The Best Private Schools in Rockville, Maryland
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Rockville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Georgetown Preparatory School
Jesuit Schools Network
Georgetown Prep is the nation's oldest Jesuit boarding and day school for boys, offering a rigorous college preparatory education just minutes from Rockville. The school features a 93-acre campus with state-of-the-art facilities including a new STEM center, extensive athletic facilities, and comprehensive arts programs. With small class sizes averaging 14 students, the school maintains a 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and offers a comprehensive AP curriculum. The school serves both day students and boarders from across the country and internationally, with a strong emphasis on character formation and leadership development.
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Holton-Arms School
Independent
Holton-Arms is a highly regarded independent college preparatory school for girls in grades 3-12, located just 15 minutes from Rockville. The school emphasizes academic excellence, character development, and leadership through its innovative curriculum that includes extensive STEM opportunities, robust arts programs, and competitive athletics. The 57-acre campus features modern science labs, performing arts spaces, and athletic facilities. Holton-Arms maintains small class sizes and offers a comprehensive advisory program, with graduates consistently attending top-tier colleges and universities.
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Landon School
Independent
Landon School is an independent day school for boys in grades 3-12, located approximately 10-15 minutes from Rockville. The school offers a comprehensive college preparatory program with strong emphasis on character education, leadership development, and academic rigor. The 75-acre campus features modern academic buildings, extensive athletic facilities including multiple playing fields and tennis courts, and dedicated arts spaces. Landon provides a balanced education with robust offerings in STEM, humanities, and arts, along with competitive athletic programs and extensive extracurricular opportunities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Rockville, Maryland
What are the main types of private schools available in Rockville, MD, and how do they differ?
Rockville, MD, offers a diverse range of private schools, primarily falling into three categories: prestigious independent day/boarding schools, single-sex institutions, and faith-based schools. The area is notably home to top-tier independent schools like Georgetown Preparatory School (all-boys, Jesuit, 9-12, with boarding), Holton-Arms School (all-girls, 3-12), and Landon School (all-boys, 3-12). These schools emphasize rigorous college preparatory curricula, extensive extracurriculars, and strong alumni networks. Additionally, Rockville has excellent Catholic schools (e.g., St. Elizabeth School) and other religious-affiliated options. The key differences lie in educational philosophy, single-gender vs. coed environments, religious integration, and campus facilities.
How does tuition for private schools in Rockville, MD, compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are typical?
Tuition at Rockville's top private schools is among the highest in Maryland, reflecting the area's affluent demographics and the schools' extensive resources. For the 2024-25 academic year, tuition at schools like Holton-Arms and Landon often exceeds $50,000, while Georgetown Prep's boarding tuition is higher. This is above the Maryland private school average. However, most of these institutions have substantial financial aid endowments and offer need-based aid to a significant percentage of students. Maryland also has the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) program, which provides state-funded scholarships for eligible K-12 students to attend private schools, a key financial consideration for Rockville families.
What specialized academic or extracurricular programs are unique to private schools in the Rockville area?
Rockville's proximity to Washington, D.C., and a hub of biotech and federal agencies allows its private schools to offer unique specialized programs. Many, like Georgetown Prep and Holton-Arms, have robust STEM partnerships with nearby institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda and Johns Hopkins University. They offer advanced research opportunities, specialized engineering tracks, and renowned debate/Model UN programs that leverage the D.C. political scene. Landon School emphasizes an extensive outdoor education and athletics program. Furthermore, language immersion programs (particularly in Chinese and Spanish) and comprehensive arts affiliations with local galleries and theaters are common differentiators in Rockville's private school landscape.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools in Rockville, MD?
The enrollment process for Rockville's most sought-after private schools is highly structured and begins very early. For schools like Holton-Arms, Landon, and Georgetown Prep, the application cycle for the following academic year typically opens in August or September, with deadlines for submissions and standardized testing (ISEE or SSAT) between December and January. Admissions decisions are released in March. Key steps include a completed application, teacher recommendations, student essays, a parent statement, and a mandatory campus interview/visit. Due to intense competition, especially for middle and high school entry points, it is strongly advised for Rockville families to begin research and visits at least 18 months in advance and to apply to multiple schools.
For families considering both options, what are the key factors when comparing top-tier Rockville private schools to the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)?
The comparison hinges on several Rockville-specific factors. MCPS is consistently ranked among the nation's best public school systems, offering rigorous IB and AP programs at schools like Thomas S. Wootton High. Choosing a private school in Rockville often involves seeking a more tailored educational approach—smaller class sizes (often 12-15 students vs. 25+ in MCPS), single-gender environments, specific religious or values-based education, and more guaranteed access to elite sports, arts, and niche extracurriculars. Private schools also offer greater schedule flexibility and often more personalized college counseling. However, this comes at a high financial cost versus the free MCPS system. The decision frequently boils down to whether a family values the specialized community and resources of a private institution enough to invest, given that the public alternative is already academically strong.
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