The Best Private Schools in Georgetown, Maryland
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Georgetown. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Jefferson School
Private Special Education School
The Jefferson School serves students with special needs from Georgetown and surrounding communities, providing comprehensive educational and therapeutic services. Founded in 1984, the school specializes in serving students with emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges through individualized academic programs and clinical support. The curriculum includes standard academic courses, life skills training, vocational education, and extensive therapeutic services. The school features specialized classrooms, therapeutic spaces, and vocational training facilities designed to support diverse learning needs in a structured, supportive environment.
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The Salisbury School
Independent School
The Salisbury School is a highly-regarded independent college preparatory school serving the Eastern Shore region, including Georgetown area families. Founded in 1977, the school offers a rigorous academic program with small class sizes and personalized attention. The curriculum includes Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive STEM programs, and extensive arts and athletic offerings. The campus features modern facilities including science labs, technology centers, and athletic complexes. The school maintains a strong college placement record with graduates attending top universities nationwide.
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Worcester Preparatory School
Independent School
Worcester Preparatory School is a prestigious independent day school serving students from Georgetown and throughout the Eastern Shore. Established in 1976, the school provides a challenging college preparatory curriculum with Advanced Placement and honors courses across all disciplines. The school features exceptional facilities including state-of-the-art classrooms, science laboratories, performing arts centers, and extensive athletic facilities. The student-teacher ratio of 10:1 ensures personalized attention, and the school boasts a 100% college acceptance rate with graduates attending highly selective institutions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Georgetown, Maryland
What are the primary private school options serving families in Georgetown, Maryland, and what are their educational philosophies?
While Georgetown itself is a small, unincorporated community, families in the area are served by several notable independent schools within a reasonable commute. The top options include The Salisbury School (approximately 30 minutes away), known for its rigorous college-prep curriculum and character education; Worcester Preparatory School in Berlin (about 25 minutes away), offering a traditional, structured academic program with strong arts and athletics; and The Jefferson School in Georgetown, which provides a more personalized, one-room schoolhouse model focusing on individual student pacing and hands-on learning. These schools represent a range of philosophies from classical preparatory to progressive, allowing parents to find a fit for their child's needs on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
How does the tuition for private schools near Georgetown, MD, compare to state averages, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for day schools serving the Georgetown area is generally below the state average for Maryland's premium suburban private schools but is significant for the local economy. For the 2024-2025 academic year, expect ranges from approximately $10,000 to $25,000 annually, with The Jefferson School often at the lower end due to its small scale and The Salisbury School and Worcester Prep at the mid-to-upper range. All these schools are committed to socioeconomic diversity and offer need-based financial aid. It's crucial to apply for aid early, as funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, Maryland offers the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) program, which provides K-12 scholarships for eligible families to attend private schools, a valuable resource for Georgetown residents.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Georgetown, MD, area leverage due to their coastal Eastern Shore location?
Schools in this region uniquely integrate the local environment into their curricula. Worcester Preparatory School and The Salisbury School both have robust marine biology and environmental science programs, utilizing the nearby Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean ecosystems as living laboratories. Field trips to Assateague Island, coastal wildlife reserves, and local maritime history museums are common. Furthermore, schools often emphasize sustainability and aquaculture projects. The Jefferson School's small size allows for highly individualized project-based learning that can easily incorporate local agriculture, ecology, and the region's rich history, providing an education deeply connected to the Delmarva Peninsula.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools near Georgetown, Maryland, and how competitive is admission?
The enrollment process for schools like Worcester Prep and The Salisbury School is most competitive for entry into junior kindergarten and 9th grade. The timeline typically begins in the fall, with open houses from September to November. Application deadlines are often in January or February for the following academic year, with admission decisions released in March. The process usually includes a completed application, student assessments or classroom visits, teacher recommendations, and parent interviews. While these schools are selective, they also seek mission-appropriate students who will contribute to the community. For The Jefferson School, the process is more flexible and rolling, given its smaller, multi-age classroom structure, but early inquiry is still recommended.
For a family in Georgetown, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public schools (in the Indian River School District) and the area's private schools?
The decision hinges on several factors specific to the Georgetown area. The public schools, part of Delaware's Indian River School District (which serves this part of Maryland), offer a no-tuition option with standard extracurriculars. The primary advantages of local private schools are smaller class sizes (often 10-15 students vs. 20+ in public), specialized teaching approaches, and often more extensive college counseling for preparatory schools. For families seeking a specific religious education (though the listed top schools are non-sectarian), they would need to look at schools in Salisbury or Rehoboth. Transportation is a major practical consideration; most private schools near Georgetown do not provide extensive bus service, so commuting is typically the family's responsibility. The investment in private school often centers on desiring a particular educational environment or academic intensity not fully met by the local public options.
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