Georgetown Montessori School Photo - the playground

Best District Of Columbia Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 101 private schools serving 19,229 students in District Of Columbia (there are 244 public schools, serving 92,092 students). 17% of all K-12 students in District Of Columbia attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $30,034 for elementary schools and $36,383 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in District Of Columbia include National Cathedral School, Holy Trinity School, and Maret School.
The average acceptance rate is 49% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 48% and the student-teacher ratio is 8:1.
46% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Episcopal.

Overview

This State (DC)
US
# Schools
101 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
19,229 Students
5,699,317 Students
% Average Students of Color
48%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
2,175 Teachers
507,826 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
63%
55%
Average Class Size
15 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
18 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1359
(Out of 1600)
1233
Average ACT score
30
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$28,313
$14,878
Average Summer Program Cost
$4,751
$1,138
Average % on Financial Aid
34%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$18,143
$7,124
Average Acceptance Rate
49%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$31.34 million
$61.71 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.71
0.65
# American Indian Students
16 Students
29,886 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
531 Students
265,088 Students
% Asian Students
3%
5%
# Hispanic Students
1,111 Students
507,413 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
9%
# Black Students
4,765 Students
416,690 Students
% Black Students
26%
7%
# White Students
7,628 Students
2,932,713 Students
% White Students
42%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
13 Students
20,067 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
4,148 Students
1,471,571 Students
% of Others Students
23%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
14 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
8 sports
7 sports

Top-Ranked District Of Columbia Private Schools by County (2026)

Popular cities: Washington (101 schools).
County
# Schools
# Students
% of K-12 Students in Private Schools
101
19,229
17%

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, Holy Trinity School, and Maret 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 $30,034 for elementary schools and $36,383 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in District Of Columbia?
Approximately 48% 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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