Both our children are beginning their fifth year at Rockbridge Academy. Our educational journey…read morebegan as a homeschool family, and we later needed to find a school to place them. At the core of our search was a school that was Christ-centered and where parents were considered the primary educators of their child(ren). At Rockbridge, we have found that and more. Education there is perceived as the exploring, unpacking and understanding of God's creation, and this philosophy undergirds every subject area. They follow a classical curriculum, which essentially translates to an education that aligns with a child's natural development. The fruit of this form of education has been wonderful to witness as a parent. What really has been the "clincher" for my husband and I is the way they handle discipline. At the heart is forgiveness and restoration of the student. I am so incredibly grateful for the education they are receiving there and that they experience the Lord's grace there and at home.

From the owner: Rockbridge Academy offers a classical Christian approach to education designed to create…read moreself-motivated learners who pursue truth, beauty, and goodness in all endeavors. Our curriculum seeks to instill a love for learning and to equip students to meet challenges with enthusiasm and determination. Our dedicated teachers love their subjects and their students, encouraging them to take every thought captive to Christ.

The River farm school teaches with the whole child in mind. From social and emotional development…read moreto educational and physical needs of a child to move and be active. They start the day with yoga and centered breathing, followed by didactic learning, recess , then lunch, more learning, with art, music, language and daily outdoor activity sprinkled throughout. Each week the kids have long hikes and have a major activity outdoors. The kids classes are smaller and that fosters a unique family feel for each other. Being in nature helps ensure your kid has that outdoor need met on a daily basis. They have all the necessary books, hands on learning aids, and independent time for the kids to be kids, while also enabling them to learn amongst their peers. This builds confidence in the older kids to be leaders while also giving the younger, less skilled students to have humility in knowing that it's ok to keep trying. It is the only school that I know of that teaches 5 year olds how to carve wood, build fire pits, bake dough outside, and throw axes as part of a normalized activity. Being a coop allows parents to be a part of the child's learning experience. It's mandatory for each family to have 12 hrs of volunteer time per month which require each parent to have a background check as part of the admission process. It's only as a safety concern to be around the kids, which is comforting to know that the school has parents that are screened. The school doesn't put pressure on the kids to have timed tests or pressure to have homework done. So it is necessary for parent who want added emphasis on learning to also do their part (if they want to). The school is best suited for a child that needs the ability to move, that needs the ability to be themselves and celebrate their unique individual self. We've been here for 3 years, and have two kids enrolled. Our oldest child came from a very traditional learning environment that expected children to fit In their box. Since switching schools, he has regained his love of learning at this school. Our second child started here from her first experience in kindergarten, and after the first day of school she said she "loves this school." It is evident both children love it and being around the other kids, they too show evidence of the same. We are very fortunate to find this school that has an embedded yogi and teachers with higher degrees in child development and education. A must recommend for any parent that encourages a love of learning for their child.

As a military family, finding a school where the students were welcoming was very important to us…read more In additional to the best group of students, the teachers are dedicated to growing leaders and thinkers. Our daughter loves starting her say with yoga and has grown in her ability to identify emotions and self regulate. This is an excellent choice for any family!

Our child is enrolled in Congressional School's kindergarten program. We are relatively new to the…read moreschool, but we extremely pleased that we made the decision to send him to this school. The class sizes are small and the student to teacher ratio is very low. In addition to that, the kids see several specialist teachers (art, music, P.E., foreign language) throughout the week which allows the main kindergarten teachers ample time to set up for special projects, etc. One specific reason that we are really happy with the school is that our son is reading at well above grade level, and the school has resource teachers that can help assist with children who are both higher and lower performing. This was very important to us because we did not want our son to be bored. I have been extremely impressed at the individual levels of attention that were given to the kids by our son's kindergarten teachers in order to assess each child's educational background and work with the children from where their own personal starting point was. The kindergarten teachers here all have many years of experience, which is great. All of the teachers and the administration are very warm and enthusiastic. The school has a good sense of community and everyone seems to get very involved and genuinely enjoy themselves. Even though the academics are very high caliber, there also seems to be a large emphasis on fun and play, which is also very important to us. The kindergarten students have P.E. 4 out of every 6 days, they also have recess every day, and in addition to that they also take "brain breaks" where they play short, fun games such as "Duck, Duck, Goose" to get the energy out. It concerns me when I hear about other schools that are cutting things such as physical activity and play. (This was a main reason why we chose a private school.) One other thing to mention is that the campus itself is absolutely gorgeous, and the school building is very nice as well, particularly the large gym. Just being in the environment is very pleasant. The kids get a lot of opportunities to get out into nature which is another thing that is very important to me. We are very happy that our child is enrolled here. I truly feel that he is having a great educational experience. Also, he enjoys coming to school each day and he is excited about learning.

This place is always causing a significant traffic back up for the surrounding area. There is…read moreconstantly a quarter to half mile line of cars that are always delayed because the school needs its own separate traffic up. They really need to figure out a better way.

The Field School is an amazing learning environment. My daughter started in 7th grade after…read moreattending a very traditional school which was stifling for her. The Field School allowed her to thrive by focusing on her strengths and talents and allowing her to apply hands on learning to the larger community and world through the internship program and mentoring younger students. Amazing learning environment. Cannot recommend highly enough!!!!!

Field has been a life-changing school for my daughter (who just entered the 6th grade there this…read morepast 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.

First, racism comes from non-Saudis, and the school's bad reputation was the result of the actions…read moreof foreigners in it... Second, the school is primarily intended for Muslims, so it is obvious to teach them how to pray correctly and to teach them not to celebrate the holidays of other religions, and this is what public schools do. I have not seen a public school celebrate or support Muslim holidays.

Terrible school. Set up by "consultants". Lofty promises with no follow through, high tuition, but…read morebad behavior by entitled Saudis, poor teacher pay (missed payroll a few times) and morale, with teachers given responsibility, but no authority. Students MUCH better off at a Fairfax County Public school.

My brother just started his first year at Ideaventions, and it has been an amazing school for him…read more Ideaventions offers a challenging environment where he can grow as a learner and as a person. His love for physics and mathematics is nurtured there, and he is surrounded by people with a similar work ethic and drive. However, don't be fooled by the name! The school also offers incredible humanities courses that are incredibly interactive and hands-on. The school offers a plethora of clubs and events specifically tailored to the overall interests of the students, and seems to be an amazing school overall.

Ideaventions operates more like a very small homeschool or micro-school than a traditional private…read moreschool. While this type of environment may work well for some families seeking a highly informal, hands-off setting, it was not a good fit for our family. At the elementary level, we observed wide variation in academic readiness within classrooms, with students at very different skill levels learning together. In our experience, students' academic strengths appeared to reflect individual ability or outside enrichment rather than outcomes consistently supported by the instructional program. Enrollment size is extremely small, particularly in the upper grades. We were told that recent graduating classes consisted of only one or two students, which raised concerns for us about long-term sustainability, peer learning opportunities, and social development. Families seeking sports, group activities, or broader peer interaction may find this limiting. When we asked basic, reasonable questions about curriculum and placement, communication with administration felt strained rather than collaborative. We were frequently told "we are a family here," which in practice seemed to function as a way to discourage questions or parent input. Over time, this created discomfort around advocacy rather than partnership. The school structure concentrates multiple roles within a single leader (administrator, teacher, coach, and primary decision-maker). This consolidation made the environment feel insular and, at times, uncomfortable when raising concerns. Families who value clear professional boundaries, transparency, and shared problem-solving may find this challenging. While the school promotes STEM accreditation and innovation, our experience did not reflect consistent alignment with basic public-school academic benchmarks. Families considering enrollment should ask detailed questions about curriculum standards, differentiation, and how parent feedback is handled. The school is very small, has no PTA, and limited avenues for parent collaboration. This school may be appropriate for families seeking a more affordable, informal, and highly hands-off educational setting. For families who expect academic rigor, openness to questions, and a collaborative relationship with school leadership, expectations should be managed carefully. Some families may have had different experiences, but ours was ultimately disappointing.

What an impressive campus and faculty at Bullis. The grounds are beautiful the buildings and…read moreclassrooms are a site to see. The students are polite and well mannered. Bullis seems like an ideal place to learn and grow as a young person. A very impressive school.

Bullis has a new Head who is phenomenal. It's a school that is innovative and moving forward.read more

Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School is a well-established and accredited private school in the Bowie…read morearea. The teachers are focused and caring. The leadership is open-minded. The head of school as well as the division heads are working with parents and students to educate the whole child. The school enriches the curriculum through sports, drama, band and community service projects which involve the community at large. Holy Trinity students are accepted by many well-known high schools and receive scholarships for their achievements. If you are looking for a school that prepares your child for the future (Pre-K through 8th grade), visit Holy Trinity. I am sure you will like it as much as I do.

From the owner: Holy Trinity: An Episcopal School (Formerly: Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School) is a private and…read moreindependent preschool, kindergarten, and middle school located in Glenn Dale, MD. The Daisy Lane School is for (PreK) and High School Prep (grades 5-8). We proudly draw students from the nearby areas of Upper Marlboro, College Park, Green Belt, Cheverly and beyond. Contact our team for more information or to schedule a visit today!

Review is for basketball gym only…read more Georgetown Day was host to the DCSAA basketball quarterfinals because the St. John's College High School Gym is under construction. This presented a neutral site between SJC and Georgetown Visitation. The hospitality was fantastic! The gym was huge and the warm up music was on point to get the girls fired up. In fact, this place gets five stars for the mere fact they provide plentiful, underground parking for patrons.

From the owner: Georgetown Day School is a coed, preK-12, non-sectarian private school in Washington, DC with small…read moreclass sizes and a diverse school community. Our comprehensive, innovative curriculum includes hands-on learning, honors and AP classes, as well as advanced-level math and STEM courses. An education is not just college prep and SAT scores. GDS teachers focus on providing the best education for each child, from elementary grades through high school. The school performing arts program includes theater, dance, and music. The athletics program offers competitive sports for student athletes, including cross-country, track, soccer, lacrosse, and crew/rowing. With our strong commitment to financial aid, an independent school tuition is affordable.

The Appletree School is very well managed. Management team is very professional with real love and…read morecare of the kids and their families in the school. Teachers and staffs are super warm and patient. Communications with teachers are very easy and pleasant. There is daily report to summarize a kid's day in the school from academic activities to special classes, like Spanish, PE, etc. There are also optional classes, such as ballet, martial arts, soccer, etc. It's very convenient for busy parents so they don't need to drive kids around for activities during weekends. Spatial main playground has slides, soccer area, swings, etc. The other small playground has slides, small house, etc, which are perfect for younger kids. Unless the weather is too bad, there is always outside time for kids to play safely and happily. Summer time is even more fun in the Appletree School: many field trips to all those exciting places, Circus Day with a lot of outdoor and indoor games, etc. I would recommend the Appletree School to anyone looking for a great place for their kids!

Our Daughter did the Kindergarten program this past year and from the very beginning we had a great…read moreexperience! This little school is so homy and everyone in the staff is very friendly and approachable. We were very sad when the year was over and that meant no more Appletree for us. We felt at home so quickly with everyone here. The communications with the teachers were always quick, professional and helpful for both us parents and for our kid. They have great after school extra curriculum activities like ballet, karate, soccer, drawing. The kids are never bored and always interacting, socializing, learning, playing and growing healthy here at Appletree. Both Ms. Heather and Ms. Katy are so loving and approachable. We will always remember our Appletree family with much love and fondness!