Bishop McNamara High School Photo #0 - Bishop McNamara High School has been recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. BMHS received the "exemplary high-performing" school designation for superior results on nationally normed assessments. Our school is among the top public, magnet, charter, private, and independent schools in the country dedicated to exceptional academic achievement and student success.

Bishop McNamara High School

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Bishop McNamara High School Photo #1 - Bishop McNamara High School has been recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. BMHS received the "exemplary high-performing" school designation for superior results on nationally normed assessments. Our school is among the top public, magnet, charter, private, and independent schools in the country dedicated to exceptional academic achievement and student success.
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Bishop McNamara High School Photo #1 - Bishop McNamara High School has been recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. BMHS received the "exemplary high-performing" school designation for superior results on nationally normed assessments. Our school is among the top public, magnet, charter, private, and independent schools in the country dedicated to exceptional academic achievement and student success.
Bishop McNamara High School Photo #2 - Bishop McNamara has a High-Achieving Student Body with approximately 900 students in grades 9-12, with over 80% participating in the arts and over 55% participating in athletics. Our students have a 100% four-year college acceptance rate with a 95% college matriculation rate. The Class of 2024 earned over $30 million in college scholarships to the nation's top colleges & universities.
Bishop McNamara High School Photo #3 - Bishop McNamara Alumni, Jason Reynolds '00, was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Fellow 2024. Learn more about Jason at www.bmhs.org. With a legacy of over 15,000 alumni, notable alumni include astronauts, Olympic medalists, authors, professional ball players, and more. Our Alumni are doing incredible things! Go to bmhs.org/alumni/alumni-spotlights.
Bishop McNamara High School Photo #4 - The Fine Arts Department at Bishop McNamara offers one of the most extensive arts educations in the Washington, DC area with courses and performance opportunities in Band, Broadcast Journalism/Film Production, Chorus, Dance, Orchestra, Theatre, and Visual Arts.
Bishop McNamara High School Photo #5 - Bishop McNamara has an outdoor classroom on campus including seating for 24 students, a whiteboard, and native plants that define the classroom. This space provides a safe and welcoming green area for our students which is easy to access.
Bishop McNamara High School Photo #6 - Our STEM & Innovation education prepares students to be college and career-ready as STEM-proficient members of society by creating coursework that integrates content and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We emphasize unique STEM educational experiences focusing on real-world applications in a hands-on learning environment.
BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL is a Catholic, independent, college-preparatory high school educating hearts and minds rooted in the Holy Cross tradition.
We have 60 years of educating youth in the Washington, DC area and a legacy of over 15,000 alumni who demonstrate every day our belief in the unique, God-given talents of every young person who walks through our doors.
We challenge our students to be innovative, creative, and caring individuals as we focus on academic excellence, leadership development, and a passion for a life rooted in Christ.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Top Ranked MD School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 894 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $21,215
  • Acceptance rate: 40%
  • Average class size: 18 students
  • Application Deadline: Dec. 13 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Bishop McNamara High School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Maryland for:

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Diagnosed Learning Differences (St Joseph Program), Developmental Delays (St Andre Program)
Year Founded
1964
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details
Awards
 Blue Ribbon School - Selected in 2024

Student Body

Total Students
894 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
95%
State avg.: 37%
Students by Grade
Bishop McNamara High School Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
79 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
64%
Average Class Size
18 students
Number of AP Courses
20 courses
List of Courses Offered
Advanced Courses
AP African American Studies, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Drawing, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP French Language & Culture, AP Latin, AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language & Culture, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art 2-D Design, AP US History
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Formal
khaki pants, blazers, khaki skirts

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
Dec. 13 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
Tuition 10-month plans offered.
Summer Program Cost
$400
Summer Program Cost Notes
$400 per course
Acceptance Rate
40%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Rashad Wilkerson
Admissions Associate
Kendall Isadore

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
33 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Black Cultural Alliance, Bowling Club, Chess Club, Cooking Club, England Exchange, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Filipino American Cultural Enlightenment, Fitness Club, Foreign Language Honor Societies, Frontiers of Justice, Government Internship Program, McNamara Yearbook Club, Mock Trial, Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society, National Honor Society, Photography Club, Poetic Justice, Project Earth, Spain Exchange, Speech and Debate Club, Step Team, Teens in Action, The Stampede (school newspaper), Vita Semper (Pro-life), Webmasters Club, Yoga Club, Youth for Christ

Arts and Music Programs:
Artisans Guild, Intramural Basketball, Shakespeare Festival, Tech Crew, The Inkwell (student art &creative writing), Tri-M Music Honor Society

School Notes

Bishop McNamara High School's vision is to empower leaders, inspired by the Gospel, transforming the world.
Bishop McNamara: Providing a world-class schoolexperience for all our students
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Bishop McNamara High School cost?
Bishop McNamara High School's tuition is approximately $21,215 for private students and $400 for summer students.
What is the acceptance rate of Bishop McNamara High School?
The acceptance rate of Bishop McNamara High School is 40%, which is lower than the national average of 81%. Bishop McNamara High School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Maryland with low acceptance rates.
Does Bishop McNamara High School offer a summer program?
Yes, Bishop McNamara High School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What sports does Bishop McNamara High School offer?
Bishop McNamara High School offers 20 interscholastic sports: Archery, Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Dance, Diving, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Winter Track and Wrestling. Bishop McNamara High School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in Maryland for most sports offered.
What is Bishop McNamara High School's ranking?
When is the application deadline for Bishop McNamara High School?
The application deadline for Bishop McNamara High School is Dec. 13 / rolling (applications are due on Dec. 13 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

School Reviews

5  
Bishop McNamara is a place where young adults from all walks of life can be themselves. When we look at the halls of McNamara we see 100% diversity. This is from color to size, from wealthy families to poor, from solid homes to broken ones, from young adults with high self-esteem to those broken souls in need of repair. It is that 100% diversity which makes this school tick in a different way from any other school we have been involved with. From the quirky to the future quantum physicist everyone finds a home in this school. We witness firsthand the love that binds the faculty, students and parents daily. The way a student who will never play a sport but loves them is not left out. That child is woven into an intricate framework as a leader by being a statistician, manager, summer basketball camp commissioner or the president of the spirit club who supports athletics. Niches are not found for young adults here, they are created by the believers in this education of life by faculty and staff. This goes for all aspects of the school, academics, fine arts and spiritual formation. BMHS is a place for your family to find a purpose to serve and call home.
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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Top Ranked MD School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 894 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $21,215
  • Acceptance rate: 40%
  • Average class size: 18 students
  • Application Deadline: Dec. 13 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Prince George's County, MD is $10,795 for elementary schools and $14,974 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Prince George's County, MD is 76% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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