 Graduates Enrolled
Georgia Institute of Technology-2 Hampden-Sydney University- 2 Johns Hopkins University- 1 University of California Berkley-1 Emory University-1 Kenyon College- 1 University of Maryland- 1 Virginia Tech- 1

Hide this content.

Mission
“The mission of Fishburne Military School is to provide each cadet with a sound academic foundation, a healthy mental and physical environment, and leadership training for a better understanding of the obligations of honor, citizenship, and self-discipline.”

What’s New
Voted best Independent School in the Shenandoah Valley by Virginia Living magazine. The school also has a new JROTC building and has developed a STEM program and a robotics club.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
Virginia Tech, United States Naval Academy, The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute

Hide this content.

Mission
Our mission is to educate, develop, and inspire young men in a college preparatory, Christian, military environment. Cadets build character, and learn leadership, independence, confidence, responsibility, and discipline in a setting that encourages mental, physical, and spiritual growth.

What’s New?
Cadets are living in a new barracks facility, finished in the past two years, which is LEED certified. New dual enrollment agreement with Richard Bland College of William and Mary means that they teach college courses on campus with Fork Union faculty and Richard Bland faculty and a student could graduate with a high school diploma and two-year degree to Richard Bland and then go on to a number of Virginia schools automatically as a junior entering college.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
US Military Academy West Point, US Naval Academy Annapolis, University of Virginia, North Carolina State, University of North Carolina

Hide this content.

Mission
The mission of Hargrave is to assist Cadets in becoming knowledgable, thinking and responsible citizens of their community, nation and world. Our educational program is based on rigorous instruction in basic skills and in preparation for further study in arts and sciences. To be effective, the educational process must be reinforced by order, structure and discipline, and in an environment where the worth, potential and integrity of the individual is promoted in every area of school life. We strive to develop our students spiritually, socially, emotionally, and physically, as well as intellectually, within a healthy, wholesome environment in which the Christian faith and principles pervade all aspects of the school.

Hide this content.

Mission
The purpose of the school is to develop in its students, under Christian principles, a high sense of honor and moral integrity, a deep respect for sound scholarship, a full acceptance of responsibility, a love of excellence, and a will toward personal sacrifice in service to others. It is likewise its mission, based on these ideals, to develop its students toward a useful contribution to the democratic society in which they live, and to give them thorough preparation for the best colleges and universities consistent with their individual potentials.

What’s New?
New headmaster, Byron C. Hulsey ’86. Hulsey is the ninth headmaster to serve the school. New Building Initiative, which will include house dining, math and computer science classrooms, to be completed in January 2015.

Colleges Where the Greatest Number of 2013 Graduates Enrolled
University of South Carolina, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Clemson University, Sewanee: The University of the South

Hide this content.