It depends on what you're looking for from a private school. We weren't thrilled with Concord Hill -- the only thing it was offering was smaller class sizes, but felt like our gifted, neurodivergent kid was being left behind on the academic front. We've heard Primary Day is much better for academic focus...

Son went to WES 4-8 and had an amazing experience. Study trips included in tuition are a real standout. Instruction is rigorous but not insane. Eighth graders feel like seniors. Headmaster is extremely competent and parents are mostly normal.

Both of our kids have had an incredibly positive experience at Sheridan (K-8) which is located in Van Ness. It's been a wonderful combination of warm/nurturing and increasing academic rigor at developmentally appropriate points as the kids build critical thinking, time management, leadership, and good study skills by the time they reach middle school. We have also loved the strong sense of community, abundance of extra-curricular activities and sports offered, and super helpful outplacement process for high school.

Can’t say enough good things about Primary Day. Not far to Chevy Chase but can be complicated if you need to go downtown after drop off.

The German school in Potomac. Loved it for elementary! It’s not far and they have a bus.

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School has a large number of families in Chevy Chase. We’ve had an excellent experience here.

We live in Chevy Chase West and our commute to Sheridan is 12 minutes, super easy. We have loved our experience at the school!

Wherever you go, make sure reading instruction is evidence-based!

Many of these schools have buses from CC

Woods Academy. Catholic but not parochial.

Anonymous wrote:Don't have direct experience, but know a family that recently left Concord Hill because they felt the academics were weak.

Also, Rochambeau is a K-12.

I was most impressed at the Concord Hill open house how they spoke about academics and the research behind the curriculums. It seems like over the past 5 years (based on conversations I’ve had) that they really ramped up academics, while still prioritizing social emotional learning.

Norwood

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We would love to keep the school commute < 20 minutes, even in rush hour traffic, if possible.

Thoughts on these options? Am I missing any? We're not interested in parochial or K-12s.

Oneness
Concord Hill
Primary Day
Grace Episcopal
Washington Episcopal
Lowell
Sheridan
Lycee Rochambeau

Thanks!

I assume GDS and Sidwell would also qualify.

Those are k-12’s

Lycee rochambeau is also K-12

Highly recommend Washington Episcopal. We absoutely love everything about it - the teachers, staff, community, resources, and culture.

We sent our kids to NPS and the commute from CC wasn’t bad at all. We loved NPS and look back fondly on those elementary school days and the time we spent there.