Education

Empowering Minds: Education and Schools in Our Community

Education is one of the strongest draws for families considering a move to the Chevy Chase area. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is one of the top-performing large school districts in the country, and the surrounding area includes some of the most prestigious private schools and universities in the United States.

Public Education

Montgomery County Public Schools

MCPS serves more than 160,000 students across 210 schools. Chevy Chase residents attend schools in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase cluster.

Elementary Schools (by Maryland Ranking, 2026):

Four of Maryland's top ten elementary schools sit within the Chevy Chase and Bethesda area.

Middle Schools:

• Thomas W. Pyle Middle School (Bethesda): #3 in Maryland
• Robert Frost Middle School (Rockville): #7 in Maryland
• Westland Middle School (Bethesda)

High Schools:

Eight Montgomery County public high schools rank among the top 25 in Maryland.

District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)

For families residing in NW DC:

• Lafayette Elementary, Janney Elementary, Murch Elementary (all top-ranked DC public elementary schools)
• Alice Deal Middle School
• Jackson-Reed High School (formerly Wilson HS, largest public HS in DC)

Fairfax County Public Schools (VA)

For families residing in Northern Virginia:

• Consistently ranked among the top school districts in the country
• Langley HS, McLean HS, Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology (a regional magnet for STEM)

Private Schools

The DC region has one of the densest concentrations of top private schools in the country. Many are among the most selective in the US and serve families from across the region.

Top Private K-12 Schools:

• Holton-Arms School (Bethesda, all-girls): Top-ranked private school in Maryland
• Georgetown Preparatory School (Bethesda, all-boys Catholic)
• Bullis School (Potomac, coed)
• Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (Bethesda, all-girls Catholic)
• Sidwell Friends School (DC, Quaker; attended by several First Families)
• National Cathedral School (DC, all-girls Episcopal)
• St. Albans School (DC, all-boys Episcopal)
• Maret School (DC, coed)
• Georgetown Day School (DC, coed)
• Landon School (Bethesda, all-boys)
• The Potomac School (McLean, VA, coed)
• Washington International School (DC, IB program)
• Our Lady of Good Counsel High School (Olney, MD, Catholic)

Faith-Based Schools:

• Catholic schools through the Archdiocese of Washington
• Jewish day schools including Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Berman Hebrew Academy, and Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy
• Episcopal, Quaker, Lutheran, and other Christian denominational options

Montessori and Alternative:

• Barrie School (Silver Spring)
• Norwood School (Bethesda)
• Washington Waldorf School (Bethesda)

Private school tuition in the region typically ranges from $35,000 to $55,000 per year for K-12.

Higher Education

The DC region includes more than 20 accredited colleges and universities:

Within the metro:

• Georgetown University
• George Washington University
• American University
• Howard University
• Catholic University of America
• Gallaudet University (the world's only university specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing students)
• The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
• Trinity Washington University
• University of the District of Columbia

Nearby:

• University of Maryland, College Park (30 minutes east; flagship state university)
• Montgomery College (community college with multiple area campuses)
• Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore campus, 50 minutes north)
• Naval Academy (Annapolis, 45 minutes east)
• George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)

Specialized Programs

• Magnet programs at MCPS: Including the International Baccalaureate (IB) at Richard Montgomery HS and the Montgomery Blair magnet programs
• Poolesville High School (magnet): #4 in Maryland, focused on humanities and STEM
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Fairfax, VA): consistently ranked #1 public high school in the US
• Blair Magnet Program in Communication Arts and Science and Math

What This Means for Physician Families

The Chevy Chase area is one of the best education markets in the country for physician families, with exceptional public and private options at every level. Most physicians relocating to the area do not need to choose between outstanding schools and desirable neighborhoods; both are widely available.