The Best Private Schools in Riderwood, Maryland
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Riderwood. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Jemicy School
The Jemicy School
The Jemicy School specializes in educating students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Serving grades 1-12, Jemicy offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum tailored to individual learning needs. The school utilizes multi-sensory teaching approaches and maintains small class sizes with a 4:1 student-teacher ratio. The 27-acre campus features specialized learning spaces, technology labs, and athletic facilities. Jemicy has earned recognition for its innovative approach to educating bright students who learn differently.
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Notre Dame Preparatory School
Notre Dame Preparatory School
Notre Dame Preparatory School is an independent Catholic school for girls in grades 6-12, located just minutes from Riderwood. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with a strong emphasis on leadership development and community service. Features include state-of-the-art science labs, extensive athletic facilities, and comprehensive arts programs. The school maintains small class sizes with a student-teacher ratio of 10:1 and has a 100% college acceptance rate.
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Gilman School
Gilman School
Gilman School is a prestigious all-boys independent school serving students from pre-first through 12th grade. Located in Baltimore just south of Riderwood, Gilman offers a comprehensive academic program with extensive Advanced Placement opportunities. The 68-acre campus features modern academic buildings, athletic complexes, and arts facilities. The school emphasizes character education and leadership development while maintaining strong college placement records and competitive athletic programs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Riderwood, Maryland
What are the primary private school options available to families residing in Riderwood, Maryland, and what are their key characteristics?
While Riderwood itself is a residential community, it is centrally located with access to several highly-regarded private schools in northern Baltimore County and Baltimore City. The most prominent include Notre Dame Preparatory School (an all-girls Catholic college preparatory school in Towson), Gilman School (an all-boys independent school in Roland Park with a strong emphasis on character and academics), and The Jemicy School (in Owings Mills, nationally recognized for educating students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences). These schools represent a range of educational philosophies, from single-gender to specialized learning, all within a reasonable commute from Riderwood.
How does the tuition for top private schools near Riderwood, MD, compare to the Maryland state average, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for the premier private schools accessible from Riderwood is generally above the Maryland state average for private schools. For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition at schools like Gilman and Notre Dame Prep often ranges from $30,000 to $35,000 for upper grades. The Jemicy School's specialized programming also commands a premium tuition. However, these institutions typically have substantial financial aid endowments. It is common for 20-30% of the student body to receive need-based aid. Maryland also 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 Riderwood residents.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Riderwood area offer that leverage local Baltimore resources?
Private schools near Riderwood excel at integrating Baltimore's cultural, scientific, and historical resources into their programs. Gilman and Notre Dame Prep often have partnerships with institutions like Johns Hopkins University for research opportunities, the Baltimore Museum of Art for arts integration, and local nonprofits for community service leadership. Their proximity to the city allows for robust internship and mentorship programs in fields like medicine, law, and technology. The Jemicy School utilizes multisensory, hands-on learning approaches that are enhanced by field studies to local ecosystems like the Chesapeake Bay and historical sites, making education deeply contextual and experiential.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools in the Riderwood, Maryland, area, and how far in advance should parents plan?
The enrollment process for schools like Gilman, Notre Dame Prep, and Jemicy is highly structured and begins well over a year in advance. The key timeline is as follows: Parents should attend open houses in the fall (September-November) a full year before desired entry. Application deadlines are typically in early to mid-January. This is followed by student assessments, interviews, and school visits through February. Admission decisions are communicated in mid-March. For Riderwood families, planning should begin at least 18 months prior to the start of the school year, especially for entry points like Pre-K, Kindergarten, 6th, and 9th grades, which are the most competitive.
For a family in Riderwood comparing local public schools (like Riderwood Elementary/Towson High) with nearby private options, what are the main differentiating factors to consider?
Riderwood is part of the highly-regarded Baltimore County Public Schools system, specifically the Towson High School cluster, known for strong academics. The primary differentiators for private options include: 1) **Class Size and Individual Attention:** Private schools offer significantly smaller classes (often 12-18 students vs. 25+). 2) **Specialized Mission:** Schools like Jemicy provide expert, tailored instruction for learning differences not typically available in public settings. 3) **Single-Gender Education:** Notre Dame Prep and Gilman offer focused environments based on research about how boys and girls learn. 4) **Religious Foundation:** Notre Dame Prep provides a values-based Catholic education. 5) **Resource Allocation:** Private schools often have newer facilities, more arts/athletic resources, and fewer budgetary constraints than public systems. The decision often hinges on a child's specific learning needs, family values, and the desired educational environment.
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