Washington DC is the capital of the United States, and it is also a District of Columbia. This city was designed in 1791 by Pierre Charles L’Enfant. As per the 2020 U.S. Census, its population was about 689,545. The Washington metropolitan area (which includes parts of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia) is the largest metro area in the U.S. The are is about ~68 sq. miles (177 km²). It is located at the Potomac River, between Maryland and Virginia. Washington, D.C. is one of the top education hubs in the U.S., especially for politics, international relations, law, and journalism. Here is the list of Best schools in Washington DC.
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National Cathedral School
The National Cathedral School is a private Episcopal girls’ day school located at 3612 Woodley Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20016, United States. It was established in 1900 as part of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation and was inspired by the vision to provide rigorous education for young women in the Cathedral Close. It opened in 1900 alongside its brother school, St. Albans School, to offer a classical college preparatory education grounded in Christian faith, combining Episcopal traditions with a challenging academic curriculum.
The mission of this school is to provide a distinctly Christian education, cultivating intellectual excellence, ethical leadership, and service. The school’s rigorous academic program has led to impressive college acceptance rates. Students consistently perform well on standardized tests, with graduates admitted into a wide range of prestigious colleges and universities.
The annual tuition fees range from about $42,370 to $53,210, depending on grade level. The National Cathedral School also offers financial aid, and many of the families receiving assistance cover 10% to 90% of tuition cost.
The size of the campus is nearly 59 acres, providing a serene and propitious environment for learning. They provide lots of facilities like modern classrooms, club activities, and athletic spaces such as multiple sports fields, tennis courts, and access to the Washington National Cathedral for services and events.
Maret School
Maret School is a type of Independent/Private coeducation and college preparatory school located at 3000 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, United States. It was established in 1911 by Marthe, Louise, and Jeanne Maret and began in a row house in Washington before moving to several sites, and finally it was relocated to its current campus at the historic Woodley Estate.
It became fully co-educational from its earliest years. The mission of this school is to “ignite our students’ potential and foster their academic, artistic, athletic, and personal growth so that they may live with purpose, integrity, and joy.” The campus size is about 7.5-acre which is urban, and it has grades from K to 12 (Lower, Middle, and Upper School).
The school has a rigorous college preparatory curriculum that balances academics, arts, athletics, and wellness. In recent years, students have consistently earned high acceptance into selective colleges and universities, and many graduates pursue advanced studies at prestigious institutions. The academic program emphasizes respect, integrity, excellence, creativity, and joy in learning.
Total number of enrolments is about 650 from grades K-12 in Maret School in 2025 which are from diverse communities in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The average class size is 16 students and the student-teacher ratio is about 6:1 which is very good.
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 school year is US$ 46,570–53,545 depending on grade level. Maret School offers need-based financial aid and supports families with demonstrated need. In 2024-25, around 26% of the student body received financial aid, totaling several million dollars, which is provided to the families of students by Maret School.
Washington International School
Washington International School is a type of Independent/Private coeducation and college preparatory school located at 1690 36th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States. It was established in 1966 and operates on two campuses, the Primary School in Georgetown and the Middle and Upper School at the Tregaron Estate in Cleveland Park. It became fully co-educational from its inception. The mission of this school is to “educate students to become thoughtful, compassionate, and engaged global citizens.” The campus size is about 12-acre at the Tregaron Estate, and it has grades from Preschool through 12 (Primary, Middle School and Upper School).
The first school in Washington, D.C. which is authorised to offer the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum is Washington International School. In recent years, nearly all upper school students have enrolled in IB Diploma Programme courses, and the school consistently achieves strong IB exam results, with a majority earning the IB Diploma.
Total number of enrolments is about 900 from Preschool-12 in Washington International School in 2025 which are from more than 90 nationalities and communities worldwide. The average class size is 14 students and the student-teacher ratio is about 8:1 which is very good.
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 school year is US$ 51,710 plus required fees. Washington International School offers need-based financial aid and matches 100% of demonstrated need through its financial aid program. In 2024-25, around 25% of the student body received financial aid, nearly 5 million, which is provided to the families of students by Washington International School.
Georgetown Day School
Georgetown Day School is a type of Independent/Private coeducation and college preparatory school located at 4200 Davenport Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20016, United States. It was established in 1945 and has operated on multiple campuses, and finally it was consolidated to its current unified campus in Tenleytown in recent years. It became fully co-educational from its inception. The mission of this school is to “contribute to world-engaged individuals instilled with a passion for learning, a standard of excellence, and a generosity of spirit.” The campus size is about 13-acre which is urban, and it has grades from Pre-K to 12 (Lower School, Middle School and Upper School).
The first school which is authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme in Washington, D.C. is Georgetown Day School. In recent years, nearly all upper school students sat for IB examinations, and many students took Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with a high percentage of the Class of 2025 enrolled in at least one IB or AP course.
Total number of enrolments is approximately 1,075 from Pre-K-12 in Georgetown Day School in 2025 which are from diverse communities across Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas. The average class size is 16 students and the student-teacher ratio is about 6:1 which is very good.
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 school year is US$ 50,040 plus required fees. Georgetown Day School offers need-based financial aid and supports families with demonstrated need through its financial aid program. In 2024-25, around 25% of the student body received financial aid, totaling several million dollars, which is provided to the families of students by Georgetown Day School.
BASIS Washington, D.C.
BASIS Washington, D.C. is a type of Independent/Private coeducation and college preparatory school located at 410 8th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004, United States. It was established in 2012 as the first BASIS Charter School outside of Arizona. It became fully co-educational from its inception. The mission of this school is to “educate students to become thoughtful, compassionate, and engaged global citizens.” The campus size is about 12-acre which is urban, and it has grades from 5 to 12 (Middle School and Upper School).
The first school which is authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme in Washington, D.C. is BASIS Washington, D.C. In recent years, nearly all upper school students sat for IB examinations, and many students took Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with a high percentage of the Class of 2025 enrolled in at least one IB or AP course.
Total number of enrolments is about 900 from grades 5-12 in BASIS Washington, D.C. in 2025 which are from diverse communities across Washington, D.C. The average class size is 14 students and the student-teacher ratio is about 8:1 which is very good.
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 school year is US$ 0 as it is a public charter school. BASIS Washington, D.C. offers need-based financial aid and supports families with demonstrated need through its programs. In 2024-25, around 25% of the student body received financial aid, totaling several million dollars, which is provided to the families of students by BASIS Washington, D.C.
School Without Walls
School Without Walls High School is a type of Independent/Private coeducation and college preparatory school located at 2130 G Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, United States. It was established in 1971 as a selective public magnet high school and is part of the District of Columbia Public Schools system. It became fully co-educational from its inception. The mission of this school is to “contribute to world-engaged individuals instilled with a passion for learning, a standard of excellence, and a generosity of spirit.” The campus size is about 12-acre which is urban, and it has grades from 9 to 12 (High School).
The first school which is authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme in Washington, D.C. is School Without Walls High School. In recent years, nearly all upper school students sat for IB examinations, and many students took Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with a high percentage of the Class of 2025 enrolled in at least one IB or AP course.
Total number of enrolments is approximately 599 from grades 9-12 in School Without Walls High School in 2025 which are from diverse communities across Washington, D.C. The average class size is 16 students and the student-teacher ratio is about 16:1 which is very good.
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 school year is US$ 0 as it is a public school. School Without Walls High School offers need-based financial aid and supports families with demonstrated need through its programs. In 2024-25, around 25% of the student body received financial aid, totaling several million dollars, which is provided to the families of students by School Without Walls High School.
Fusion Academy Washington D.C.
Fusion Academy Washington D.C. is a type of Independent/Private coeducation and college preparatory school located at 2000 Florida Ave NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20009, United States. It was established in 2001 and provides a fully personalized, one-to-one learning environment. It became fully co-educational from its inception. The mission of this school is to “contribute to world-engaged individuals instilled with a passion for learning, a standard of excellence, and a generosity of spirit.” The campus size is about 1-acre which is urban, and it has grades from 6 to 12 (Middle School and Upper School).
The first school which is authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme in Washington, D.C. is Fusion Academy Washington D.C. In recent years, nearly all upper school students sat for IB examinations, and many students took Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with a high percentage of the Class of 2025 enrolled in at least one IB or AP course.
Total number of enrolments is approximately 120 from grades 6-12 in Fusion Academy Washington D.C. in 2025 which are from diverse communities across Washington, D.C. The average class size is 1 student and the student-teacher ratio is about 1:1 which is very good.
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 school year is US$ 35,000 plus US$ 500 in required fees. Fusion Academy Washington D.C. offers need-based financial aid and supports families with demonstrated need through its programs. In 2024-25, around 20% of the student body received financial aid, totaling several hundred thousand dollars, which is provided to the families of students by Fusion Academy Washington D.C.
The Lab School of Washington
The Lab School of Washington is a type of Independent/Private coeducation and college preparatory school located at 4759 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20007, United States. It was established in 1967 by Sally L. Smith and serves students in grades 1 through 12 who have language-based learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD. It became fully co-educational from its inception. The mission of this school is to “contribute to world-engaged individuals instilled with a passion for learning, a standard of excellence, and a generosity of spirit.” The campus size is about 12-acre which is urban, and it has grades from 1 to 12 (Lower School, Middle School and Upper School).
The first school which is authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme in Washington, D.C. is The Lab School of Washington. In recent years, nearly all upper school students sat for IB examinations, and many students took Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with a high percentage of the Class of 2025 enrolled in at least one IB or AP course.
Total number of enrolments is approximately 420 from grades 1-12 in The Lab School of Washington in 2025 which are from diverse communities across Washington, D.C. The average class size is 10 students and the student-teacher ratio is about 4:1 which is very good.
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 school year is US$ 64,375 plus US$ 2,500 in required fees. The Lab School of Washington offers need-based financial aid and supports families with demonstrated need through its programs. In 2024-25, around 30% of the student body received financial aid, totaling several million dollars, which is provided to the families of students by The Lab School of Washington.
The Field School – Best Schools in Washington DC
The Field School is a type of Independent/Private coeducation and college preparatory school located at 2301 Foxhall Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20007, United States. It was established in 1972 by Elizabeth C. Ely and began with 44 students in a small set of rooms above Regina Cleaners in downtown Washington, D.C. It became fully co-educational from its inception. The mission of this school is to “contribute to world-engaged individuals instilled with a passion for learning, a standard of excellence, and a generosity of spirit.” The campus size is about 10.5-acre which is urban, and it has grades from 6 to 12 (Middle School and Upper School).
The first school which is authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme in Washington, D.C. is The Field School. In recent years, nearly all upper school students sat for IB examinations, and many students took Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with a high percentage of the Class of 2025 enrolled in at least one IB or AP course.
Total number of enrolments is approximately 368 from grades 6-12 in The Field School in 2025 which are from diverse communities across Washington, D.C. The average class size is 12 students and the student-teacher ratio is about 6:1 which is very good.
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 school year is US$ 56,235 plus US$ 2,500 in required fees. The Field School offers need-based financial aid and supports families with demonstrated need through its programs. In 2024-25, around 21% of the student body received financial aid, totaling several million dollars, which is provided to the families of students by The Field School.
St. Albans School
St. Albans School is a type of Independent/Private coeducation and college preparatory school located at 3001 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016, United States. It was established in 1909 and is a private Episcopal all-boys day and boarding school. It became fully co-educational from its inception. The mission of this school is to “contribute to world-engaged individuals instilled with a passion for learning, a standard of excellence, and a generosity of spirit.” The campus size is about 27-acre which is urban, and it has grades from 4 to 12 (Lower School, Middle School and Upper School).
The first school which is authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme in Washington, D.C. is St. Albans School. In recent years, nearly all upper school students sat for IB examinations, and many students took Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with a high percentage of the Class of 2025 enrolled in at least one IB or AP course.
Total number of enrolments is approximately 592 from grades 4-12 in St. Albans School in 2025 which are from diverse communities across Washington, D.C. The average class size is 13 students and the student-teacher ratio is about 9:1 which is very good.
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 school year is US$ 56,966 plus US$ 5,800 in required fees. St. Albans School offers need-based financial aid and supports families with demonstrated need through its programs. In 2024-25, around 43% of the student body received financial aid, totaling approximately 5.8 million dollars, which is provided to the families of students by St. Albans School.