The Best Private Schools in Cabin John, Maryland
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Cabin John. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Norwood School
Independent
Located just 10 minutes from Cabin John, Norwood School is a prestigious independent school serving grades K-8 with an outstanding reputation for academic excellence and character development. The school features state-of-the-art facilities including dedicated science labs, art studios, and extensive athletic facilities. Norwood's curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and global citizenship, with strong parent community involvement and exceptional teacher retention rates. The school consistently receives top marks for its nurturing environment and rigorous academic preparation.
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The McLean School of Maryland
Independent
The McLean School is a highly-regarded independent K-12 school located just minutes from Cabin John. Known for its supportive environment and academic excellence, McLean specializes in helping students with diverse learning styles succeed. The school offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum with small class sizes, extensive arts programs, and competitive athletics. Their "Orton-Gillingham" approach to teaching and focus on individual student growth has earned them excellent parent satisfaction ratings and strong college placement records.
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The Bullis School
Independent
Bullis School is a premier independent college preparatory school serving students in grades 3-12, located just 15 minutes from Cabin John. With a sprawling 102-acre campus, Bullis offers exceptional facilities including a state-of-the-art STEM center, performing arts center, and extensive athletic complex. The school is known for its rigorous academic program, competitive athletics, and extensive extracurricular offerings. Bullis graduates consistently gain admission to top-tier universities, and the school maintains strong alumni networks and parent satisfaction ratings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Cabin John, Maryland
What are the primary private school options serving families in Cabin John, Maryland, and what are their educational philosophies?
Cabin John, MD, is served by several highly-regarded independent schools in close proximity. The three most prominent are The McLean School of Maryland (in Potomac), which specializes in a rigorous, supportive environment for a diverse range of learners; The Norwood School (in Bethesda), known for its progressive, child-centered approach and strong sense of community; and The Bullis School (also in Potomac), which offers a comprehensive college-preparatory program with robust arts, athletics, and STEM offerings. While Cabin John itself is a small residential community, these schools are a short drive away and form the core of the local private school landscape, each with distinct philosophies to match different student needs.
How does the tuition for private schools near Cabin John, MD, compare to state averages, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for the top private schools in the Cabin John/Potomac/Bethesda corridor is among the highest in Maryland, reflecting the region's cost of living and the schools' extensive resources. For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition for these schools ranges from approximately $40,000 to $55,000 for middle and upper schools. This is significantly above the Maryland private school average. However, all these institutions are committed to socioeconomic diversity and offer substantial need-based financial aid programs. Parents should apply for aid simultaneously with admissions, as schools like Norwood, Bullis, and McLean use platforms like Clarity to assess need and offer grants that do not require repayment.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools in the Cabin John area that leverage their Maryland location?
Private schools near Cabin John leverage their proximity to Washington, D.C., and Maryland's biotech corridor for unique programs. The Bullis School features a renowned STEM program with partnerships at NIH and Johns Hopkins, while its entrepreneurship center connects with local businesses. The Norwood School emphasizes environmental science with hands-on learning in the nearby Potomac River watershed and C&O Canal National Park. The McLean School integrates executive function training and social-emotional learning into its core curriculum, a specialization highly valued by Montgomery County families. All schools offer extensive civic engagement and internship opportunities in the nation's capital, a distinct advantage of the location.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools like Norwood, Bullis, and McLean for Cabin John residents?
The enrollment process for these sought-after schools is highly structured and begins early. For entry points like Pre-K/Kindergarten and 6th/9th grades, the timeline typically starts in the summer or early fall, 18 months before the desired enrollment. Key steps include: attending open houses (Sept-Nov), submitting applications by January, completing student assessments/visits (Jan-Feb), and receiving decisions in March. For Cabin John families, it's crucial to note that while these schools draw from a wide region, they do give some consideration to geographic diversity and maintaining a community feel. Sibling and legacy policies are also significant factors. Engaging with admissions officers well before deadlines is strongly advised.
How do the private school options near Cabin John compare to the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and what factors might justify the investment for local families?
Cabin John is zoned for some of the highest-ranked MCPS schools in the nation, like Walt Whitman High School. Choosing a private school here is often less about escaping a failing system and more about finding a specific educational fit. Factors that may justify the investment include: smaller class sizes (often 12-18 students vs. 25+ in MCPS), more individualized attention, specialized teaching approaches (like McLean's focus on diverse learners), a particular community culture, and greater flexibility in curriculum beyond the MCPS standard. For many families, the decision hinges on a desire for a mission-driven, consistent K-12 community, as opposed to the larger, more bureaucratic, and potentially redistricted public school pathway.
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