The Best Private Schools in Silver Spring, Maryland
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Silver Spring. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School
As the nation's oldest Jesuit school, Georgetown Prep serves the greater Silver Spring area with an exceptional college preparatory education for boys in grades 9-12. The 93-acre campus features outstanding academic facilities, including state-of-the-art science centers, extensive athletic complexes, and performing arts spaces. The school offers a rigorous curriculum with 26 Advanced Placement courses and maintains a 100% college acceptance rate. Georgetown Prep emphasizes character formation, academic excellence, and spiritual development through its Jesuit tradition. The school boasts competitive athletic teams in the prestigious Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and offers extensive extracurricular opportunities.
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Sandy Spring Friends School
Sandy Spring Friends School
Located just minutes from Silver Spring, Sandy Spring Friends School is a highly-regarded Quaker educational institution serving students from preschool through 12th grade. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum including International Baccalaureate programs, emphasizing academic excellence within a values-based framework. The 140-acre campus features modern academic buildings, athletic facilities, arts centers, and extensive outdoor spaces. SSFS is known for its strong sense of community, commitment to diversity, and outstanding college placement record. The school's Quaker philosophy fosters intellectual curiosity, ethical leadership, and social responsibility.
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Barrie School
Barrie School
Barrie School is a prestigious independent private school offering Montessori education from age 2 through Grade 12. The school features a 45-acre campus with extensive outdoor learning spaces, state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, art studios, and athletic facilities. Known for its progressive approach to education, Barrie emphasizes hands-on learning, critical thinking, and community engagement. The Upper School offers Advanced Placement courses and college preparatory curriculum with small class sizes and personalized attention. The school has strong arts and athletics programs and maintains a diverse, inclusive community.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Silver Spring, Maryland
What are the main types of private schools available in Silver Spring, Maryland, and how do they differ?
Silver Spring, MD, offers a diverse range of private schools catering to different educational philosophies. Prominent types include independent college-preparatory schools like Georgetown Preparatory School (an all-boys Jesuit school), progressive schools like The Barrie School with its Montessori and project-based learning approaches, and Quaker-based institutions like Sandy Spring Friends School emphasizing community and social justice. You'll also find religious-affiliated schools (e.g., St. Andrew's Episcopal School) and international schools. This variety allows parents in Montgomery County to choose an environment that closely aligns with their child's learning style and family values.
How does tuition for private schools in Silver Spring, MD, compare to the state average, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition at top-tier private schools in Silver Spring often exceeds the Maryland state average for private education, reflecting the area's high cost of living and the schools' extensive resources. For the 2024-25 academic year, day school tuition at schools like Barrie or Sandy Spring Friends can range from approximately $35,000 to $45,000. Georgetown Prep's day tuition is similarly positioned. However, most established Silver Spring private schools have robust financial aid programs funded through endowments. It's 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 state-funded scholarships for eligible K-12 students to attend private schools.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are signature offerings at Silver Spring's leading private schools?
Silver Spring private schools leverage their proximity to Washington, D.C., to offer unique programs. Georgetown Preparatory School features a renowned Institute for Business, Ethics, and Society. Sandy Spring Friends School has a distinctive "Mini-mester" intensive study program and a strong focus on environmental sustainability on its 140-acre campus. The Barrie School offers a seamless Montessori-through-12th-grade pathway and emphasizes global citizenship with strong language immersion. Many schools also have specialized partnerships with federal agencies, museums, and research institutions in the Metro D.C. area for internships and STEM projects not commonly found elsewhere.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools in Silver Spring, Maryland?
The admission process for sought-after private schools in Silver Spring is highly structured and begins early. For fall entry, the main application deadline is typically in early to mid-January (often January 15th or 31st). The process usually includes submitting an application, standardized testing (like the ISEE or SSAT), school records, teacher recommendations, a student essay, and a mandatory family interview and student visit. Notification dates are generally in mid-March, with a common reply date of April 10th. Due to competitive seats, especially in entry grades like Pre-K/K, 6th, and 9th, parents are advised to start researching and visiting schools 12-18 months in advance.
For families considering both options, what are key factors when comparing private schools to the highly-rated public schools in Silver Spring's Montgomery County district?
The decision often hinges on educational approach, class size, and specific program offerings. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) are consistently top-ranked in Maryland, offering rigorous IB and magnet programs (e.g., at Montgomery Blair High School). Choosing a private school in Silver Spring often provides smaller class sizes (10-15 students vs. 25-30+), more individualized attention, distinct pedagogical philosophies (Montessori, Quaker, Jesuit), and greater flexibility in curriculum design. Private schools may also have more resources for arts and niche athletics. Conversely, MCPS offers vast diversity, no tuition, and extensive advanced course offerings. The choice typically comes down to whether a family seeks a specific community and mission-driven education versus the scale and resources of a large public system.
Private Education Insights
Top Private Schools in Silver Spring, MD: A Parent's Guide to Finding the Best Fit
When you find yourself searching for "good private schools near me" in Silver Spring, Maryland, you’re tapping into a rich and diverse educational landscape that is one of the area’s greatest assets. As a parent, navigating these options can feel overwhelming, but understanding the local context is the first step toward finding the right fit for your child. Silver Spring, with its vibrant, international community and proximity to Washington D.C., offers a concentration of exceptional private institutions that cater to a wide spectrum of educational philosophies, values, and academic ambitions. Your search is not just about proximity, but about finding a community that aligns with your family’s goals within the unique fabric of Montgomery County.
The concept of "good" is wonderfully subjective here. For some families, a rigorous college-preparatory environment is paramount. Schools like Georgetown Preparatory School, located just over the line in North Bethesda, offer a storied, all-boys Jesuit education that emphasizes intellectual growth, leadership, and service, drawing students from across Silver Spring and the region. For others, "good" means a progressive, hands-on approach to learning. The Barrie School, right here in Silver Spring, exemplifies this with its Montessori-inspired programs that foster independence and curiosity from early childhood through high school, set on a beautiful campus that feels like a retreat. Meanwhile, the Quaker values of community, simplicity, and peaceful conflict resolution at Sandy Spring Friends School provide a distinct moral and ethical framework alongside strong academics, making it a compelling choice for many local families.
Your local search should also consider practicalities specific to our area. Montgomery County’s renowned public school system sets a high bar, so the private schools here often differentiate themselves through specialized programs, exceptional student-teacher ratios, and unique campus resources. Think about your daily logistics: Silver Spring’s traffic patterns are a real consideration. A school that is geographically "near" you should also factor in commute times along roads like Georgia Avenue, Colesville Road, or the Beltway. Many schools offer robust transportation networks or carpool communities, which can transform a longer distance into a manageable routine. Furthermore, the cultural and socioeconomic diversity of Silver Spring is often reflected in these school communities, offering your child a microcosm of the wider world.
Ultimately, moving from a generic online query to a meaningful decision requires stepping onto campuses. We encourage you to look beyond the websites and rankings. Attend open houses at these schools, ask questions about how they support students through the unique pressures of this academically intense region, and observe the interactions between teachers and students. Does the school’s atmosphere feel like one where your child would thrive? The best private school for your family is the one that not only promises academic excellence but also feels like the right community. Your diligent search through the excellent options in and around Silver Spring is an investment in your child’s future, right here in our own dynamic corner of Maryland.
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