Private School Review - Established 2003
National Presbyterian School
St. Anselm's Abbey School Top 3 · Most AP Courses (DC)
Montessori School Of Washington DC Top 3 · Highest % Students of Color (DC)

Best District Of Columbia Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 101 private schools serving 19,182 students in District Of Columbia, versus 245 public schools serving 93,597 students (17% of K-12 students attend private schools, vs. national average 10%).
The average private school tuition is $29,456 for elementary schools and $36,096 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
46% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Episcopal.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 101
  • # Students Served: 19,182
  • Average Tuition: $28,047
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 35%
  • Acceptance Rate: 50%
  • Average Class Size: 15 students
  • % Students of Color: 49%
  • View District Of Columbia School Trends

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 101
  • # Students Served: 19,182
  • Average Tuition: $28,047
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 35%
  • Acceptance Rate: 50%
  • Average Class Size: 15 students
  • % Students of Color: 49%
  • View District Of Columbia School Trends

Top Ranked District Of Columbia Private Schools (2026-27)

National Presbyterian School Photo
National Presbyterian School
Gr: NS-6 | 306 students
Avg. class size: 13 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 8
Presbyterian
4121 Nebraska Ave Nw
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 537-7569
View Profile
The River School Photo
The River School
Gr: NS-5 | 185 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 8
Alternative School
4880 Macarthur Blvd NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-3554
View Profile
St. Anselm's Abbey School Photo
St. Anselm's Abbey School
Gr: 6-12 | 247 students
Sports: 13
All-boys | Alternative School (Catholic)
4501 South Dakota Ave Ne
Washington, DC 20017
(202) 269-2350
View Profile
Archbishop Carroll High School Photo
Archbishop Carroll High School
Gr: 9-12 | 383 students
Specialized Curriculum (Catholic)
4300 Harewood Rd Ne
Washington, DC 20017
(202) 529-0900
View Profile
Blessed Sacrament School (DC) Photo
Blessed Sacrament School (DC)
Gr: K-8 | 519 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 4 | Extracurriculars: 22
Catholic
5841 Chevy Chase Pkwy NW
Washington, DC 20015
(202) 966-6682
View Profile
British International School of Washington Photo
British International School of Washington
Gr: PK-12 | 617 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 8 | Extracurriculars: 11
2001 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 829-3700
View Profile
Christian Family Montessori Photo
Christian Family Montessori
Gr: K-6 | 110 students
Avg. class size: 26 students
Montessori School (Christian)
201 Allison St., NW, Suite B
Washington, DC 20011
(202) 722-1520
(2)
View Profile
The Field School Photo
The Field School
Gr: 6-12 | 364 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Sports: 11 | Extracurriculars: 28
2301 Foxhall Road NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 295-5800
(1)
View Profile
Georgetown Day School Photo
Georgetown Day School
Gr: PK-12 | 1,050 students
Avg. class size: 8 students
Sports: 19 | Extracurriculars: 26
4200 Davenport Street, NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 274-3200
(2)
View Profile
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School Photo
Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
Gr: 9-12 | 510 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 13 | Extracurriculars: 72
All-girls (Catholic)
1524 35th St NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-3350
(1)
View Profile
Show 10 more private schools in District Of Columbia (out of 101 total schools)
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District Of Columbia Private School Trends (10-Year)

101
Private Schools
19,182
Students
-4.2% (-848 students) 10-yr
$28,047
Avg. Tuition
+28.3% (+$6,192) 10-yr
15
Avg. Class Size
-16.7% (-3 students) 10-yr
49%
Students of Color
-7.5% (-4.0 pp) 10-yr
8:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
-11.1% (-1.0) 10-yr
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This State (DC)
US
# Schools
101 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year(DC) Total Schools
202599
2024108
2023102
2022100
2021103
2020106
2019106
2018108
2017100
2016101
2015101
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# Students
19,182 Students
5,690,765 Students

View Largest District Of Columbia Private Schools

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
2025206179
2024196172
2023209174
2022224185
2021220180
2020204171
2019202175
2018192172
2017207180
2016207178
2015204167
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% Average Students of Color
49%
34%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
202548%34%
202446%34%
202346%33%
202248%33%
202148%32%
202046%32%
201952%31%
201850%31%
201753%32%
201652%32%
201553%32%
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Student By Grade

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

GradeDistrict of Columbia
Nursey314
Pre-K1,351
Kind1,067
1939
2980
31,071
41,107
51,089
61,374
71,344
81,314
91,815
101,682
111,783
121,646
Not Listed306
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Academics
# Teachers
2,180 Teachers
508,570 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
11:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
20258:111:1
20248:111:1
20239:111:1
20228:111:1
20218:111:1
20208:112:1
20199:112:1
20189:112:1
20178:112:1
20168:112:1
20159:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
64%
55%

View District Of Columbia Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
202563%55%
202464%54%
202368%54%
202266%54%
202165%54%
202062%54%
201958%53%
201861%53%
201761%53%
201659%52%
201559%52%
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Average Class Size
15 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
20251515
20241515
20231515
20221415
20211415
20201415
20191415
20181515
20171515
20161715
20151815
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Average Number of AP Courses
18 courses
13 courses
Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$28,047
$14,943

View District Of Columbia Private Schools By Tuition Cost

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
2025$27,957$15,012
2024$28,081$13,254
2023$27,434$12,626
2022$25,023$12,187
2021$25,052$11,800
2020$24,631$11,512
2019$23,719$11,293
2018$24,921$11,017
2017$23,875$10,708
2016$24,455$10,356
2015$21,855$9,939
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Average % on Financial Aid
35%
35%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
202534%34%
202434%34%
202333%34%
202236%33%
202137%33%
202038%32%
201938%31%
201835%30%
201735%30%
201633%29%
201534%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$18,719
$7,261

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2017-2025)

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
2025$18,143$7,073
2024$19,292$6,930
2023$20,865$6,469
2022$18,173$6,289
2021$17,624$6,055
2020$16,306$5,921
2019$17,072$5,795
2018$15,130$5,456
2017$15,169$5,319
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Average Acceptance Rate
50%
82%

View Most Selective Private Schools in District Of Columbia

Acceptance Rate Trends (2018-2025)

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
202549%81%
202460%85%
202357%85%
202261%85%
202169%85%
202069%85%
201854%85%
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Average Endowment Size
$30.1 million
$38.23 million
Students by Ethnicity
0.71
0.65

View District Of Columbia Private Schools Minority Statistics

Diversity Score Trends

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
20250.710.65
20240.710.65
20230.700.65
20220.690.64
20210.690.64
20200.700.64
20190.710.63
20180.690.63
20170.690.61
20160.690.61
20150.690.61
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# American Indian Students
16 Students
29,815 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
531 Students
264,585 Students
% Asian Students
3%
5%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
20253%5%
20243%5%
20233%5%
20224%4%
20214%4%
20204%4%
20193%4%
20184%4%
20173%4%
20164%4%
20153%4%
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# Hispanic Students
1,111 Students
506,702 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
9%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
20256%9%
20246%9%
20236%9%
20225%8%
20215%9%
20205%9%
20196%8%
20186%8%
20176%8%
20166%8%
20156%8%
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# Black Students
4,765 Students
415,632 Students
% Black Students
26%
7%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
202526%7%
202426%7%
202324%8%
202225%7%
202126%7%
202028%8%
201930%7%
201831%7%
201732%7%
201632%7%
201533%8%
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# White Students
7,628 Students
2,929,926 Students
% White Students
42%
52%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
202542%52%
202442%52%
202344%52%
202246%54%
202145%54%
202043%54%
201941%56%
201843%56%
201744%58%
201643%58%
201543%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
13 Students
20,065 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
4,085 Students
1,473,602 Students
% of Others Students
23%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearDistrict of Columbia (DC) AvgNational
202523%26%
202423%26%
202323%25%
202220%25%
202120%25%
202020%24%
201920%24%
201816%23%
201715%22%
201615%22%
201515%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Extracurriculars & Sports
Average Number of Extracurriculars
15 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
8 sports
7 sports
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in District Of Columbia?
The top-ranked private schools in District Of Columbia include National Cathedral School, St. Anselm's Abbey School, and Holy Trinity School.
How many private schools are located in District Of Columbia?
There are 101 private schools are located in District Of Columbia.
How much do private schools cost in District Of Columbia?
The average private school tuition in District Of Columbia is $29,456 for elementary schools and $36,096 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in District Of Columbia?
Approximately 49% of students in District Of Columbia private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in District Of Columbia go to private school?
17% of all K-12 students in District Of Columbia attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in District Of Columbia?
46% of private schools in District Of Columbia are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Episcopal.
Which private schools in District Of Columbia are often viewed compared to one another?

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