Barrie School

Barrie School is a progressive independent school, serving students from 12 months to Grade 12, that inspires excellence, intrinsic motivation, and responsibility through innovation in learning.
Our intentional educational throughline-from Montessori (12 months to Grade 5) to Project-Based Learning (Grade 6 to Grade 12)-cultivates learning that lasts.
Barrie School offers challenging educational experiences that unlock intrinsic motivation and innovation in both students and faculty.
Our community fosters a deep sense of belonging and empowers and honors student voice and responsibility.
Coming together in our truly diverse student body of engaged citizens confident to be themselves, bringing diverse and inclusive worldviews.
Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, Barrie School provides an extraordinary learning environment integrating local, national and global educational opportunities.
Our 45-acre campus is home to the world-renowned Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies- one of the largest school-based teacher training programs in the country- and Barrie Camp, a Washington, D.C. area tradition since the 1950s.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked MD School
  • School Type: Montessori School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-12
  • Enrollment: 354 students
  • Acceptance rate: 75%
  • Average class size: 15 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Barrie School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Maryland for:

Category
Attribute
School History

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Nursery/Preschool-12
Year Founded
1932

Student Body

Total Students
354 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
11%
State avg.: 38%
Students by Grade
Barrie School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
55 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
6:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
58%
Average Class Size
15 students
Number of AP Courses
4 courses
List of Courses Offered
Classroom Dress Code
Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Tuition Notes
Please visit barrie.org/tuition for information on current tuition.
% on Financial Aid
50%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$7,600
Acceptance Rate
75%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
John Wilson
Admissions Associate
Theresa Valois

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
19 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Film Club, Flashlight: Student Journalism, French Club, Instrumental Ensemble, International Thespian Society, Music/Rock Band Club, National Honor Society, Robotics Club, School Store, Spanish Club, Sports, TEAMS Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club, Writing Club, Yearbook, Yoga Club

Club or Organization:
Student Government Association

Arts and Music Programs:
Technical Theater, Theater

School Notes

  • 1. Visit a school Open House, or call for a Tour. 2. Complete our Online Application 3. Submit supporting documentation (Teacher Recommendations and Transcripts) 4. Complete required Admission Testing 5. Schedule Student Visit and Parent Interview Please see barrie.org/admission for more details.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate of Barrie School?
The acceptance rate of Barrie School is 75%, which is lower than the national average of 82%.
What sports does Barrie School offer?
Barrie School offers 7 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Flag Football, Soccer, Track and Field, Volleyball and Weightlifting.
What is Barrie School's ranking?
Barrie School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Maryland for: Largest student body, Most extracurriculars offered and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Barrie School?
The application deadline for Barrie School is Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (2 reviews)
5  
I have three children who are lucky enough to attend the Barrie School. This is not just a school, this is a community that is devoted to making this world a better place by instilling strong values, top level education, and a sense of purpose into each of their students.Barrie has a place for everyone and everyone has a place at Barrie. The student body is small and incredibly diverse. As a student at Barrie you learn quickly to embrace what makes you unique and to embraces differences. It is not unusual to have my house full of students ranging from 9th to 12th graders with a huge variety of cultural backgrounds, all laughing together. Watching them makes my heart happy.In terms of education, Barrie hits its mark. The faculty at Barrie is as unique and diverse as the students themselves. Notice I refer to them as faculty because these are not just teachers, these are university level faculty. The teachers are passionate about the subjects they teach and that passion oozes through in their teaching. The Humanities program (where they combine both history and English into one) is a corner stone of this school. The students don't just read texts, they explore literature, they dissect history. They are pushed to think critically about events that have shaped our global world. The Model UN program is another standout feature of this school. With some of the best guidance from the Model UN faculty, these students are pushed to work outside their comfort zone to begin to see the world from so many perspectives.And then there is science and math.....the physics teacher is a true standout. Every student waits to get into his class, and no one wants to leave it. He brings science to life for these young people, and he makes scientist out of them.Math is another stand out. The math department is ridiculously amazing. The faculty here could revile any college professor. Students get so much support that they truly sore. It is not unusual to have a group of AP Calculus students meeting on a Saturday morning with their teacher, eating bagels and working on math.There are so many opportunities at Barrie. The standout here is that these kids learn who they truly are, and then thrive.
- Posted by
5  
My children love Barrie, and they are getting an excellent, well-rounded Montessori education. They are able to work with my older child (just finished kindergarten) right where he needs, even though his skills range from pre-K in handwriting to 2nd grade level in math. The teachers are loving yet gently enforce the rules and don't take any nonsense from my strong-willed children. The values of outdoor time, movement, social skills and the joy and wonder of learning are exactly what I love and cherish to this day about my own early elementary education.
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked MD School
  • School Type: Montessori School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-12
  • Enrollment: 354 students
  • Acceptance rate: 75%
  • Average class size: 15 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Silver Spring, MD is $12,211 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Silver Spring, MD is 76% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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