The Best Private Schools in Sherwood, Maryland
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Sherwood. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Landon School
Independent
Landon School is a prestigious all-boys college preparatory school serving the greater Montgomery County area, including Sherwood. Founded in 1929, the school offers a rigorous academic program with small class sizes and exceptional faculty. The 75-acre campus features state-of-the-art facilities including science laboratories, performing arts centers, and extensive athletic facilities. Landon emphasizes character development alongside academic excellence, with strong programs in leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities. The school maintains a 8:1 student-teacher ratio and has an outstanding college placement record with graduates attending top universities nationwide.
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Holton-Arms School
Independent
Holton-Arms is a highly-regarded independent school for girls serving the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including Sherwood families. Established in 1901, the school provides a challenging college preparatory education with particular strengths in STEM fields, leadership development, and global education. The campus features modern academic buildings, extensive athletic facilities, and specialized spaces for arts and technology. Holton-Arms emphasizes empowering young women through innovative teaching methods and a supportive community environment. The school offers extensive extracurricular opportunities and maintains strong college counseling programs with graduates consistently admitted to selective colleges and universities.
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St. Bartholomew School
Archdiocese of Washington
St. Bartholomew School is a highly-rated Catholic elementary and middle school serving families throughout Montgomery County, including the Sherwood area. Founded in 1959, the school provides a faith-based education combined with strong academic programming. The curriculum includes advanced mathematics, science laboratories, technology integration, and comprehensive language arts. The school features modern classrooms, a dedicated STEM lab, art studio, and extensive playground facilities. St. Bartholomew emphasizes character development, community service, and academic excellence, with graduates typically transitioning to top private high schools in the region. The school maintains active parent involvement and strong community partnerships.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Sherwood, Maryland
What are the primary private school options for families residing in Sherwood, Maryland, and are they located within the community?
While Sherwood itself is a small, unincorporated community in Montgomery County, it does not host major private school campuses within its immediate boundaries. Families in Sherwood most commonly look to prestigious independent schools in the surrounding Bethesda and Potomac areas. The top schools you'll consider include the all-boys Landon School and the all-girls Holton-Arms School, both in Bethesda, and the co-educational St. Bartholomew School, a Catholic parish school in Bethesda. Sherwood residents benefit from Montgomery County's extensive network of top-tier private institutions, all within a short commute.
How does the tuition for private schools like Landon or Holton-Arms compare to the Maryland state average, and what financial aid options are available for Sherwood families?
Tuition at elite independent schools like Landon and Holton-Arms is significantly above the Maryland private school average. For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition at these schools exceeds $50,000 for upper grades. In contrast, the average private school tuition in Maryland is approximately $15,000. However, both Landon and Holton-Arms have substantial financial aid endowments and are committed to socioeconomic diversity, offering need-based aid to a significant percentage of their student bodies. St. Bartholomew School, as a parish school, has a lower tuition model but also offers financial assistance. 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.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do the private schools near Sherwood, MD, offer that leverage their proximity to Washington, D.C.?
Schools in this region excel at integrating the resources of the Washington, D.C., metro area into their curricula. Landon School emphasizes leadership and global studies with speaker series and internships in D.C. Holton-Arms runs a renowned "Global Education and Citizenship" program with partnerships at organizations like the World Bank and National Institutes of Health. St. Bartholomew incorporates local field trips and service learning. All schools facilitate easy access to the Smithsonian museums, the National Archives, and Capitol Hill for immersive learning experiences that are a defining advantage of education in the Sherwood/Bethesda area.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools like Landon and Holton-Arms for a Sherwood-based applicant?
The process is highly structured and begins well over a year in advance. For entry points like Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 9th grade, families should start researching in the spring or summer before the desired enrollment year. Key steps include: attending open houses (often in the fall), submitting applications by early January (with standardized testing for older grades), and completing student visits and interviews in the winter. Admissions decisions are typically released in March. Given the intense competition for a limited number of spots, especially from families across Montgomery County and D.C., early planning and engagement are crucial for Sherwood applicants.
For a family in Sherwood, what are the key considerations when deciding between the highly-rated Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and a private school like those in Bethesda?
The decision often hinges on educational philosophy, class size, and specific program offerings. MCPS, consistently ranked among the nation's best public school districts, offers a rigorous, diverse, and tuition-free education with extensive Advanced Placement and magnet programs. The private school alternative near Sherwood provides smaller class sizes (often 15:1 or lower), a distinct mission (single-gender education at Landon/Holton-Arms or faith-based education at St. Bartholomew), and often more resources for arts, athletics, and personalized college counseling. The commute is also a factor; while MCPS provides busing, private schools usually require parent transportation. Ultimately, it's a choice between an excellent, large-scale public system and a tailored, independent education with a specific community focus.