2025 rankings of best private schools in the DMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[list]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA had fantastic outplacement last year. Roughly 50% to top 25 schools plus another 10 to top10 liberal arts colleges.

Prove it! There’s no evidence of how STA’s c/o 2024 fared. STA hides individual year matriculation results like they hide football scandals and police investigations.

Btw, GDS, Sidwell, and maybe Holton and NCS sent more than 50% of its recent graduates to T25 universities/T10 SLACs. That’s no big deal.

No, NCS sent 27 girls to top 25 Universities/ top 10 liberal arts colleges (if you include West Point) last year. It was a class of 72.

NCS sent 2/3 to top 25 schools if you include liberal arts and universities. For many liberal arts are just as prestigious and preferred. Valedictorian at two top schools also attended liberal arts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never heard Episcopal High School ever mentioned on this board, I actually had to look it up. Same thing with some of these tiny schools in Virginia - Veritas, Pinnacle Academy, Ideaventions???

Episcopal is legit. Lavish campus, solid academics, it’s even prestigious, has all the sports/ activities you could ask for, great location, and pretty much anything you could ask for in a school.
Not spoken of much here because most people are looking for day schools and not boarding.

While BIM uses an old office building only half built-out, operates an AP grind test factory, begs for recognition but is mostly ignored on DCUM except when they hype these rankings, has a tiny crust of activities and sports that fit on the astroturfed parking lot and the tiny gym and theater, is located snug up against 267, and has pretty much nothing else to commend it.

Sorry your kid wasn’t accepted into Basis.

Making up defensive nonsense is also a bad look. It reflects poorly on the BIM parent population if that's how they always react to someone pointing out obvious physical shortcomings in the school. "You're just jealous!" is a real middle-school-type answer.

Hardly anyone is not accepted at BIM. You need to come up with something a little less lame next time.

Is your dads name Al Bundy?? Football is sport for winners!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[list]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA had fantastic outplacement last year. Roughly 50% to top 25 schools plus another 10 to top10 liberal arts colleges.

Prove it! There’s no evidence of how STA’s c/o 2024 fared. STA hides individual year matriculation results like they hide football scandals and police investigations.

Btw, GDS, Sidwell, and maybe Holton and NCS sent more than 50% of its recent graduates to T25 universities/T10 SLACs. That’s no big deal.

No, NCS sent 27 girls to top 25 Universities/ top 10 liberal arts colleges (if you include West Point) last year. It was a class of 72.

NCS sent 2/3 to top 25 schools if you include liberal arts and universities. For many liberal arts are just as prestigious and preferred. Valedictorian at two top schools also attended liberal arts.

Not NCS valedictorian but just pointing out that for many liberal arts are preferred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rankings now out for best private schools in the DMV:

1. Sidwell
2. BIM
3. Madeira
4. GDS
5. EHS
6. Potomac
7. Holton
8. Georgetown Prep
9. NCS
10. WIS
11. Maret
12. STA

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

This is laughable. STA, NCS, GDS all had better college placements last year overall than the top 3 on this list. GDS had 6 alone go to Harvard. STA has many at Ivies and top 20 universities and NCS has about 2/3 of class of 2024 at top 25 Universities and/or liberal arts schools. Many at top liberal arts top 15.

I don’t believe that STA’s placement is that great. The only public matriculation data STA releases is an aggregate 3-4 year list (I see MoCo on that list, btw). STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools). People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Btw, it’s a flat out lie that NCS had better 2024 college placements than all the other top ranked high schools. GDS did well in 2024, but its 2023 college placements were an absolute bust!

The school's don't run the IG accounts.

Correct.
It is not their thing. They post on their private instagram accounts but not publicly.

It appears that both of you struggle with reading comprehension.

Quote from the original post:

“STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools).”

It’s fine if STA students don’t want to have a public IG account. However, they shouldn’t be upset or surprised if people don’t believe their college placement is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[list]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA had fantastic outplacement last year. Roughly 50% to top 25 schools plus another 10 to top10 liberal arts colleges.

Prove it! There’s no evidence of how STA’s c/o 2024 fared. STA hides individual year matriculation results like they hide football scandals and police investigations.

Btw, GDS, Sidwell, and maybe Holton and NCS sent more than 50% of its recent graduates to T25 universities/T10 SLACs. That’s no big deal.

No, NCS sent 27 girls to top 25 Universities/ top 10 liberal arts colleges (if you include West Point) last year. It was a class of 72.

“Maybe” means the statement may be true, or it may be incorrect. If your numbers are correct (because I don’t care enough about NCS to check your math), then the statement is incorrect. All bases have been covered, so let’s move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rankings now out for best private schools in the DMV:

1. Sidwell
2. BIM
3. Madeira
4. GDS
5. EHS
6. Potomac
7. Holton
8. Georgetown Prep
9. NCS
10. WIS
11. Maret
12. STA

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

This is laughable. STA, NCS, GDS all had better college placements last year overall than the top 3 on this list. GDS had 6 alone go to Harvard. STA has many at Ivies and top 20 universities and NCS has about 2/3 of class of 2024 at top 25 Universities and/or liberal arts schools. Many at top liberal arts top 15.

I don’t believe that STA’s placement is that great. The only public matriculation data STA releases is an aggregate 3-4 year list (I see MoCo on that list, btw). STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools). People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Btw, it’s a flat out lie that NCS had better 2024 college placements than all the other top ranked high schools. GDS did well in 2024, but its 2023 college placements were an absolute bust!

The school's don't run the IG accounts.

Correct.
It is not their thing. They post on their private instagram accounts but not publicly.

It appears that both of you struggle with reading comprehension.

Quote from the original post:

“STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools).”

It’s fine if STA students don’t want to have a public IG account. However, they shouldn’t be upset or surprised if people don’t believe their college placement is great.

No one is upset. No one cares whether you or anyone else believes the stats. Parents were just sharing them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rankings now out for best private schools in the DMV:

1. Sidwell
2. BIM
3. Madeira
4. GDS
5. EHS
6. Potomac
7. Holton
8. Georgetown Prep
9. NCS
10. WIS
11. Maret
12. STA

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

Madeira and Episcopal are good schools and offer a nice option for boarding schools but they are not in top 5 schools in any way and have never been. I would say most alumns would agree with that statement.

Episcopal has the nicest campus of any on the list, attracts the best teachers (due to free housing/houses) from around the country, and has 100% boarding experience using Harkness method. Why would you say not in top 5?

Definitely in the Top 5 for insecure parents. Somewhere between SFS and GDS.

It's always so funny to me when people get on here to leave a negative comment about schools their kids don't attend and then say that the "other parents" are insecure.

Excellent point!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rankings now out for best private schools in the DMV:

1. Sidwell
2. BIM
3. Madeira
4. GDS
5. EHS
6. Potomac
7. Holton
8. Georgetown Prep
9. NCS
10. WIS
11. Maret
12. STA

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

This is laughable. STA, NCS, GDS all had better college placements last year overall than the top 3 on this list. GDS had 6 alone go to Harvard. STA has many at Ivies and top 20 universities and NCS has about 2/3 of class of 2024 at top 25 Universities and/or liberal arts schools. Many at top liberal arts top 15.

I don’t believe that STA’s placement is that great. The only public matriculation data STA releases is an aggregate 3-4 year list (I see MoCo on that list, btw). STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools). People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Btw, it’s a flat out lie that NCS had better 2024 college placements than all the other top ranked high schools. GDS did well in 2024, but its 2023 college placements were an absolute bust!

The school's don't run the IG accounts.

Correct.
It is not their thing. They post on their private instagram accounts but not publicly.

It appears that both of you struggle with reading comprehension.

Quote from the original post:

“STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools).”

It’s fine if STA students don’t want to have a public IG account. However, they shouldn’t be upset or surprised if people don’t believe their college placement is great.

No one is upset. No one cares whether you or anyone else believes the stats. Parents were just sharing them.

What’s the point of sharing information that comes across as a boldfaced lie? Plus, you have no publicly available data to back it up.

NCS, Sidwell, Maret, GDS, Brearley, Trinity (NYC), Dalton, Phillips Exeter, Harvard-Westlake, even SJC, Field, Burke, etc all have public IG accounts that list their college matriculations. STA isn’t special. It’s just trying to hide something.

I’m a spy for the CIA. You don’t believe me? Well, you should just take my word for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rankings now out for best private schools in the DMV:

1. Sidwell
2. BIM
3. Madeira
4. GDS
5. EHS
6. Potomac
7. Holton
8. Georgetown Prep
9. NCS
10. WIS
11. Maret
12. STA

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

This is laughable. STA, NCS, GDS all had better college placements last year overall than the top 3 on this list. GDS had 6 alone go to Harvard. STA has many at Ivies and top 20 universities and NCS has about 2/3 of class of 2024 at top 25 Universities and/or liberal arts schools. Many at top liberal arts top 15.

I don’t believe that STA’s placement is that great. The only public matriculation data STA releases is an aggregate 3-4 year list (I see MoCo on that list, btw). STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools). People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Btw, it’s a flat out lie that NCS had better 2024 college placements than all the other top ranked high schools. GDS did well in 2024, but its 2023 college placements were an absolute bust!

The school's don't run the IG accounts.

Correct.
It is not their thing. They post on their private instagram accounts but not publicly.

It appears that both of you struggle with reading comprehension.

Quote from the original post:

“STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools).”

It’s fine if STA students don’t want to have a public IG account. However, they shouldn’t be upset or surprised if people don’t believe their college placement is great.

No one is upset. No one cares whether you or anyone else believes the stats. Parents were just sharing them.

What’s the point of sharing information that comes across as a boldfaced lie? Plus, you have no publicly available data to back it up.

NCS, Sidwell, Maret, GDS, Brearley, Trinity (NYC), Dalton, Phillips Exeter, Harvard-Westlake, even SJC, Field, Burke, etc all have public IG accounts that list their college matriculations. STA isn’t special. It’s just trying to hide something.

I’m a spy for the CIA. You don’t believe me? Well, you should just take my word for it.

For the 100th time. These are not run by the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rankings now out for best private schools in the DMV:

1. Sidwell
2. BIM
3. Madeira
4. GDS
5. EHS
6. Potomac
7. Holton
8. Georgetown Prep
9. NCS
10. WIS
11. Maret
12. STA

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

This is laughable. STA, NCS, GDS all had better college placements last year overall than the top 3 on this list. GDS had 6 alone go to Harvard. STA has many at Ivies and top 20 universities and NCS has about 2/3 of class of 2024 at top 25 Universities and/or liberal arts schools. Many at top liberal arts top 15.

I don’t believe that STA’s placement is that great. The only public matriculation data STA releases is an aggregate 3-4 year list (I see MoCo on that list, btw). STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools). People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Btw, it’s a flat out lie that NCS had better 2024 college placements than all the other top ranked high schools. GDS did well in 2024, but its 2023 college placements were an absolute bust!

The school's don't run the IG accounts.

Correct.
It is not their thing. They post on their private instagram accounts but not publicly.

It appears that both of you struggle with reading comprehension.

Quote from the original post:

“STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools).”

It’s fine if STA students don’t want to have a public IG account. However, they shouldn’t be upset or surprised if people don’t believe their college placement is great.

No one is upset. No one cares whether you or anyone else believes the stats. Parents were just sharing them.

What’s the point of sharing information that comes across as a boldfaced lie? Plus, you have no publicly available data to back it up.

NCS, Sidwell, Maret, GDS, Brearley, Trinity (NYC), Dalton, Phillips Exeter, Harvard-Westlake, even SJC, Field, Burke, etc all have public IG accounts that list their college matriculations. STA isn’t special. It’s just trying to hide something.

I’m a spy for the CIA. You don’t believe me? Well, you should just take my word for it.

For the 100th time. These are not run by the schools.

And for the 101st time I have referred to these accounts as student run. Go back and READ the bolded words.
Are you slow or are you stupid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rankings now out for best private schools in the DMV:

1. Sidwell
2. BIM
3. Madeira
4. GDS
5. EHS
6. Potomac
7. Holton
8. Georgetown Prep
9. NCS
10. WIS
11. Maret
12. STA

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

This is laughable. STA, NCS, GDS all had better college placements last year overall than the top 3 on this list. GDS had 6 alone go to Harvard. STA has many at Ivies and top 20 universities and NCS has about 2/3 of class of 2024 at top 25 Universities and/or liberal arts schools. Many at top liberal arts top 15.

I don’t believe that STA’s placement is that great. The only public matriculation data STA releases is an aggregate 3-4 year list (I see MoCo on that list, btw). STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools). People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Btw, it’s a flat out lie that NCS had better 2024 college placements than all the other top ranked high schools. GDS did well in 2024, but its 2023 college placements were an absolute bust!

The school's don't run the IG accounts.

Correct.
It is not their thing. They post on their private instagram accounts but not publicly.

It appears that both of you struggle with reading comprehension.

Quote from the original post:

“STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools).”

It’s fine if STA students don’t want to have a public IG account. However, they shouldn’t be upset or surprised if people don’t believe their college placement is great.

No one is upset. No one cares whether you or anyone else believes the stats. Parents were just sharing them.

What’s the point of sharing information that comes across as a boldfaced lie? Plus, you have no publicly available data to back it up.

NCS, Sidwell, Maret, GDS, Brearley, Trinity (NYC), Dalton, Phillips Exeter, Harvard-Westlake, even SJC, Field, Burke, etc all have public IG accounts that list their college matriculations. STA isn’t special. It’s just trying to hide something.

I’m a spy for the CIA. You don’t believe me? Well, you should just take my word for it.

You sound weirdly obsesses with STA's college results. People posting know because they have or had kids at the school so they can see where everyone in the class goes. Classes are small - 70-75 kids. Some would argue it is classy not to post. Why brag? They have no need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never heard Episcopal High School ever mentioned on this board, I actually had to look it up. Same thing with some of these tiny schools in Virginia - Veritas, Pinnacle Academy, Ideaventions???

Episcopal is legit. Lavish campus, solid academics, it’s even prestigious, has all the sports/ activities you could ask for, great location, and pretty much anything you could ask for in a school.
Not spoken of much here because most people are looking for day schools and not boarding.

While BIM uses an old office building only half built-out, operates an AP grind test factory, begs for recognition but is mostly ignored on DCUM except when they hype these rankings, has a tiny crust of activities and sports that fit on the astroturfed parking lot and the tiny gym and theater, is located snug up against 267, and has pretty much nothing else to commend it.

Sorry your kid wasn’t accepted into Basis.

Making up defensive nonsense is also a bad look. It reflects poorly on the BIM parent population if that's how they always react to someone pointing out obvious physical shortcomings in the school. "You're just jealous!" is a real middle-school-type answer.

Hardly anyone is not accepted at BIM. You need to come up with something a little less lame next time.

Is your dads name Al Bundy?? Football is sport for winners!

I said "less lame" not "lamer." Your punctuation and grammar also need some work there, sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rankings now out for best private schools in the DMV:

1. Sidwell
2. BIM
3. Madeira
4. GDS
5. EHS
6. Potomac
7. Holton
8. Georgetown Prep
9. NCS
10. WIS
11. Maret
12. STA

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

This is laughable. STA, NCS, GDS all had better college placements last year overall than the top 3 on this list. GDS had 6 alone go to Harvard. STA has many at Ivies and top 20 universities and NCS has about 2/3 of class of 2024 at top 25 Universities and/or liberal arts schools. Many at top liberal arts top 15.

I don’t believe that STA’s placement is that great. The only public matriculation data STA releases is an aggregate 3-4 year list (I see MoCo on that list, btw). STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools). People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Btw, it’s a flat out lie that NCS had better 2024 college placements than all the other top ranked high schools. GDS did well in 2024, but its 2023 college placements were an absolute bust!

The school's don't run the IG accounts.

Correct.
It is not their thing. They post on their private instagram accounts but not publicly.

It appears that both of you struggle with reading comprehension.

Quote from the original post:

“STA students don’t operate a public IG account where students can post their college destinations (like every other top (and even lower and mid-tier) area private schools).”

It’s fine if STA students don’t want to have a public IG account. However, they shouldn’t be upset or surprised if people don’t believe their college placement is great.

No one is upset. No one cares whether you or anyone else believes the stats. Parents were just sharing them.

What’s the point of sharing information that comes across as a boldfaced lie? Plus, you have no publicly available data to back it up.

NCS, Sidwell, Maret, GDS, Brearley, Trinity (NYC), Dalton, Phillips Exeter, Harvard-Westlake, even SJC, Field, Burke, etc all have public IG accounts that list their college matriculations. STA isn’t special. It’s just trying to hide something.

I’m a spy for the CIA. You don’t believe me? Well, you should just take my word for it.

You sound weirdly obsesses with STA's college results. People posting know because they have or had kids at the school so they can see where everyone in the class goes. Classes are small - 70-75 kids. Some would argue it is classy not to post. Why brag? They have no need.

I don’t care about STA. However, I will address anyone who tries to brag about a school’s college matriculations that are carefully kept away from public view. If you want me to stop posting about STA’s matriculations (or lack thereof), you’ll need to do the same.

Btw, you are weirdly defensive and obsessed with defending STA’s invisible college results. STA isn’t classier than Sidwell, Trinity, Dalton, PEA, etc. However, unlike those illustrious and much older educational institutions, STA clearly has something to hide (as always).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I'm stunned at BASIS continuing to rocket up the ratings.

Next year #1!!!!

We're coming for you Sidwell! You're next.

BASIS was #2 last year, right? It's firmly been at the top for a while now, above all the old blue bloods, not rocketing anywhere.

BIM was #1 last year. Sidwell was #2. Now Sidwell has edged BIM for the #1 place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rankings now out for best private schools in the DMV:

1. Sidwell
2. BIM
3. Madeira
4. GDS
5. EHS
6. Potomac
7. Holton
8. Georgetown Prep
9. NCS
10. WIS
11. Maret
12. STA

https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-private-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/

This is laughable. STA, NCS, GDS all had better college placements last year overall than the top 3 on this list. GDS had 6 alone go to Harvard. STA has many at Ivies and top 20 universities and NCS has about 2/3 of class of 2024 at top 25 Universities and/or liberal arts schools. Many at top liberal arts top 15.

Laughable? BIM students are laughing at you as they attend HYPSM.

Last year, BIM had a higher percentage accepted to T20 colleges than all these schools. And most of those students were unhooked.

BIM also had a higher percentage of NMSF than all these schools.

The school is highly ranked for a reason.