Reasonably Priced Private Schools

[Anonymous]

I have a PK kid and don't have a lot of knowledge about the private schools in DC. Are there any reasonably priced private schools in DC that are still really good?

[Anonymous]

Can you define what you mean by reasonably priced?

[Anonymous]

It depends on how you define "reasonably priced" and "really good." There are many solid private schools in the area that do not have a 30K+ price tag. Give us more specifics on what you're looking for and people can almost certainly point you in the direction of specific schools.

[Anonymous]

Oh god, I forgot this is DC Urban Moms! I mean one that doesn't cost $30K a year. Forgot to mention I do not want a parochial school.

[Anonymous]

So anything less than $30K a year, then?

[Anonymous]

That narrows it down some. Are you looking for K-8? Something that runs through 12th? Once you get much under the 30K a year price things get thinner if you've also eliminated parochial school. And again "really good" is subjective. There are certainly some schools (ranging from lots less to barely less) than 30K that people have had good experiences with on these boards. Are you wanting DC proper? Are you willing to look in MD? VA?

[Anonymous]

DC or MD, not VA. I suppose at least K-8.
No, I am not being super specific. but I am just starting the process so it's a little unclear.

[Anonymous]

any of the montessoris (christian family, evergreen, etc.) are about $10K - $15K.

Friends Community School - $18K or so

[Anonymous]

Well, in MD on the significantly less than 30K end, Friends Community. On the close to 30K end, Sandy Spring Friends or Norwood. Grace Episcopal only runs through 5th but people speak fondly of it. It's about 20K a year I think. There are several in the 20ish range that you can find people saying good things about on DCUM. Much under 20K there are far fewer options that are not parochial - there are some Montessori options if you are interested in Montessori, but many of those end before 8th grade. Mater Amoris or Christian Family come to mind offhand as Montessoris that are well below 20K that I know happy families at.

You said no parochial school, do you want to eliminate all schools with religious affiliation? just Catholic schools? keep Catholic independents and just toss out parish schools? (parochial would mean the latter, but it seems like sometimes people mean more than parochial when they say parochial)

[Anonymous]

Primary Day School in Bethesda (Pre-K through 2nd) is excellent in math and reading. Kids are very well prepared for 3rd grade and most got accepted to Holton, Landon, Sidwell, etc. Pre-K is only $17,000 per year.

[Anonymous]

Primary Day is really good. I didn't mention it because it ends by 3rd and tends to feed into 30K a year schools, but if you think 30K would be possible in a few years then it is a very good option.