2023 Best Schools in Silver Spring

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.83 out of 5  52 reviews

Freshman: This is my first year at GDS, and so far it's been amazing! All of my teachers are excellent, the classes are challenging, and I've been learning so much. I've been able to go in person two days a week, which is great, and most of my teachers have been on campus as well. The facilities are nice and modern, the students are interesting, and everyone is really kind. The clubs are well-run, too. I would recommend GDS to anyone who is willing to put in work at school and pay the tuition.... Read 52 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,075

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  71 reviews

Parent: Sidwell has provided my children with an exceptional academic experience emphasizing critical thinking and problem solving, writing and communications, and quantitative reasoning. The workload has been substantial at times, but always enriching and interesting (i.e., rarely if ever busywork) and will fully prepare students for the rigors they'll experience in college and beyond. Moreover, Sidwell has done a great job of developing my children as well informed, highly engaged, and socially conscious citizens. Strongly recommend!... Read 71 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,145

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• 4-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  77 reviews

Parent: Absolutely top notch school . Our junior (11th grade) joined in 6th grade and it has been very socially fulfilling and academically rigorous but with support systems in place as needed. Over the last five years in this community we have seen our daughter become more confident, more motivated and focused while showing great kindness and humility to those around her. She loves NCS and we have made good friends in the parent community. She is surrounded by confident, kind, and very supportive peers. I have countless examples I could cite of seniors helping juniors just in the last few weeks alone! The college counseling preparation is also excellent. It is very easy to write this review because we have had a very good experience.... Read 77 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 587

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• 4-12

• •
  Rating 4.57 out of 5  49 reviews

Junior: St. Albans has taught me time management skills because we are required to play a sport every season and practices end around 6. It truly is a strenuous environment academically but the friends you make in your years here make it all worthwhile. Knowing you aren’t the only person struggling or going through rigorous tests and papers makes it all more bearable. Other traditions like the BEEF Club, family style lunches, and chapels in the little sanctuary bring everyone closer together and really make you feel at home. I came to the school in eighth grade but even so I can tell I’ve made lifelong friends here. You’re excited to go to school everyday because your brothers will be there with you.... Read 49 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 592

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Bethesda, MD•

• Private School•

• 3-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  134 reviews

Parent: We have two daughters at Holton, both started in the 3rd grade and we are currently working our way through the middle school. We can not say enough good things about Holton. It is a warm loving environment that takes seriously its responsibility to shape its students to be compassionate, well rounded leaders. We see it in all aspects of what the school does. In fact, in every local, national, or global challenge that has occurred in our time there (of which there have been many) the schools response has always been exceedingly thoughtful, effective and in line with its values. Holton's Learn Well, Live Well, Lead Well (LW3) philosophy creates an environment where students have the freedom to learn and grow with an eye on making themselves and their world a better place. Our daughters have grown and changes in countless wonderful ways throughout their years at Holton. Thank you Holton!... Read 134 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 665

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Bethesda, MD•

• Private School•

• 3-12

• •
  Rating 4.49 out of 5  59 reviews

Junior: Landon is an incredible institution with excellent teachers, advisors and coaches. I have been a student here for 7 years, and I have experienced many wonderful moments, and created a plethora of memories. Landon is a very special place, and the brotherhood between the students is evident through grades 3-12!... Read 59 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 700

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  49 reviews

Alum: I went to Maret and was transformed by my experience. Maret's participation in the Malone Schools Online Network (MSON) program was particularly helpful in preparing me for college. MSON classes are structured like college courses and offered on a semester basis. Topics I took ranges from Genetics and Genomics to Quantum Physics and the Psychology of Popular Culture. I also went on to compete athletically in college, and would not have been able to without the resources and training available through the school. While I had my own social and learning difficulties my freshman and sophomore years, with hindsight I can see that the Maret community built me up, and is a large part of the reason I am an honors student at a top university now.... Read 49 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 650

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.51 out of 5  43 reviews

Alum: Like some other alums have mentioned, Saint Anselm’s changed my life, giving me the chance to build confidence in myself, explore my interests, and form strong relationships. With these opportunities, I flourished academically, athletically, and personally. I built a strong college resume and got into a great college!... Read 43 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 256

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  52 reviews

Senior: My experience at WIS has been overwhelmingly positive. As a senior, it is great to have access to our own indoor/outdoor lounge and a cafe! The campus is beautiful and the academics are rigorous. It would be nice to see some improvement in the arts at WIS, as there are low budgets and a lack of participation. WIS's sports program is top-notch and all students are given the opportunity to participate. It is also important to note that students at WIS tend to be more stressed, driven, and over-achieving. As all students take the rigorous full IB program in addition to hours of extracurriculars and college prep, many are overcommitted and stressed. However, the WIS administration does a good job of providing student resources and the college counseling department is excellent!... Read 52 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 901

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• North Bethesda, MD•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  64 reviews

Freshman: Prep is an amazing school and gives an educational, athletic, and social experience of a lifetime. It is very challenging but all the teachers are there for you and the school gives you so many resources to succeed. The reason I did not give it 5/5 stars is for two reason : a mediocre science department and the fact that it is all-boys. Not having girls around is pretty rough. The school has an amazing buffet-style lunch and we have champ titles in almost all of our sports. Our dorms need improvement, but at the moment we are building a new boarding facility!... Read 64 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 496

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Bethesda, MD•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  24 reviews

Junior: Rochambeau, French International school is an amazing place to spend your highschool years. Enriched by a multi-cultural student body, Rochambeau has the mix of rigorous academia and a fun social life. The school is primarily taught in French, following the Baccalaureate curriculum. Students are given the option of classes they wish to develop as their "specialties': these include Humanities, Philosophy and French Literature, Social Economic Science, Political Science, Physics, Biology, and Maths. Most teachers are extremely insightful and engaging, and show off an extremely impressive resume from working at international schools around the world. One disadvantage that the school has would maybe be it's limited class size (200 in whole highschool) However, this could be considered a good thing as most students are really close.Overall, the bi-lingual education that is offered with the IB system serves as extremely good preparation to college, while still being a formative experience.... Read 24 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,149

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Bethesda, MD•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  133 reviews

Parent: After retaining an educational consultant and searching the entire DMV for the right independent school, we chose Stone Ridge. We were impressed with the school's sprawling campus and Aquatic Center, but fell in love with the all-girl environment and the school's ubiquitous message of empowerment. Our lower and middle school daughters have already formed wonderful friendships and a love of learning! My middle schooler is constantly challenged in her rigorous curriculum, but as she puts it, "I never knew school was supposed to be fun." In summary: Best. Decision. Ever.... Read 133 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 757

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Potomac, MD•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.41 out of 5  131 reviews

Parent: There are so many aspects of Bullis that we love and it is hard to fit them all in one review! We have 3 children at the school who are very different learners, different personalities and different interests. Yet each is thriving at Bullis and the teachers meet each of their needs. We love that school is joyful and fun. Our kids WANT to go to school and have fun learning. They get a great balance of academics, arts, athletics, STEM, etc. It is a nice community of parents and friends who watch out for each other and help each other. And there is a strong value to diversity in race, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, style of learning, etc. It is a very special place!... Read 131 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 900

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  449 reviews

Senior: B-CC is a pretty above average school I’d say. My time here was alright, honestly. I enjoyed the amount of activities here, honestly there’s something for everyone and I find that pretty nice! Academics are pretty good and rigorous however I think the culture here can get a bit stressful for any student who cares about going to college. From my personal experience, I found it hard to connect with some of my wealthier peers, many here come from families who have enough money to not have to worry about the price of anything really. Teachers were definitely my favorite part of the whole experience next to the amount of things you can get involved in.... Read 449 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,270

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Potomac, MD•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  86 reviews

Junior: I love St. Andrews becuase it is just a heartwarming, friendly, and accepting community! My overall experience has been excellent as I have been supported by my peers and my teachers. The school cares about its students and the work that goes into it as well as the student voice, the student's voice is defiantly something that I can proudly say has been listened to more and taken into perspective. St. Andrews is a very heart-filling community and is definitely one a prospective student should take into consideration.... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 707

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Sandy Spring, MD•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  76 reviews

Parent: We are a new family coming into the school & will most likely have more to say in the future, but our experience w/the admissions & leadership team deserves a review now. We are thrilled & feel like this is a very good fit for us- values, education & community-wise. From the very first moment I heard leadership and staff announce their pronouns, to throughout the many open houses, I feel like we were seen & belong. Both Shamika & Ashaki were phenomenal throughout the admissions process. Their responsiveness, attention to detail, kindness & professionalism were top notch. They both spent time really getting to know us, and contributed to a feeling that no matter what happened, we had a fairest opportunity in the process. Further, to have received an invite right away for my daughter to join a cooking class for new middle schoolers this week blew my mind- we are months away from start & they would be forgiven for taking a break before jumping into welcoming activities! Thank U SSFS!... Read 76 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 676

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  53 reviews

Parent: Field has been a life-changing school for my daughter (who just entered the 6th grade there this past fall). From Day 1, the faculty and other students made her feel at home and a part of the community. Many schools encourage students to bring their "whole selves" into the school but Field really means it. The community is tight-knit and there is so much JOY at the school. The art and theater are incredible and the sports have been a great experience for my daughter, with the older girls on the team guiding & supporting the younger girls. The academics have also blown me away. The teachers are engaging, supportive, and fun. And they go deep into their subjects. The faculty not only has a great sense of the students' academic lives, but of their social-emotional lives, as well, and they work hard to make sure the students are thriving in ALL areas of life. We feel so grateful to have found Field! It is truly a special place.... Read 53 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 350

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Washington, DC•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  44 reviews

Junior: Wonderful school, wonderful people and environment. Here's a quick pros and cons list: Pros: - Phenomenal teachers - Great culture - Flexible/open to feedback - Great for college preparedness - Manageable workload while challenging - Diverse, social justice focused Cons: - Not very competitive when it comes to sports - Low budget theatre department - not the greatest in the world - Required Earth System Science class (not very fun, should be optional) - Tiny bit dogmatic in it's social justice focus (although it's overall more a pro than a con)... Read 44 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 308

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Potomac, MD•

• Private School•

• 3-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  48 reviews

Senior: The Heights School provides a great curriculum, which focuses on the liberal arts. The teachers are probably the best feature of the school. You are not only their student but their friend once you get to know them. The campus is also beautiful with Lower schoolers (3rd-5th grade) having classes in "The Valley".... Read 48 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 540

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Rockville, MD•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  35 reviews

Parent: I can’t say enough great things about this school! Living in Virginia, I did not think attending a school in Maryland was even possible. The moment we stepped foot in CESJDS, I knew It was the perfect place for my son. It was risky switching schools his Junior year, but it was the best decision we made for him academically, spiritually, and socially. The teachers are very approachable and invested in the well-being of all students. There’s such a tight community and the students share a special bond. My son loves the small class sizes and the close relationships he has made. He loves starting his day with morning Minyan and learning in a pluralistic setting with his Jewish peers. I can go on and on about how this school has impacted my son in the best ways possible. To quote my son, “ I’m in the best place of my life!” If you are Jewish and want to give your children a meaningful, impactful, Jewish education, this school is for you!... Read 35 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 913

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Kensington, MD•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  191 reviews

Senior: Going to the Academy of the Holy Cross, I’ve discovered who I am. I loved growing and learning with other young women and sharing different life/culture/ religious experiences with one another. One great memory that I have from Holy Cross is our Holy Cross days! Huge competition between all the grades from 9-12. At the end of the day we all come together as a community and close with a prayer. Even though traditions at Holy Cross do change I hope that everyone’s energy is in the same place! That is something I hope would never change. One thing I would like to see more from Holy Cross are more presentations and celebrations about people cultures. The Academy of the Holy Cross does a good job with celebrating but I hope that there is a little more effort. I love being apart of the celebration and talking about my heritage.... Read 191 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 390

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Chevy Chase, DC•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  258 reviews

Senior: I’ve loved my time at SJC! It took a little bit of time to get used to as a freshman because of how technologically dependent the school is. Most, if not all, work is done on the IPad which is great for so many reasons. The student life is amazing and staff want to see you succeed. However, some of the older teachers tend to get stuck in their ways of teaching and need to modernize their methods. Overall, SJC is a great environment for high schoolers, especially those athletically and academically driven.... Read 258 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,250

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Montgomery County Public Schools, MD•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  764 reviews

Senior: I got into Montgomery Blair High School via its communication arts program (CAP); although it was super challenging at first, in the end I really found that the teachers in the program helped me grow and find my interests. Blair is the biggest school in the DCC consortium as well and there are so many different people that you can get to know. Once I found my friend group I found school much more exciting and fun! Apart from the special programs, it's also super easy to participate in the dances and events the SGA puts on and the many clubs that they have all year round.... Read 764 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,220

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Rockville, MD•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  18 reviews

Alum: Good school, old building but they have fixed it up a lot. A lot of the administration has left from when I was there, so there will be different faces and leaders.... Read 18 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 712

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Washington Latin Public Charter Schools, DC•

• 5-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  10 reviews

Middle School Student: Washington Latin is a very good school, but in some ways it is limited by DCPS regulations. There are pretty good facilities and many of the students are amazing, though a few are disruptive. The teachers are generally great, but there is the occasional bad teacher. The administration is AMAZING!! They really know how to regulate things and handle situations. Middle School sports at Latin are pretty good, especially the basketball team and soccer team. If a student is exceptionally gifted, they may be slightly held back, but overall it will provide a great education.... Read 10 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 381

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1