Private High Schools in NOVA (Alexandria, McLean: how much, catholic schools, college)

[vauser]

What are the options and what would you recommend? How much do they cost? Thanks.

[claremarie]

Potomac School (McLean) K-12 Expensive, secular, lots of diplomats there

Flint Hill (Vienna/Oakton) K-12 ditto

Madeira (McLean)-- extremely expensive girls boarding and day school with a campus that rivals a small college

Trinity (Falls Church) 7-12 tiny ecumenical Christian school with classical curriculum. Moderately expensive

O'Connell, Paul VI, Ireton, JP the Great -- diocesan coed Catholic schools. Moderate tuition for Catholics, somewhat more expensive for others

Oakcrest (McLean) 6-12 girls independent Catholic school affiliated with Opus Dei Not as expensive as Potomac/Flint Hill but more expensive than the other options

Episcopal High School (Alexandria) Very expensive boarding/day school

St. Stephens & St. Agnes (Alexandria) Expensive coed school formed by merger of a boys' and girls' school

The New School (Fairfax) 3-12 Very small school for students with learning/behavior issues

There are actually a lot more private high schools in Maryland and DC, including a number of all-boys' schools (there are none in northern Virginia). More than a few of the students at the Maryland and DC private high schools live in Virginia.

[vauser]

Very descriptive and highly useful response. Can't tell you how much it is appreciated! Few more follow-up questions:

* We live in Ashburn, VA. What would be the best way for a kid to get to the McLean school in MD for instance. Is it even possible?
* Given that we would prefer our child to not go to a boarding school and live in Ashburn, which one would you recommend?
* There appears to be a really small school called Ideal School with a total of 25 students across all 4 grades. Any thoughts on that one?

Thanks.

[wingerr8]

Originally Posted by claremarie

Potomac School (McLean) K-12 Expensive, secular, lots of diplomats there

Flint Hill (Vienna/Oakton) K-12 ditto

Madeira (McLean)-- extremely expensive girls boarding and day school with a campus that rivals a small college

Trinity (Falls Church) 7-12 tiny ecumenical Christian school with classical curriculum. Moderately expensive

O'Connell, Paul VI, Ireton, JP the Great -- diocesan coed Catholic schools. Moderate tuition for Catholics, somewhat more expensive for others

Oakcrest (McLean) 6-12 girls independent Catholic school affiliated with Opus Dei Not as expensive as Potomac/Flint Hill but more expensive than the other options

Episcopal High School (Alexandria) Very expensive boarding/day school

St. Stephens & St. Agnes (Alexandria) Expensive coed school formed by merger of a boys' and girls' school

The New School (Fairfax) 3-12 Very small school for students with learning/behavior issues

There are actually a lot more private high schools in Maryland and DC, including a number of all-boys' schools (there are none in northern Virginia). More than a few of the students at the Maryland and DC private high schools live in Virginia.

I've heard that Madeira is really good, but what about the rest?

[LynchburgLover]

At most of the bookstores in the area, there is a yellow paperback guide to all the private schools in the Metro DC. I don't remember the exact title but it breaks down class size, tuition, extra-curriculars etc. The title is something like "parents guide to DC private schools"

Re the list above, I'm almost positive Episcopal HS is 100% boarding, even if you live in Alexandria.

Good luck.

[claremarie]

1. The McLean School is in Potomac, not far off the Beltway. It would be a long haul by car, but the McLean School offers a very distinct program for learning disabled students, so chances are there would be other northern Virginia students for carpools. When we lived in northern Virginia, our kids went to a different private school, near the McLean School, and many Virginia families formed carpools with drop-off points at local shopping centers, etc. The school may also provide transportation.
2. Living in Ashburn makes it difficult to send your kids to private high school, as you are now figuring out. Without any idea why you are considering private school, it's difficult to make suggestions on good fits. Transportation will always be a major factor.
3. I've never heard of the Ideal School. Sorry.